By Cassandra Cousineau of LVSportsBiz.com
When boxing is the family business, expectations can be a bit overwhelming. Even more so when you carry the last name Ali.
Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of three-time world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, wants to be his own man while inspiring others just as his legendary grandfather did.
Ali Walsh made his hometown debut on the highly-anticipated Shakur Stevenson vs Oscar Valdez world title unification card at MGM Grand Garden Arena against Alejandro Ibarra Saturday night. In front of 10,102 spectators, he needed just 2 minutes and 50 seconds to absolutely flatten Ibarra (7-2) with a potent right hand in what was supposed to be a four-round middleweight main card attraction.
“This is just a testament of all the hard work I put in,” Ali Walsh said during his post-fight interview. “This is what happens when you put in the work.
At just 5-0 with four knockouts in his young professional career, Ali Walsh lacks an extensive amateur pedigree, and is still developing as a fighter. That hasn’t prevented his promoter, Top Rank Boxing, from fast-tracking him due to the cache of the Ali last name.
The biggest thing about tonight was maintaining my composure, and doing everything I wanted to do in the ring. I believe I did that. For a fighter like me who doesn’t have a lot of amateur experience, it’s very important to remain calm under the lights. — Nico Ali Walsh
Pursuing a business and entrepreneurship degree is providing insight into his career outside of the ring. During his post-fight press conference, LVSportsBiz.com asked him if it has been difficult for the boxing pro to maintain focus as a fighter and a businessman.
“I don’t think it’s hard. I enjoy fighting more than anything, and I enjoy the business part. I believe Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the first boxer who really made boxing his business and he did that without a degree. With a degree I think I can do so much more and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to do so.”
It was a big weekend for Las Vegas based athletes as Ali Walsh acknowledged former Bishop Gorman standouts, Jalen Nailor and Bubba Bolden, who were drafted respectively by the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings during the NFL Draft held here in Las Vegas.
However, the soon-to-be University of Nevada, Las Vegas graduate is focused on putting in the work it takes to become champion one day. He’s far from the pervasive “just look at me” aura of his TikTok engrossed generation.
The 21-year-old acknowledged there’s pressure living up to the name. He isn’t running from it. Instead, he’s embracing the pressure as an honor.
“I’ve felt the pressure my whole life. I’m not trying to be just like my grandfather,” he told reporters during the week’s media obligations. “I do want to be someone he’s proud of. I want to make my family proud.”
Ali Walsh made his professional debut in Tulsa, Okla. in 2021. Bob Arum, who promoted Muhammad Ali for the first time in the boxer’s world heavyweight title fight against George Chuvalo in 1966. is also currently Ali Walsh’s promoter.
Most promising young boxers spend their first few fights in relative obscurity. They get pushed down on undercards for good reason. Developing as a pro is gnarly work. They need time to gain experience, make mistakes, and string together a few wins— earning a spot in the big show. Ali-Walsh won’t be treated as such.
Muhammad Ali died in 2016, when his grandson — his daughter Rasheda’s youngest son — was 15 and just starting out in his amateur career. Nico says he wouldn’t be fighting as a pro if he hadn’t gotten approval from his grandfather. “Once he gave me the blessing, there was no turning back for me.”
While a senior at UNLV, he won his professional debut, beating Jordan Weeks with a first-round stoppage at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, Okla., in Aug. of 2021. His second bout was in a quick turn-around in October, and he returned to the ring in December, and again in January of 2022.
A small town kid, who attended Vanderburg Elementary School in Henderson, NV, Ali-Walsh grew up in the suburbs outside of Las Vegas in the biggest legendary shadow ever cast in the sport.
He was interviewed by siblings Isabelle and Braxton Selvey as part of Take Your Child to Work Day during the fight week press conference. The pair also were in class with Angela Olson, the same second grade teacher as the up-and-coming boxer.
Affable and engaged, the six-foot-tall developing fighter has a detailed image of the greatest boxer ever etched on his right forearm. Ali Walsh said he always carries his grandfather’s spirit with him literally speaking because he has two tattoos of the late legend. One depicts Ali from his older years, the man Nico remembers spending time with. The other is from his younger fighting days.
The butterflies surrounding the artwork were present in the pit of the stomach of eight-year-old Isabelle the youthful reporter as she hoisted a microphone during the interview with Ali Walsh. The young boxer had previously left the room just after wrapping up questions from the stage. He returned specifically to be interviewed by the young sibling students.
Barely a decade older than the two siblings, Ali Walsh shared there were things he didn’t love in elementary school, but finds value in them now that he’s an adult. “I didn’t love math when I was your age. Actually, I hated it. Now, I realize it’s part of everyday life, and really important. You should definitely listen to Mrs. Olson and stay on top of your math skills.”
“A lot of my second grade classmates don’t know who your grandfather was. They know you because you went to our school,” added the inquisitive second-grader.
“You have to remind them,” the middleweight implored.
“This boxing journey is so important to me. Definitely for building my own legacy, but a lot for continuing my grandfather’s legacy,” Ali Walsh said.
“I was ten. I was ten when I found out that I wanted to box,” he told nine-year-old Braxton. The curly-haired fourth-grader subsequently inquired about the hardest part of Ali Walsh’s boxing journey.
“Honestly, the training’s hard. It takes a lot of time and deep commitment. The things we have to put our body through on a daily basis can be pretty unforgiving. It’s even tougher on your mind. In order to become champion, you have to be mentally tough through the good days, and especially tough through the not so good days. “If you love it, it gets easier,” he added.
Ali Walsh’s lineage has already shaped his career. It would’ve been impossible for that not to be the case considering his grandfather‘s moniker, “The Greatest.” Nico turned pro on ESPN and already has a sponsorship deal with the equipment maker Everlast.
Like his grandfather, Ali Walsh also sees boxing as a platform to do good in other ways. “Try to inspire others around you. Maybe your teammate is having a bad day in training, or your classmates are frustrated. Remember, your actions speak louder than words. Lifting up others is also part of being a champion.”
PSA