Nico Ali Walsh, the new jewel of boxing: can he be as good as his grandfather Muhammad Ali or is he just the “grandson of”?

If his name was Nico Walsh, no one would bother to write these verses. Because if his name is Nico Walsh, there’s still no one too interested in a fighter who has won his first five professional fights against undemanding opponents. but it is called Nico Ali Walsh | and it greatly changes the panorama. Less than nine months have passed since he made his debut in the paid sport, many are already challenging him without being justified by his performances. But, of course, he was the grandson of Muhammad Ali.

Saturday, at the start of the match that Shakur Stevenson won against Mexican Óscar Valdez for the super featherweight titles of the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Organization, Ali Walsh sent Alejandro Ibarra to the ring of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in the first round and He added his fifth consecutive win as leased and the fourth before the limit. So far, only 11 rounds of work are included in his service record.

All of their performances are on large stages and on evenings with a good line-up, they are all organized by cheatthe company hired him on June 24 last year, when he was less than 20 years old. “Signing to Top Rank is a dream come true. I am honored to continue the legacy started by my grandfather. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. “assured that day.

At that time, Obviously if veteran Bob Arum targeted himIt’s not because his amateur career of only 30 fights has dazzled him. “I hope Nico emulates the success of his grandfather. He was a young man of great character, what is expected from the grandson of Muhammad Ali”Was praised (or pressured?) By the CEO of Top Rank, who in his youth promoted 27 against Ali, including a memorable third showdown with Joe Frazier in Manila.

During those times, the aspiring professional, who had his grandfather’s face tattooed on his right arm, there were some rare perks for any moderate novice who does not bear the name Ali: He previously worked with SugarHill Steward, nephew of legendary Emanuel Steward and trainer of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, and sparred with former super welterweight world champion Julian Williams.

Its premiere at Top Rank was on Aug. 14. The bout, which was agreed in four rounds and framed in the super middleweight category, was one of eight complementary duels last night that became the headliner in the confrontation between Texan Joshua Franco and Australian Andrew Moloney for the World Association super flyweight title. of Boxing. Predictably, however, the grandson of the most dazzling champion of all time has received noticeably more attention than is often given to a novice.

That night, It took Ali Walsh 71 seconds to put the unknown Jordan Weeks on the canvas (He came to that presentation with a record of 4 wins and 1 loss) and 109 seconds to take him out of the fight. He climbed into the ring of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa wearing white pants with a black sash (similar to what Ali had used most of his career), a matching robe and a T-shirt with the image stamped on the front .of his grandfather’s face.

“The pants were given to me after his death so I could remember him. I never thought to use them. The day before the fight, I said to myself: ‘I’ll take them.’ Very good “, says Nico, who described his debut as “an emotional journey”. Meanwhile, Bob Arum waved his hands. “If I were my grandson, nothing would happen. But he was Ali’s grandson and knew what was in his DNA. You can’t completely exclude genetics. “excited the promoter.

No one hides with the huge emphasis that in this story all the roads lead to the first person to win the world title in the heavyweight division three times. Even Nico himself, who is the son of Rasheda Alione of the Louisville star’s daughters with her second husband, Belinda Boydand of Bob Walsha retired U.S. Marine sergeant who currently owns an Italian restaurant in Chicago.

Nico climbed into a ring for the first time at the age of 10 to participate in a charity event organized by St. Louis. Baldrick’s Foundation, an NGO that helps children with cancer and of which he is still represented today. At 14, she made her amateur debut despite her mother’s opposition and her grandfather’s support. “When I got into boxing, I didn’t know what I was getting into and I thought about quitting. But he pushed me and I remember that moment to this day. “counts.

Since then, family bond has many doors for him, such as Top Rank, but it also puts him in the awkward position of being a “grandson of”. Too much pressure? “Every boxer feels pressure when fighting. Mine has grown to the best of my abilities. And from my family, not outside. I want my family to be proud of me. And so did my grandfather. “secured in October last year, after his second success as a professional.

That win against James Westley (like his rival, he only had one fight on his record and won it) was also on the fast and served as a supplement to the night where Shakur Stevenson snatched him the WBO super featherweight title. Jamel Herring at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, the city where Ali returned to boxing in 1970 after a 43-month suspension and lit the Olympic torch in 1996.

That matchup was followed by a one-point win over Reyes Sanchez (he has a 6-0-0 record) at Madison Square Garden, where his grandfather appeared eight times, won and lost to Frazier and ousted Oscar Bonavena ; and a strong finish against Jeremiah Yeager (1-1-1) in Tulsa before Saturday’s win over Alejandro Ibarra.

Can you think of these five consecutive victories as the beginning of a wonderful career? It is difficult to project this on what has been seen so far. None of the opponents measured against Nico had a negative score. Of course, on nights of this dimension, broadcast across the planet, boxers with losing records can’t be scheduled, even if partners of rising figure. “I can’t fight cans of tomatoes”Assurance of Ali’s grandson. However, none of these rivals have a remarkable record and it will be difficult for them to surpass this sport.

So far, Top Rank makes him an impressive record by number with low stakes battles. One of the questions specialists ask themselves is what happens when the level of opposition rises. Another is how long Nico, who is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Business from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will decide to extend his career.

Rasheda, his mother, rehearsed the answer to that second question. To do this, she used the hurtful images Muhammad Ali offered in the final battles of his career, against Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick, when he was a woman. “My father did a lot of boxing, he took longer than he should. Nico can’t be wrong, he has other plans for his life. He’ll get his best at boxing and then he’ll move on. “assured.