Having fought every one of his pro bouts in Sana?a, Ali?s first 21 wins came in the first round against undefeated fighters?
?I know that in Thailand, promoters pay Wanheng in pineapples, coconuts and flavored condoms.??Ali Raymi
?My chin is titanium; my fists are uranium.??Raymi
Yemen, officially known as the Republic of Yemen, is an Arab country in Southwest Asia, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is the second largest country in the peninsula and is currently into the third month of a bloody civil war. Deadly air strikes and Yemen have become synonymous.
Yemen and boxing are clearly not synonymous, but the country?s capital, Sana?a, is home to colorful and undefeated junior flyweight Ali Raymi (25-0, 25 KOs)?yes, 25 knockouts.
Having fought every one of his pro bouts in Sana?a, Ali?s first 21 wins came in the first round against undefeated (but fledgling) fighters. He beat Prince Maz on November 19, 2014, to win the Universal Boxing Organization world light flyweight title.
The 41-year-old Raymi was virtually unknown outside his homeland, but he possessed a braggadocio dimension and called himself ?God.? Though he never got to fight a world-class opponent, he was not tentative about issuing challenges to the top fighters of the division; undefeated Thai Wanheng Menayothin (37-0), rugged Roman Gonzalez, slick Guillermo Rigondeaux, and Pinoy Merlito Sabillo were among his targets. Here is a video showing that he was, if anything, a relentless fighter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dsPI-ZSZos
In 2014, Ali fought Prince Maz four times, waxing the Prince each time. He last saw action on March 28, 2015, scoring a first round knockout (what else) over Omar Moxamad (7-0). Raymi, a lieutenant in the Yemeni Republican Guard, walked into the ring accompanied by an entourage of young soldiers brandishing assault rifles. Raymi was ranked in two weight classes; the WBA ranked him sixth at light flyweight, with the WBO placing eighth at mini-flyweight.
Ali Raymi died on May 23 in an air strike.
