Nico Ali Walsh Unfazed By Critics After First Career Loss

Nico Ali Walsh is set to return to the ring on June 29 in South Beach as he looks to avenge his first career loss.

Ali Walsh suffered a majority decision loss to Sona Akale in a very close fight. Following the loss, switched trainers after the loss and has since won two more fights. He will now return to the ring to rematch Akale and the grandson of Muhammad Ali is confident he will be able to avenge the loss.

“I’m just looking to fix the mistakes I made in the first fight – a fight I feel that I should have won,” Ali Walsh told BoxingScene. “But he was awarded the decision, so I have to make it clearer this time. I’ve watched the fight about a million times at this point. I thought it was 4-2 in my favor. I don’t think it was correctly scored, but what can we do? It’s all a part of my journey. It makes this fight even better. I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself.

“I’m criticized more because they put me in the same light as my grandfather, and that’s insane. It’s kind of a blessing that I am [mentioned] in the same sentence with him, but the scrutiny doesn’t get to me,” Ali Walsh added. “I’m under a lot of pressure, and a lot of people don’t believe I can do it. I’ve proved a lot of people wrong already by accomplishing what I have so far.”

Should Nico Ali Walsh avenge his loss, he believes it will start to put him on upward momentum to eventually be a world champion.

“I wouldn’t make it this far if I weren’t here for the long run. I knew I would get to this point,” said Ali Walsh. “I am going to achieve all of the goals that I set out to do. My ultimate goal is to become a world champion. I’m following in the footsteps of my grandfather, but I want to make my own marks along the way. I’ve done things that I know my grandfather would be proud of. But there is so much more to do. And that’s what I am going for – belts and legacy. Once I reach that pinnacle, I have no idea where I’ll go from there.”