Sometimes you have those larger-than-life stories, and Ramla Ali represents the same in the boxing world. On some days, she is a professional boxer who found refuge in boxing, and on others, she is working in the field to make life better for refugees. Her journey as a boxer reaches its zenith as she prepares to take on Yamileth Mercado at the upcoming Matchroom event, with the WBC women’s junior featherweight title on the line. But can the challenger really do it? Let’s find out.

You can expect a full-blown war, with an exciting game of chess on offer, when these two featherweights collide and adorn the card headlined by Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on June 29. But before the two meet inside the squared circle and give fans exhilarating action, let’s look at how they stack up going into the fight.

Yamileth Mercado vs. Ramla Ali Stats: Tale of tape

Mercado, at 26, is your typical natural Junior Featherweight/Super bantamweight, who has broken down opponents in the ring and has shown an appetite to learn more, as her career progressed. The WBC champion has captivated fans and is arguably the best female Mexican fighter that the nation has to offer, and her record of 23-3 with 5 KOs also speaks volumes about it. While her knockout ratio of 22% doesn’t turn heads, she has mastered the art of churning out wins and putting on a show for the fans. However, the fans might be concerned about her size disadvantage, which she compensates for with her skills, as the Mexican fighter stands tall at 5’4″ (163 cm).

Ali, on the other hand, made a late professional debut in 2020, but that hasn’t hindered her rapid surge, and despite being 34, she already collected an impressive record of 9-1 with 2 KOs. So what has worked in her favor? The Mogadishu native has imposed her will on her foes in the ring because of her daunting and taller stature of 5′ 7″ (170 cm). While fans expect her to dismantle opponents in the ring, her KO ratio of 22% suggests that she is happy to stand, exchange punches when required, and disrupt the pace of the fight with her long levers.

In addition, Ali also adds more power behind her punches, as she comes in heavier at 121.8 lbs (55.2 kg), compared to Mercado’s 120.3 lbs (54.6 kg). But is it enough to tilt the prediction scales in the challenger’s favor? Or will the junior featherweight champion make a successful title defense for the seventh time and cement her status among the fans?

Who wins it? Factoring in elements that might affect the outcome

Well, for Mercado, a lot of things seem to be working for her in this fight. You can point out her youth, her experience at the top, and toiling her body over 189 rounds. You can’t brush aside the power of youth and stamina, can you? In addition, ‘Yeimi’ showcased her skills and put the world on notice when she closely lost a bout to Amanda Serrano in 2021.

It’s not every day that you see someone giving Serrano a run for money. Moreover, she has already dusted off ring rust, and you could witness her class when she outpointed Linda Laura Lecca this April. So, the Chihuahua native is fresh out of a fighting camp and has the momentum to bag another win. Does she even have anything to worry about?

Well, the champion might be the favorite to run over Ali, but Ali has reached the golden door on her merit and has all the tools to cause an upset. Not only does she have a size advantage, but she also is running high on confidence. The boxer-model’s undefeated run was ended by Julissa Guzman‘s left hook last June, which floored her. What did Ali do next? She exacted her revenge in November last year, as she handed Guzman a beatdown over 10 rounds. You might not know, but she built her professional career’s success on her splendid amateur career’s bedrock.

English and British national championships in 2016, followed by an African Zone championship in 2019 and an appearance in the 2020 Olympics, exhibited Ali’s boxing acumen. You can never rule out a boxer with such vast amateur experience, as those pressure situations have eased her transition to a pro career. While you can side with Mercado and not go wrong with your choice, you might have to give credit to Ali too, as she has taken every challenge by its horn and she will do it once again on June 29.

What do you make of this coming fight between Yamileth Mercado and Ramla Ali? Do you believe the champion will retain her title or will we see an upset? Let us know in the comments below.