Nico Ali Walsh fights in honor of his grandfather, the greatest of all time
Tulsa, Oklahoma - With a legendary name that many thought wouldn’t be announced again in a ring, this fighter did his grandfather’s spirit proud on Saturday night.
Nico Ali Walsh (21), the grandson of boxing's greatest fighter of all time Muhammad Ali, made his pro debut in the ring on the undercard of the title fight between junior bantamweights Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney.
Ali Walsh squared off against fellow middleweight Jordan Weeks, beating him with a first-round TKO stoppage that was definitely reminiscent of legendary Muhammad himself.
Not only was Ali Walsh fighting with the similar swagger of his grandfather, but he was also wearing the legendary threads that Muhammad himself gifted to him – his classic white trunks with black trim.
His mother Rasheeda Ali Walsh, one of Muhammad’s daughters, along with his father Robert Walsh, was in attendance to cheer him on.
The fight took about the same amount of time as his grandfather’s 1965 first-round KO of Sonny Liston, which seemed more than fitting.
Behind the same "Ali!" chants his grandfather heard, he finished off his opponent with a barrage of punches after scoring a mid-round knockdown.
The referee finally put an end to the onslaught when he saw that Weeks couldn’t defend himself, let alone stand up straight. Like his grandfather, Ali Walsh was declared the winner.
"Obviously my grandfather, I've been thinking about him so much. I miss him. And it's just an emotional journey," Ali Walsh said post-fight.
Ali Walsh wants to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps
Shortly before Ali Walsh's 16th birthday in 2016, his grandfather Muhammad passed away. The loss further fueled his desire to carry on the Ali name in boxing.
Ali Walsh grew up in Las Vegas where most professional boxing takes place, apart from its Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
He trained and progressed through the amateur ranks to find himself now at the pro level.
The athlete is represented by legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum, who also promoted 27 of Muhammad Ali’s fights.
He currently trains with SugarHill Steward, who also coaches heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
While this bout wasn’t the main event on the fighter's card, his performance – apart from his heritage – shows that there’s little doubt he will headline future fights as his career continues to progress.
"He was the greatest fighter that ever lived – maybe the greatest person," Ali Walsh said of his grandfather's legacy. "I'm never wearing these trunks again."
Cover photo: Screenshot/Instagram/nicoaliwalsh