Nico Ali Walsh (born July 11, 2000) is an American

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

. The grandson of

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...

, Walsh came into the ring for his pro debut in August 2021 wearing his grandfather's personal white Everlast shorts, which were passed down to him in 2016 with the death of his grandfather.

Professional career

Before going pro in 2021, Ali Walsh spent a few months training alongside world-renowned boxing trainer, Abel Sanchez, in Big Bear Lake, California. After having a "limited" amateur boxing career of approximately 30 bouts, Walsh decided to turn pro in early 2021. He began working with

Tyson Fury Tyson Luke Fury (born 12 August 1988) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2024. He held multiple world heavyweight championships, including unified titles from 2015 to 2016, the '' Ring'' magazine title twice bet ...

's current trainer, SugarHill Steward, and is promoted by

Bob Arum Robert Arum (born December 8, 1931) is an American lawyer and boxing promoter. He is the founder and CEO of Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas. Prior to becoming a boxing promoter, Arum was employed as an attorn ...

Top Rank Top Rank, Inc. is a boxing promotional company founded by Jabir Herbert Muhammad and Bob Arum, which was incorporated in 1973, and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since its founding, Top Rank has promoted many world class fighters, including M ...

, who also promoted 27 of his grandfather's fights. Walsh made his professional debut against Jordan Weeks on the

Joshua Franco Joshua Franco (born October 27, 1995) is an American former professional boxer who held the World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight title between 2020 and 2023. Professional career Early career Franco made his professional debut on Augus ...

vs.

Andrew Moloney Andrew Moloney (born 10 January 1991) is an Australian professional boxer who held the WBA (Regular) super-flyweight title in 2020, having previously held the interim title since 2019. At regional level he held the WBA Oceania bantamweight ...

III undercard, on August 14, 2021. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Walsh was booked to face James Westley II, in his second professional bout, on October 23, 2021, on the undercard of the WBO super featherweight championship between Shakur Stevenson and Jamel Herring. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. Walsh faced Reyes Sanchez on December 11, 2021, on the undercard of Vasyl Lomachenko vs Richard Commey. In his final fight of the year, He won the fight by a majority decision, with scores of 40–36, 38–38 and 39–37. Walsh faced Jeremiah Yeager on January 29, 2022, on the undercard of the WBC super featherweight title eliminator between

Robson Conceição Robson Donato Conceição (born 25 October 1988) is a Brazilian professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight title from July 2024 to November 2024. As an amateur, he became the first Brazilian boxer to win an ...

and Xavier Martinez. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout. Walsh faced Alejandro Ibarra on April 30, 2022, on the undercard of the WBC and WBO super featherweight unification between Shakur Stevenson and Óscar Valdez. He won the fight via 1st-round knockout. Walsh also said he hoped to stay active and fight again before he hit a year in professional boxing. Walsh fought again against Reyes Sanchez as Walsh did not like how he performed against him, as he thought the fight was close (one of the judges thought the fight was a draw, resulting in a majority decision). Walsh knocked out Reyes Sanchez in the second round at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

Personal life

Walsh is a

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

. He is a grandson of

and nephew of

Laila Ali Laila Amaria Ali (born December 30, 1977) is an American television personality and retired professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007. During her career, from which she retired undefeated, she held the World Boxing Council, WBC, Women's ...

. Walsh saw the tough time that both Muhammad and Laila Ali had while boxing and debated whether or not to follow in their footsteps. In the end it was his grandfather that kept him involved with the sport.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Nico Living people 2000 births 21st-century Muslims American male boxers Boxers from Chicago Boxers from Illinois Middleweight boxers African-American Muslims American people of Irish descent American people of Malagasy descent