The second event in 2023 for the Professional Fighters League took place on Friday night. One intriguing matchup involved Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of former Heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali.
Ali Walsh signed an amateur contract with the PFL back in September of 2022. Thus far, he is 1-0 in the promotion and 3-1 overall in his amateur career.
He faced off against Isaiah Figueroa in an amateur fight on Friday and impressed in a big way. His grandfather is obviously one of the greatest boxers of all time. Ali Walsh used impressive boxing skills early and often, putting away Fiigueroa in the first round in a TKO victory.
THE REF STEPS IN! Biaggio Ali Walsh gets the job done in the 1st round improving his amateur record to 3-1!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN2 & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/ngAJGro2MI— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 8, 2023
Ali Walsh is still very early in his MMA career at just 24 years of age. However, many believe that he has tons of potential based on his performance Friday night.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 8, 2023
MUHAMMAD ALI’S GRANDSON HAS HANDS TOO #2023PFL2 pic.twitter.com/RHQlJhwRyC
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) April 8, 2023
Biaggio Ali Walsh finishes Isaiah Figueroa to move to 3-1 as an amateur
pic.twitter.com/lS0y3JHprG— MMA Mania (@mmamania) April 8, 2023
Biaggio Ali Walsh wins again! 👑 #2023PFL2 pic.twitter.com/S0nFkJtg0f
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) April 8, 2023
#Boxing fans know of Nico Ali Walsh, and now #MMA fans know of Biaggio Ali Walsh. Ali Walsh takeover? #2023PFL2
— Daniel Yanofsky (@DanYanofsky) April 8, 2023
And just like that, yet ANOTHER 1st round KO for Biaggio Ali Walsh.
His striking was obviously spot on, but man did he show impressive takedown defense. #PFL2
— Johnny Resendiz (@Johnnyresendizz) April 8, 2023
Biaggio Ali Walsh discussed the victory after the fight and revealed what is next for him and his career moving forward.
“I started this fight off a little tense,” he said in his postfight interview. “Obviously nervous, fighting in front of my hometown and everything. I had to relax for a second, and once I relaxed that’s kinda when I got everything adjusted.”
He then revealed that his plan is to turn professional once he feels comfortable after more amateur fights within the PFL promotion.
“What’s next is I’m going to fight again. And then after that, I’m gonna fight again and then after that, I’m gonna fight again and then after that, I’m gonna fight again. I’m going to keep fighting until I’m ready to turn pro. I want to make a name for myself and create my own legacy. Every single fighter in the world wants to make their own name. I’m just like any other fighter, I just have a famous grandfather. But what happens in the cage is what really matters.”
Biaggio Ali Walsh continues to build his own legacy inside the SmartCage!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN2 & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/ByyUubZOeZ— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 8, 2023
He clearly has a long way to go in his MMA career, but thus far he has passed the eye test for someone to watch as a future name in the sport.
[Professional Fighters League on Twitter] Photo Credit: ESPN+
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.