Respect Over Money: Nico Ali Walsh Turns Down Lucrative Fight to Honor Grandfather Muhammad Ali

The Legacy Lives On

23-year-old middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, has made a decision that sets him apart from other rising stars in the boxing world. Despite the potential for a huge payday, Nico has turned down a crossover-style spectacle bout out of respect for his iconic grandfather's legacy.

Legacy Over Greed

Nico understands the significance of his grandfather's legacy and the impact it has on countless fans around the world. He shared, "This legacy is bigger than me. I can't be greedy and be like, 'I'm going to do a money-grab and start fighting YouTubers.' That's insane."

Walking the Long Road

Nico is focused on taking the long road to success in boxing, determined to become a champion in his own right. He believes that fighting YouTubers won't help him reach the undisputed level he aspires to. "I want to get to that undisputed level and you can't do that fighting YouTubers," he emphasized.

Respect for Jake Paul

While Nico has distanced himself from a potential fight against social media star-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul, he commends him for his accomplishments in the ring. Nico acknowledged, "I've got to say, Jake Paul, he keeps getting popped up but I give him a ton of respect."

Legacy vs. Money

Nico's decision to decline offers for lucrative fights is not an easy one, but he firmly prioritizes legacy over money. He explained, "There's two options, on one hand you've got life-changing money and on the other hand you've got a boxing legacy. So you can't fault anybody for picking one or the other but in my case I will always side with legacy over money."

Learning from Setbacks

Nico recently experienced his first loss in the ring but bounced back with a victory in Guinea. He views setbacks as learning experiences and believes that they make a comeback even more powerful. "For the world of boxing, for the viewing of boxing, I thought, 'This could really do some damage.' But coming back off that, it makes your comeback even more when there's a minor setback," he shared.

Nico Ali Walsh's episode of "Rise & Grind" is now available to watch on OFTV.