Ramla Ali is no stranger to adversity. She and her family fled word-torn Somalia after her eldest brother was killed by a grenade, eventually finding refuge in London. She discovered boxing while trying to find a way to fit in as a teenager, initially to her parents’ dismay. She became the first Muslim woman to win an English boxing title and, in 2022, broke barriers by winning Saudi Arabia’s first-ever female boxing match. Outside the ring, Ramala uses her platform to promote inclusion and gender equality in sports. She has been recognized for her advocacy work by organizations UNICEF, the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation, and her non-profit Sisters Club.
