Ramla Ali: Briton targets first boxing world title as Sunny Edwards seeks route back to top

British super-bantamweight Ramla Ali plans to “prove to everybody” she is a “great” fighter by winning a maiden world title on Saturday.

The 34-year-old will take on Mexico’s WBC champion Yamileth Mercado in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ali’s remarkable journey has taken her from being a refugee who fled war-torn Somalia to a model, activist and now world title challenging boxer.

“I’m just super excited to be there and to prove to everyone that I deserve to be in there challenging for the world title,” she said.

Ali has won nine pro bouts, suffering one loss to Julissa Alejandra Guzman in June 2023, which she avenged five months later.

“What happened the first time was just lucky and the second time I proved that I was the better boxer, and I feel on Saturday that I’m going to do that again,” Ali said at Thursday’s news conference.

She is hoping to emulate her idols Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard in capturing a green and gold WBC belt.

“If I’m going to be world champion, that’s the belt I want, and it cements my legacy and proves to everybody that I am great,” Ali said.