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Lightweight Ikram Kerwat (9-1, 5 KO) returns to action this Thursday in Tucscon, headlining a fight card that will stream live on UFC Fight Pass, taking on Simone Da Silva (15-12, 6 KO) in a 10-round main event of a Roy Jones Jr-promoted card.
Kerwat, 35, is the first woman to headline a boxing card on Fight Pass, and she’s excited about the opportunity.
“This is my first main event and I can’t wait to step into the ring. To be live streamed on UFC Fight Pass is very important to me, my fans and, of course, my family. My last fight was also live streamed on Fight Pass and it was amazing. I’m happy and thankful for that,” Kerwat said.
Kerwat credits Jones with tutoring her and turning her into a more skilled competitor.
“It’s an honor for me to lean from a legendary boxer like Roy,” she said. “He’s a boxing guru! Before I met Roy, I was a brawler, more of an aggressive fighter. Now, I’d say I learned to skillfully box. I’ve made a lot of improvements and I developed more, boxing-wise. I grew mentally, which is the most important part in boxing and life.”
Her opponent Da Silva is a 35-year-old Brazilian who debuted in 2005 and last fought in April 2018. She’s on a terrible run, losing seven of her last eight fights.
“My opponent is experienced, but this means nothing to me,” Kerwat said. “I fear nobody, but I respect all boxers who step in the ring. I do not underestimate anyone, nothing more and nothing less. I don’t look at her, I look at myself. This is only thing I have control over. I do my job, live my dream, and I have fun doing it. I enjoy every single minute of it. This next step is very important for us. Every single fight brings me a step closer to my goal, which means that every single fight is significant for my career. Fights like this even more so.”
The show will also feature bantamweight prospect Max Ornelas (12-0-1, 4 KO) against Alex Rangel (17-9, 4 KO) in an eight-round fight; Alfonso Olvera (11-5-2, 4 KO) taking on Carlos Villa (14-3-1, 6 KO) in a six-round welterweight bout; Nicholas Rhoads (5-0, 2 KO) against Eduardo Ayala (4-0, 1 KO) in a four-round middleweight fight; and UFC veteran Joe Riggs making his pro boxing debut against Daviante Jones, also debuting, in a four-round fight.