Hearing all the smack talk that’s so prevalent at the highest level of boxing is a delightful echo for Biaggio Ali Walsh.
It’s one way the grandson of Muhammad Ali connects with his fighting genetics during the heat of his Professional Fighters League competition.
Ali Walsh, 25, stopped by the media center before the news conference of last week’s Premier Boxing Champions’ debut Saturday night card on Amazon Prime Video, and his attention was affixed on the poster photo of the most talkative of the fighters: WBA 140-pound champion Rolly Romero.
“My grandpa basically started the trash-talking stuff [and] he would love to see the trash talking that’s happening,” Ali Walsh said. “The way people react to it. The fights.”
It’s one thing to talk, and another to back it up like Muhammad Ali did. So Ali Walsh was hooked on how his Las Vegas neighbor Romero [now 15-2, 13 KOs] will fare against Mexico’s far more sullen Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-2-1, 17 KOs).
After debuting in the PFL mixed martial arts league Feb. 24 with a victory in the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions card, Ali Walsh said he’s certain his legendary three-time heavyweight champion grandfather would have taken a liking to MMA.
“He would’ve been a huge fan, especially around the time [Conor] McGregor fought at featherweight,” and trash-talked everyone in the UFC, Ali Walsh said.
He said he embraces the daunting challenge of being an Ali.
“There’s an incredible amount of pressure. Even when I played high school football, everyone talked about my grandpa, who I was related to. So much is expected of me because of it,” he said. “But then again, every fighter has pressure – everybody’s whole family is watching. What really matters is what you do with that pressure?
“I’m just any human being. So I bring the pressure into my fights. They want to beat Muhammad Ali’s grandson, right? So I put that pressure back on them.
“I’m at a point now where I’m convinced it’s in my blood. It’s in the way I fight, the way I attack people. You can see the viciousness that was there within my grandpa – a pretty face who was a killer. It’s only going to get better. It’s going to be a long journey.”
Ali Walsh took satisfaction in hearing a story this week when a few longtime boxing observers scoffed at the suggestion that a Canelo Alvarez-David Benavidez bout could generate 1.6 million buys in the U.S. to get Alvarez to the $150 million minimum he’s demanding.
“It’ll never happen here, then, because neither of them talk enough,” the fight veteran argued.
“That’s wild,” Ali Walsh responded.
“I’m not much of a talker, but my name will sell. I didn’t know that if you’re not talking it might not sell as well. [Canelo and Benavidez] are two such high-level guys … I’d think the true boxing fans will still buy it.
“But it’s crazy where the sport has come thanks to [Muhammad Ali]. I’ve seen Benavidez throwing a lot of shade lately though. Regardless, that fight will sell because the fans know this is a great matchup.”