Nico Ali Walsh, a Grandson of Muhammad Ali, to Make Boxing Debut

It’s not clear how far boxing might take Ali Walsh. But his debut comes with the attention generated by his family name.

Nico Ali Walsh didn’t default to boxing, even though his grandfather, Muhammad Ali, was a three-time heavyweight champion and one of the best fighters in history. And Ali Walsh, 21, says none of his relatives pushed him to box professionally, even though people on both sides of his family have deep connections to the sport. An aunt, Laila Ali, went 24-0 as a pro from 1998 to 2007. An uncle, Mike Joyce, manages fighters and runs the Celtic Boxing Club in Chicago. Instead, Ali Walsh, who grew up in Las Vegas, said he came to love the sport for himself and to handle the family baggage that comes with it. On Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla., he is scheduled to make his pro debut, televised by ESPN. He acknowledges that his connection to Muhammad Ali generates the buzz that landed his first pro fight on an ESPN card. But he also fights to find the balance between honoring his grandfather’s name and establishing his own.