Muhammad Ali's grandson Nico Ali Walsh believes he is "bringing his grandpa back to life" after scoring a knockout victory over Alejandro Ibarra in Las Vegas.
Ali Walsh was competing in his fifth professional fight on the undercard of Shakur Stevenson's victory over Oscar Valdez at the MGM Grand. He scored a brutal first-round knockout victory with the crowd chanting "Ali" in tribute to his legendary heavyweight grandfather.
The American middleweight believes his latest win is a testament to the work and dedication he has put in outside of the ring. “I was setting him up with the right hand," Ali Walsh said while assessing his latest victory. "I noticed his left hand was going down when he threw the jab. I was trying to counter it, and that’s what I did. I wish the best for him and his team. He’s a true warrior.
"But I just waited for that setup, and I saw it and I took advantage. This is just a testament to all the work I put in. Stuff like this happens when you put the work in. I’m bringing my grandpa back to life, and that’s why mum gets so emotional because she’s seeing her dad again and hearing her dad’s name to me.”
Ali Walsh is looking to follow in the footsteps of his legendary relative, who is considered arguably the great fighter of all time for his legacy in and outside of the ring. His latest victory came after landing a thundering one-two combination which left his opponent unconscious on the canvas.
Referee Russell Mora immediately called a halt to the contest to hand Ali Walsh his latest victory. The 21-year-old has made a bright star to his professional career after knocking out Jordan Weeks and James Westley, before being taken the distance by Reyes Sanchez last year.
What did you make of Nico Ali Walsh's latest knockout display? Let us know in the comments section below
Ali Walsh has been fighting to pay tribute to the legacy of his grandfather in the ring while treading his own path to glory. But the rising star has also explained the influence of current heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on his career.
" Tyson Fury, he's one of my idols," he told Sky Sports. "I truly think he ranks among the greatest heavyweights of all time. I think he's a top-five heavyweight of all time. I didn't say No.1. Nobody can beat my grandfather. Yeah, I'm biased in saying that. For the people in the UK, they're the biggest boxing fans in the world,
"I know they were huge fans of my grandfather and he was fans of them, so I'm doing this for the people in the UK and my fans in Vegas. I've never been to the UK. I need a fight in the UK. My promoter is on board with that. It's going to happen soon and I'm really looking forward to that fight."
