MUHAMMAD ALI’S GRANDSON, Nico Ali Walsh, has said it's a blessing and a curse’ being related to the boxing legend before his professional debut.
After signing a contract with Top Rank last month, the 20-year old is now preparing for his first fight in the paid ranks on Aug 14.
Nico Ali Walsh is getting ready for his first professional bout in boxing on August 14.
Walsh is Rasheda Ali Walsh's son and is being trained by Tyson Fury’s SugarHill Steward.
The prospect for cruiserweight has stated that he is a target in the professional game because he is related to boxing legend.
He spoke to MyBettingSites before his debut and said that everyone wants to be Muhammad Ali's grandson. Although I wouldn't tell anyone who I am, they would always know.
"And they would always try to knock out me or hurt me when they did. They wanted to be able say, 'hey, Muhammad Ali's grandson, I knocked out Muhammad Ali’s grandson'.
"I believe being Muhammad Ali's grandchild is both a blessing as well as a curse, and that falls under the curse category."
Before I add: "I'll definitely be held accountable as a professional, but I'm mentally able to deal with the pressures.
"And that's something I'm thankful for, because it all began back when I was 10, when I put on my first pair of gloves."
Walsh also shared the key piece of advice Ali gave to him on his quest for becoming a world champion.
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He said, "The most important piece of advice I have is that dancing and moving makes you a fighter."
"Moving and dancing are not something that a lot fighters do today; hitting and not being hit is. That's what I admire most about him.
"But I don’t want to fight the exact same fighter he was. I don’t believe there’s a way to do it. He is one of a sort.
"I am more like him outside the ring. He has the same sense of humor as me, and we can tell stupid jokes.
"He was a huge fan of magic tricks and I am a huge fan of magic tricks so we are similar in that regard. We share the same work ethic inside the ring. His work ethic was exceptional. That is what I try to emulate."
Did you miss our previous article...
https://secondsaway.co.uk/boxing/tommy-fury-promises-to-break-every-bone-in-jake-pauls-head-for-bringing-mollymae-love-island-star-into-feud
