Texas Robbery: Mikiah Kreps Denied A Rightful Victory Against Ramla Ali
One of the best fights of the year was followed by one of the worst decisions of the year. Ramla Ali claimed the vacant WBO and IBF world super-bantamweight titles with a highly controversial split decision over the previously unbeaten American Mikiah Kreps in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday night.
At the final bell, after ten incredibly relentless rounds, there seemed little doubt that Kreps would be crowned a unified world champion. But two of the judges somehow scored the fight for Ali. In simple terms, it was a shocker.
When the first scorecard came in at 97-92 in favour of Ali, I shook my head in disbelief. But I hoped it would be one of those strange cards that would be overruled by the two remaining scorecards that more resembled reality. When the second card of 98-91 to Kreps followed, that was seemingly going to be the case. But the deciding 96-93 scorecard gave the fight and the unified world titles to Ali. Despite her game effort, Ramla Ali did not win this fight. In truth, it wasn’t even a close fight. You would have struggled to give Ali three rounds. I am not one to easily call a fight a robbery. But this was as blatant as you can get.
I gave Kreps the opening round, but Ali made adjustments to even the fight on my card after two rounds. The American suffered a flash knockdown in the third. But that only seemed to galvanise Kreps. I thought she dominated the fight down the stretch. Ali couldn’t handle the constant aggression of her opponent. At the final bell, the decision seemed a mere formality. On an incredibly strange night for the officials, we got another absolutely mind-blowing decision.
The scorecards and the subsequent controversy should not take away from what Kreps and Ali served up. It was a thoroughly entertaining fight. Both fighters deserve credit for the ten rounds they gave us. But almost to universal acceptance, the wrong fighter had their hand raised.
If there is any justice, Kreps should be granted an immediate rematch. But with Skye Nicolson winning earlier in the evening to successfully defend her WBC super-bantamweight title, don’t be surprised if Kreps is denied again. Ali and Nicolson will likely have a unification showdown with three belts on the line. Kreps will likely have to sit and wait, and miss out on a lucrative pay day.
Boxing is subjective; sometimes the scorecards can be all over the place. But this wasn’t that kind of fight. Ali was outfought and outscored. Kreps was clearly winning the vast majority of the rounds. I didn’t think it was that hard to score. But somehow boxing always seems to find a way. Hopefully, it will now find a way for Mikiah Kreps to get justice down the line. An immediate rematch is the least that she deserves. Her sport failed her last night in Texas.
Photo Credit: Most Valuable Promotions
