Boxing: The rise and rise of Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico Ali Walsh

Last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, an unusual event took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, stepped into the ring to face Alejandro Ibarra in a bout that was not expected since the main event of the card was the duel between Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson for the unification of the super featherweight titles.

However, the audience was on fire as the heir to the heavyweight legend of the 60s gave an excellent display of offensive power, where he required less than three minutes to put his opponent on hold.

At 21 years of age, Nico Ali scored his fifth professional victory with a brutal first-round knockout.

From the start of the fight, the lanky boxer not only showed that he knows how to stand well and move his waist to dribble the punches thrown at him, but he also presented interesting counterattacks through a variety of combinations that demonstrate a hard work of preparation.

Thus, with less than 20 seconds left in the first episode, Ali went on top of Ibarra and through a combination of left hook and right hand left him unconscious even before falling to the canvas, so the referee Russell Mora did not even give him the protection count declaring the absolute winner.

As soon as the audience realized the power that Nico Ali hides in his fists, they immediately began to chant Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali, a name that despite the death of Muhammad Ali, people still keep in mind.

Thrilled to achieve his fifth win in the same amount of fights held, Nico Ali Walsh could not hold back the desire to give his performance to his grandfather, who in 2016 lost his life.

"This is just a testament to all the work I've put in. Things like this happen when you put in the effort. I'm bringing my grandfather back to life, and that's why mom is so excited, because she gets to see her father again and hear her father's name before me," he said.

Nico Ali Walsh was born under the boxing firmament, but he was slow to embrace it. His grandfather, Muhammad Ali, is the greatest boxer in history and one of the most influential person who ever lived.

Muhammad had 10 children: Maryum, Jamillah, Rasheda, Muhammad Ali Jr, Hana, Laila, Asaad Amin, Miya, Khaliah, Kiiursten. Laila was the only one who followed in her father's footsteps, she was world champion in semi-complete and super middleweight, she had a record of 24 fights, 21 knockouts and never knew defeat. Her last fight was on February 3, 2007.

With Laila's retirement it was thought that the Ali dynasty was over, but out of nowhere, suddenly, without anyone thinking about it, a lanky figure appeared in the ring, with a familiar walk, with his guard up and a powerful right hand: Nico Ali Walsh.

Nico was born on August 11, 2000, in Chicago, Illinois, his mother is Rasheda and his father Bob Walsh, a retired U.S. Marine Corps sergeant. He lived with his grandfather Muhammad, who passed away on June 3, 2016, for 16 years, and although he has boxing and knockout DNA in his body, Nico was slow to accept it.

Although he started boxing from the age of 11, it was never his goal to dedicate himself professionally to it, although he had a good career in amateur pugilism with 30 fights, paid boxing was not what he was looking for. He enrolled at the University of Nevada, he will graduate next summer in business, but boxing already exploded in his veins.

He took his first steps as a professional with Mexican trainer Abel Sanchez, then joined the ranks of SugarHill Steward, trainer of Tyson Fury.

As if it were a premonition rather than a coincidence, Nico Ali was signed by legendary promoter Bob Arum, who was with Muhammad in 27 fights, including the epic "Thrilla in Manila" fight against Joe Frazier and the bout against Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium.

Professional Debut

Nico Ali Walsh stepped into the ring for the first time as a professional on August 14, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on that occasion knocking out Jordan Weeks in four rounds. But like everything that surrounds the Ali family, the debut was special; Nico didn't get the shorts he was going to fight in on time, so he had to take out a precious family treasure: a pair of shorts that his grandfather had used and that he had inherited from him.

In Nico's words that night was crazy, when he walked to the ring and the people shouted at him, when he put his first foot on the canvas the casino rumbled with the shout of: Ali, Ali! He felt that his grandfather was next to him, that he threw the punches with him, that he moved his legs with him.

Ali continued his career, won by chloroform in three rounds against James Westley in Atlanta, defeated by majority decision against Reyes Sanchez of Mexican origin; defeated Jeremiah Yeager in four chapters in Tulda, Oklahoma, but his graduation awaited him.

Boxing royalty

Ali Walsh arrived with the dawn of being Muhammad Ali's grandson in Las Vegas, the gambling and boxing capital, the pugilist who fights there is because he has a special gift. Nico had the eyes of the world on him and he did not disappoint.

As part of the Oscar Valdez vs. Shakur Stevenson fight, the MGM Grand Garden was dressed to the nines, mainly filled with Mexicans, the Aztecs know how to recognize good boxing and welcomed Ali with open arms. In the arena Ali's shout was heard again as in Tulsa, Nico looked nervous, but as soon as the bell rang he shook off the tension and began to fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Just like many years ago his grandfather did.

Ali Walsh moved with cadence, feinted with precision and punched hard. He finished his opponent, Alejandro Ibarra, in just one round. Las Vegas and fans around the world once again saw an Ali triumph.

We do not know what the future holds for Nico Ali Walsh, we do not know if he can be world champion if he will transcend, but what is certain is that his blood is blue, full of boxing royalty.