Nico Ali Walsh believes more fighters are not speaking out about the Ali Revival Act for fear of being frozen out if and when the changes take effect.
Walsh is in Dubai where he fights on Friday at the IBA Champions Fight Night at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium
Walsh, a middleweight, has a record of 11-2-1 (5 KOs), and is 1-1-1 in his last three fights.
He meets Dubai-based Ugandan Jeremiah Sserwadda but has recently been outspoken about the proposed TKO changes to the Professional Boxing Act of 1996 that its defenders claim will improve health and safety for fighters, as well as minimum pay for lower-level fighters.
But those who believe the Act should remain as it is are concerned about a lack of transparency for fighters and the lack of firewalls at the business-end of the sport.
“There’s two sides to this,” said Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali. “One, the fighters that are speaking out on it don't have the platform that I have. Obviously, I’m an Ali, so anything that I say about the Ali Act will reach front news. Just because my grandfather put that act in place and that’s close to me; that’s close to my heart. That’s my family. So that’s one. And then, two, a lot of fighters don’t want to speak on it because these guys that are changing the Act could eventually be giving them an opportunity. As a fighter, you have to be in the position to say something. When you stand for something as a fighter, you’re cutting out a lot of potential money or a lot of potential opportunities that you could be making in the future. But something that my grandfather has always done is he stood on what he believed no matter what repercussions there were. That’s what I want to do. That’s what I’m doing. So anything that I believe in, I will say something. And I don’t care if it makes me lose opportunities or money in the future. I don’t care. I truly don’t believe in the changes to the Ali Act. I think it’s horrible for the sport. It’s horrible for the fighters. And I will always speak my opinion on that.”
Are there any grey areas where the existing Act could be added to with the new ideas to improve it altogether?
“I don't see a problem with the Ali Act now,” said the middleweight. “I want to talk to the people who are trying to make these changes. I’m sure there's fine print somewhere where not every single change could possibly be bad. But why change it at all? What’s the problem with the Ali Act now? I don’t think there's any reason to change it. So, I mean, it’s very unnecessary.”
The bill has received public support from Mike Tyson, a friend of Ali’s, and Ali’s widow, Lonnie. But Ali Walsh said that has not caused dissention in the family.
“No, I don't believe anyone outside of boxing would fully understand the magnitude that changes to the Ali Act would do to the sport, to the fighters,” he said.
Walsh has boxed for four years under the current system, and he has no regrets about the path he has chosen.
He turned pro with the impossible task of living up to a name that is bigger than the sport.
“I’ve loved my pro career so far,” said the 25-year-old. “I’m getting experience on the job for the lack of amateur experience. But I’ve had such an exciting career so far. I’ve gone through ups, downs, in-betweens. I’ve had injuries. So, I have a very exciting career and I’m looking forward to this next fight.”
He has not, however, been oblivious to the online criticism he’s received.
“I mean, I get a lot of hate, but most of the hate is from people that just don’t like hearing about me constantly,” he said.
“All the UK people, all the people that are here in Dubai, all the people that were in the Philippines [where he boxed to a draw in October with Kittisak Klinson], none of them were hating on me. I get all that hate from my own country, which is crazy. But, nah, it’s weird. I really don’t understand the hate. I'm not forcing myself onto anybody. So, I don’t think it’s warranted.”
Ali Walsh knows, too, that he could have taken a softer path than the one he has followed.
“And I remember mentioning that to someone the other day,” he continued.
"Like, I could have been 50-0. I could have had 50 fights in Tijuana fighting a dude who was 1-30, 12-11. Like, this is what a lot of people do. But I just don’t value that. I haven’t fought an opponent with a losing record. Everyone I fight comes to fight, so I’m very proud with my opposition. And it’s only getting better.”
