JAKARTA - Nico Ali Walsh was born under the boxing horizon, but he's been slow to accept it. His grandfather, Muhammad Ali, was the greatest boxer in history and one of the most influential athletes who ever lived.
Quoted from Marca, Thursday, May 4, Muhammad had 10 children: Maryum, Jamillah, Rasheda, Muhammad Ali Jr., Hana, Laila, Asaad Amin, Miya, Khaliah, Kiiursten. Laila is the only one following in her father's footsteps, she is world champion in semi-complete and super middleweight, she has a record of 24 fights, 21 KOs and never loses. His last fight was on February 3, 2007.
With Laila's retirement, it was thought that the Ali dynasty had ended, but out of nowhere, suddenly, without anyone thinking about it, a thin figure appeared in the ring, with a familiar gait, with vigilance and a strong right hand: Nico Ali Walsh!
Nico was born on August 11, 2000, in Chicago, Illinois, to his mother Rasheda and his father Bob Walsh, a retired US Marine Corps sergeant. He lived with his grandfather Muhammad, who died on June 3, 2016, for 16 years. Even though Nico had boxing and knockout DNA in his body, he was slow to accept it.
Starting boxing at the age of 11, the sport of fist fighting was never his goal in life even though he had a good career in amateur boxing with 30 fights. He took his first steps as a professional with Mexico coach Abel Sanchez, then joined the ranks of SugarHill Steward, coach Tyson Fury.
As if it was a hunch rather than a coincidence, Nico Ali was hooked by legendary promoter Bob Arum, who worked alongside Muhammad in 27 fights, including the epic "Thrilla in Manila" bout against Joe Frazier and the bout against Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium.
Nico stepped into the ring for the first time as a professional on August 14, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On that occasion, he beat Jordan Weeks in four rounds. But like everything that surrounds the Ali family, debut is special; Nico didn't get the shorts he would use to fight in time, so he had to retrieve a precious family treasure: the pair of shorts his grandfather wore.
When he walked into the ring that night, people shouted at him as he put his first foot on the canvas. The casino rumbled with shouts: Ali, Ali! He felt that his grandfather was next to him, that he threw punches with him, that he moved his legs with him.
Nico continued his career. Wins in three rounds against James Westley in Atlanta, lost by majority against Reyes Sanchez of Mexico; defeated Jeremiah Yeager in four rounds in Tulda, Oklahoma.
STUNG LIKE A BEE.@NicoAliX74 x #ValdezStevenson pic.twitter.com/NZwe4ovCgE
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 1, 2022
Last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, an unusual event occurred at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Nico stepped into the ring to face Alejandro Ibarra in an unexpected fight, as the highlight of the evening was the duel between Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson for the unification of the super featherweight title powers.
However, the crowd was excited as the heir to the heavyweight legend of the '60s delivered a display of incredible offensive power, taking less than three minutes to hold off his opponent.
At the age of 21, Nico scored his fifth professional win by a brutal first-round knockout. From the start of the fight, the tall boxer not only showed that he knew how to stand well and move his hips to dribble the punches that were thrown at him, but he also delivered an interesting counterattack through various combinations that demonstrated the hard work of preparation.
Thus, with less than 20 seconds remaining in the first round, Nico launched a combination of left hook at Ibarra and right hand knocking his opponent out before he even fell to the canvas. Referee Russell Mora didn't even give him a chance at the protection count declaring the absolute winner.
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