Living in the shadow of a sports legend is not easy. If you don’t believe it, ask Nico Ali Walsh. The grandson of the almost mythic Muhammad Ali has to fight to make a name for himself in world boxing, while fans and media constantly remind him of his grandfather’s legacy.
Ali Walsh debuted as a professional boxer just three years ago. In that time, the young boxer has fought 12 times with a record of 11 wins, five of them by knockout, and one loss.
Media and fans have witnessed how Ali Walsh has tried to get away from the shadow of his family tree. However, being the grandson of Muhammad Ali, one of the all-time greats, and nephew of Laila Ali, a pioneer of women’s boxing, the mission is almost impossible.
That’s exactly what happened on Nico’s visit to Madison Square Garden, where he found a piece of family history that left him stunned.
Nico’s encounter with family history
In a video posted by the Source of Boxing account on Instagram, Ali Walsh can be seen contemplating a scale his grandfather used before one of his fights. “This is the same exact scale, is it?” Nico asks one of his companions, who responds, “Yes, it is the same one.”
Someone else asks him, “How are you feeling right now?” A pensive Ali Walsh replies, “Oh my God! I mean, this looks ancient. I can’t believe.”Someone else confirms that it is indeed the same scale Ali used “many times.”
This is probably not the first time Nico has found an item that belonged to his legendary grandfather. However, it is understandable that the young boxer feels a bit reverent when he comes across an item so close to his roots.
Fan reactions
As is common in these cases, fans’ reactions were very diverse, from praise to criticism, not to mention the occasional taunt from mostly anonymous users. “Imagine how good his granddad was for him to be getting this amount of attention 2 generations down,” wrote one fan, while another said “He’s shook and we understand why.”
A third criticized, “Bro said he’s trying to make his own legacy, then mention his grandfather every 20 mins.” Someone else couldn’t believe what Ali Walsh was asking, “I’m so confused about this clip.”
It is impossible to please everyone and Nico Ali Walsh is surely aware of that. So while criticism is pouring in from left and right, he is focused on forging his own path, without losing sight of his family legacy.
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