Muhammad Ali’s grandson followed up a come-from-behind win with a salute to a fallen boxing icon.
Boxing Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali is smiling somewhere after his grandson Nico Ali-Walsh secured a brilliant come-from-behind victory over a dangerous prospect.
Ali-Walsh and Ebenezer Sowah (7-0-1) clashed in a middleweight bout this weekend in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in a pivotal matchup for both fighters. Ali-Walsh returned to the ring for the first time since a loss to Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. in February.
While the fight didn’t start in Ali-Walsh’s favor, he rallied late to earn one of the most important wins of his career and hand Sowah his first boxing setback.
- READ MORE: 26-year-old Floyd Mayweather defended world title with a relentless stoppage against KO artist
Nico Ali-Walsh remembers the late George Foreman after wild comeback win
A sluggish start was followed up by a blistering finish for Ali-Walsh as the fight went on, utilizing a strong jab and well-timed hooks to keep Sowah off balance. When the fight went to the judges’ scorecards, Ali-Walsh took home the victory by majority decision to get back into the win column.
Nico and his younger brother, Biaggio, have found combat sports success to keep the Ali fighting legacy alive. As Ali-Walsh basked in victory, he made sure to pay tribute to his grandfather’s late rival.
In a recent post to X, Ali-Walsh shared a classy message to one of his grandfather’s legendary adversaries.
“ALHAMDULILLAH for my victory against an opponent who was 7-0 w/ 7 KOs,” Ali-Walsh posted after the win.
“I want to dedicate this fight to the late great George Foreman. A warrior and a hero to many, including myself. He fought on these African grounds with my family 50 years ago. Rest easy Champ.”
George Foreman passed away on March 21st in a Houston, TX hospital at age 76. Foreman is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and was successful in the ring late into his career.
Foreman and Ali clashed in the famous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in 1974, with Ali earning a come-from-behind knockout victory in a stunning upset. It’s regarded as one of the signature fights in boxing history that transcended the sport.
Boxing world continues to mourn the loss of one of the sport’s greatest icons
After Foreman’s death earlier this year, many in the boxing community paid tribute to the late icon. This includes some of his former rivals like Evander Holyfield and Shannon Briggs.
Foreman earned wins against the likes of Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, and Terry Anderson during his legendary career. He retired following a majority decision loss to Briggs in 1997 at age 48.
As for Ali-Walsh, he continues to find success in the ring as of late after an up-and-down boxing career. Before the loss to Guerra in his most recent outing, Ali-Walsh earned three-straight victories, including a rematch win over Sona Akale.
Ali and Foreman’s careers will always be linked for their legendary showdown, and Ali-Walsh continues to make his grandfather proud in and out of the ring.