Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty
Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of boxing legendMuhammad Ali, is making a name for himself.
On Saturday evening, Walsh, 21, made his professional boxing debut at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, Oklahoma.
Wearing a pair of black and white boxing shorts he received from his grandfather, the middleweight fight saw Walsh go up againstJordan Weeks, where he bested the athlete, 29, with afirst-round TKO.
“This lived up completely to my expectations,” Walsh said after his win, perCBS Sports. “This is something I only dreamed of. It’s been an emotional journey this whole ride, these last couple months.”
“Obviously, my grandfather, I’ve been thinking about him so much. I miss him and it’s just an emotional journey,” he added.
Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty
Ali, who was dubbed “The Greatest,” died in June 2016 after a years-long battle against Parkinson’s disease.
The athlete had nine children, including Walsh’s mother — Rasheda Ali. His daughterLaila Aliwould go on to become a world champion boxer herself, just like her father.
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“I’ve never been able to escape my grandfather, no matter what sport I played,” Walsh toldThe New York Timesin a recent interview. “I’m starting to embrace it.”
“It’s very hard to do, but you have to embrace the legacy, no matter what it is,” he added. “Everybody becomes stronger when they embrace what they’re destined to do.”
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“Alhamdulillah for the victory! I’m blessed and honored to say that I continued history tonight,” he wrote alongside the post. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that supported me!”
Meanwhile, Bob Arum — the founder of the boxing company that Walsh belongs to, Top Rank —tweeted, “What a magical night for this young man. His grandfather would have been so proud of the way he’s honoring him in his own way.”
Added Arum: “We at Top Rank are looking forward to leading him on his professional journey.”
source: people.com
