Ramla Ali
Ramla Ali (right) is signed to Matchroom Boxing and has won all six bouts since turning professional in 2020

The O2 Arena was filled with loud chants of "Ali, Ali, Ali" when Ramla Ali continued her professional boxing career.

It was a sight and sound to see.

Ali says that the community backs each other.

Within 72 hours, I had sold 500 tickets. It wasn't normal.

Her huge following is testament to her achievements both in and outside the sport, as she is still a novice professional.

Ali became the first Muslim fighter to win an English title as an amateur after fleeing war-torn Africa.

  • Why is Saudi Arabia's involvement in sport so controversial?

She is an Olympian, activist, author and successful model who was chosen to be on the cover of Vogue because of her connections to the royal family.

Her story is already being made into a movie.

Ali will become the first professional female fighter in Saudi Arabia when she defends her title against Oleksandr Usyk on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's fight.

She says it's a big honor. This is a one time occurrence. For myself and my opponent, both of our names will be in the history books. It is an amazing feeling.

'This isn't a gimmick - Saudi are trying to change'

Ali's decision to fight in Saudi Arabia has drawn criticism due to the country's poor human rights record and treatment of women.

Ali said there would be some mean comments. They have started. Why do you want to box in Saudi Arabia? Women's rights are violated by them.

Saudi Arabia has been accused of human rights violations and is currently launching a military operation in Yemen that is causing a humanitarian crisis.

Critics say that the Kingdom has spent billions to bring elite sport to its country.

"Riyadh's calculation is that sport is going to gradually relax people talking about executions, jailing, murdering of journalists and bombing in Yemen as the big story about Saudi Arabia," said Felix Jakens, a spokesman forAmnesty UK.

The Sisters Club was set up by Ali to teach Muslim women, minorities and people who have suffered domestic or sexual violence how to box.

The Saudi royal family requested the fight because they believe it shows progress is being made, according to the super-bantamweight.

She says that a country can't be faulted for trying to change. This isn't just a ploy of "let's stick on women"

Shouldn't I support a country that is trying to change women's rights?

The refugee who won fights & won over mum

Ramla Ali shared her story with BBC Africa in 2018

Boxers experience highs and lows over the course of their career, but they are prepared to bounce back from setbacks.

The elder brother of Ali was killed by a mortar in the early 1990s. The family escaped from the capital. They found refuge in London after a nine-day boat journey in which some of the passengers died of hunger.

Ali didn't tell her family about her boxercise class because she thought they would disapprove of the sport for a Muslim girl.

She secured her first amateur bout around 2010 and began to learn how to box online. Her brother was the only one who was unaware that she was going to train.

She was starting to represent her new country. She won amateur English and British titles without her knowledge.

Her mother told her to stop.

Ali was able to win her over. We had a turning point a few years ago.

She called to wish me good luck in the tournament that I was going to inDenmark.

It was the best feeling in the world to know that someone I love so much is interested in something I love so much.

Now, she's so supportive. She won't watch me compete live, but she will watch it the next day on the internet.

From fight night to Mecca

Ramla Ali
Ali plans to complete Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca, while in Saudi Arabia

Ali changed her country of birth from England to her native country as an amateur. The first boxer to represent the nation at an Olympics was the flagbearer at the Tokyo games.

She says it was her proudest moment. No-one can take that away from me because I'm the only one in the world that can call themselves an Olympian.

While in Saudi Arabia, Ali will make a one-hour car journey from Jeddah to Mecca to perform Umrah.

My faith is very important to me. Even if it adds a pound or two to the scales, she wears leggings and a vest.

I've always wanted to go to Umrah or Hajj, but it's always been expensive, so why wouldn't I?

With both hands, grab this opportunity. I will either do it on fight week to find a bit of peace, or after the fight which will be a victory, so which will be a celebration.

'I want my face to be everywhere'

A film about Ali's life is set to be made by a Bafta award winning producer.

She is a brand ambassador for high end fashion labels.

Ramla doesn't think the many vocations distract her from her boxing career. She says the modelling work benefits world title ambitions.

She says that she is able to be a full-time athlete because she does other things.

I'm able to train full-time. I have the chance to base myself out of Los Angeles and work with world-class coaches.

Modelling is so supportive. Sometimes I'm not on weight. I can't fit into a shoot because of my weight fluctuations.

They're so nice. They'll find something I am comfortable with if something doesn't fit, or if I'm not comfortable wearing something.

There is no suggestion of slowing down the work-rate as Ali insists that boxing will always be her priority.

She jokingly told a friend that she wanted her face to be all over the place.

That is a possibility. People say "oh my God, not her again" when they hear that someone has done so much.

There is a possibility of a sequel to the feature-length film.