By Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, demonstrated resilience by fighting through a dislocated shoulder to secure a win against Sona Akale in Miami. Despite the injury sustained in the final round, Walsh emerged victorious on the scorecards after six challenging rounds, including a knockdown he delivered in the third round with a left hook.
In the aftermath of his triumph, Walsh disclosed that he had rejected a lucrative offer to fight social media influencer Jake Paul, opting instead to pursue the more traditional path of boxing. He addressed disparaging remarks made by Teofimo Lopez, who had suggested that Walsh’s boxing career was driven by desperation for money and fame. Walsh refuted this by emphasizing his commitment to the sport’s legacy over financial gain.
Walsh, who improved his professional record to 11-1 with this win, downplayed the possibility of a rematch with Akale, insisting that he had already proven himself in their first encounter. Despite the unexpected shoulder injury, he managed to persevere and secure the win, which he feels validates his performance in their initial bout. He expressed satisfaction with his victory, suggesting that he has now effectively won twice against Akale, countering the previous decision that he felt was undeservedly awarded to his opponent.
