Photo courtesy of Nico Ali Walsh/ Instagram.
According to ESPN, twenty-one-year-old Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, has won his first professional boxing match.
Walsh is the son of Ali’s daughter, Rasheda Ali-Walsh and her chef husband, Robert Walsh.
The young Ali went pro in 2020 and didn’t have as much experience his grandfather did before he had his first pro fight. Ali had already been a light heavyweight champion, having won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics before going pro.
Walsh posted pictures from the boxing match on Instagram along with a caption saying that he had worn his grandfather’s trunks for his pro boxing debut.
“Alhamdulillah for the victory! I’m blessed and honored to say that I continued history tonight. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that supported me! I brought my grandfather in the ring with me by wearing his shorts for the first and final time as a professional fighter. I’m more than proud to say: The Legacy Continues…#AllPraiseBeToAllah#Legacy#TopRank#1-0.”
Walsh is fighting as a middleweight and is learning on the job with his trainer, SugarHill Steward. He said that he was thinking of his famous grandfather on fight-night when he heard the audience chanting.
“To hear those Ali chants was something that I’ll never forget,” said Walsh. “I didn’t expect that, to be honest, but it was special.”
The boxer celebrated his win with his promoter Bob Arum and family. Arum also promoted many of Ali’s fights.
“I’m a believer in genes,” said Arum.