NEW YORK – Nico Ali Walsh remained unbeaten Saturday night in the same famed arena where his legendary grandfather engaged in “The Fight of the Century” 50 years earlier.

The 21-year-old Ali Walsh went the distance for the first time in three professional fights, but he defeated Reyes Sanchez by majority decision in their four-round middleweight match at Madison Square Garden. Judges James Kinney (40-36) and Robin Taylor (39-37) scored their fight for Las Vegas’ Ali Walsh, but judge Alan Nace scored their competitive bout a draw (38-38).

Despite taking some flush punches, Muhammad Ali’s grandson, a senior at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, improved to 3-0. Sanchez, of Topeka, Kansas, lost for the first time in five years as a pro (6-1, 2 KOs).

Ali Walsh wanted a knockout and went after Sanchez at times in the fourth and final round. Sanchez took his best shots well, though, including a thudding right to the body with just under 50 seconds to go in their fight.

Sanchez was battered during the second round, but he caught Ali Walsh with a right uppercut about a minute into the third round, when Ali Walsh was backed into the ropes. Ali Walsh fired back to stop Sanchez’s momentum.

Sanchez landed four right hands during the final 40 seconds of the third round, though, let Ali Walsh know he was in a fight.

Ali Walsh landed a left-right combination barely a minute into the second round. A sweeping right hand by Ali Walsh staggered Sanchez with just under 30 seconds on the clock in the second round.

Ali Walsh later blasted Sanchez with a right hand that made him stumble backward just before the second round ended.

Ali Walsh connected with a right hand to the side of Sanchez’s head just after the midway mark of the opening round. Sanchez landed a right uppercut as Ali Walsh backed into the ropes later in the opening round.

A right-left combination by Ali Walsh backed up Sanchez with about 25 seconds to go in the first round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.