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Mogadishu-born Ramla Ali fled Somalia after the war broke out in the ’90s, and like many refugees, she doesn’t know her exact date of birth.
Ali’s family moved to East London, where she was first introduced to boxing. She said she started boxing after she got bullied at school for being overweight.
Ali, who completed a law degree, boxed in secret and hid her bruises from her family as they didn’t approve of her boxing.
But over time, Ali’s profile grew, and it became impossible to keep it a secret. In 2016, she became the first Muslim woman to win a boxing title for England.
With help from an understanding uncle and a community that supported her, Ali was able to gain support from most of her family. Now, Ali will be representing Somalia, making her the first boxer to represent the country in international competitions.
Last year, she was highlighted by Nike as a global athlete and appeared in a campaign alongside singer-songwriter Jorja Smith.
Ali told BuzzFeed News that the obvious misconception women boxers face is that they are "more fragile, weaker, and less likely to stick it out in boxing."
“The reality is female boxers are often more technically gifted and more willing to learn without putting their ego first,” she said. As such, Ali said she wants to see the “the media giants of this world make a conscious effort to promote and advertise more women in sport.”
Although becoming a boxer wasn’t easy for Ali, she said those obstacles were for the better.
“Sometimes I feel like a shopping list of hardships — from war in Africa to bullying at school in London and being overweight to not having that essential support structure at home that pushes you towards your dreams — but if I didn’t go through all these difficulties, I wouldn’t be the same woman I am today," she said. “I wouldn’t appreciate what I have or take the time to recognize the highs and rewards that come through my sport.
“Difficulties in sport are the same in everyday life though," she added. "They don’t just disappear on their own, for instance, representing a developing country like Somalia on the world stage comes with its own battles.
“In all honesty though, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It might be the hard road, but you don’t overcome problems without facing them."
Jan Kruger / Getty Images
Ali in action against Rachael Mackenzie in their final bout during day three of the Boxing Elite National
Ali’s family moved to East London, where she was first introduced to boxing. She said she started boxing after she got bullied at school for being overweight.
Ali, who completed a law degree, boxed in secret and hid her bruises from her family as they didn’t approve of her boxing.
But over time, Ali’s profile grew, and it became impossible to keep it a secret. In 2016, she became the first Muslim woman to win a boxing title for England.
With help from an understanding uncle and a community that supported her, Ali was able to gain support from most of her family. Now, Ali will be representing Somalia, making her the first boxer to represent the country in international competitions.
Last year, she was highlighted by Nike as a global athlete and appeared in a campaign alongside singer-songwriter Jorja Smith.
Ali told BuzzFeed News that the obvious misconception women boxers face is that they are "more fragile, weaker, and less likely to stick it out in boxing."
“The reality is female boxers are often more technically gifted and more willing to learn without putting their ego first,” she said. As such, Ali said she wants to see the “the media giants of this world make a conscious effort to promote and advertise more women in sport.”
Although becoming a boxer wasn’t easy for Ali, she said those obstacles were for the better.
“Sometimes I feel like a shopping list of hardships — from war in Africa to bullying at school in London and being overweight to not having that essential support structure at home that pushes you towards your dreams — but if I didn’t go through all these difficulties, I wouldn’t be the same woman I am today," she said. “I wouldn’t appreciate what I have or take the time to recognize the highs and rewards that come through my sport.
“Difficulties in sport are the same in everyday life though," she added. "They don’t just disappear on their own, for instance, representing a developing country like Somalia on the world stage comes with its own battles.
“In all honesty though, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It might be the hard road, but you don’t overcome problems without facing them."
Jan Kruger / Getty Images
Ali in action against Rachael Mackenzie in their final bout during day three of the Boxing Elite National
