Footprint on fire! Mercado ready to defend WBC crown in Phoenix, Arizona

Mexican Yamileth Mercado will defend her World Boxing Council super bantamweight world title against Ramla Ali, on Saturday, June 29 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

This sparking and sparkling fight will be part of the card where Juan Francisco Estrada will defend his WBC super flyweight title against former world champion Jesse Rodríguez.
The card is organized by Matchroom Boxing and will be broadcast on DAZN.

Mercado (23-3, 5 KOs) is defending her title for the seventh time after winning the belt in November 2019 and will fight in the United States for the second time in Phoenix, having faced Amanda Serrano in Cleveland in August 2021. She comes to this fight after defending her title last April, defeating Linda Laura Lecca by decision.

“I’m excited to fight in the United States,” Mercado said. “There are thousands of compatriots who live in Arizona, I will give them a great fight, Mexican style. Ramla is a great fighter, but she won’t take away my goal of unifying all the titles.”

Ali (9-1, 2 KOs) enters her first world title fight brimming with confidence after exacting sweet revenge over Julissa Guzman in her most recent fight in Monte Carlo in November.

Ali was defeated by Mexico’s Guzmán last June in New Orleans, but Ali, who became the first fighter to represent Somalia at the 2020 Olympics, outclassed her foe in the rematch and is delighted to have the opportunity to win the coveted Green and Gold Belt.

“It’s hard to express how much this means to me,” Ali said. “As an athlete and as a person you set goals and challenges in your life and in your career. I truly feel that being crowned WBC champion will be a dream come true. It’s something I’ve always wanted… since I bought a pair of boxing gloves when I was 12, I’ll finally have the chance to achieve it.”