Chicago — It’s been a while since we last saw PFL prospect Biaggio Ali Walsh, grandson of legendary boxing champ Muhammad Ali.
“I haven’t fought since August of last year, so after this fight I’d like to get another fight and maybe God-willing another fight,” Ali told media outlets including Cageside Press on Wednesday, ahead of PFL Chicago, where he takes on Ronnie Gibbs. “I’m still a baby in the game, so staying active is super-important.”
Walsh is entering his third fight as a pro, and is 2-0; he also posted a 5-1 record as an amateur. The majority of his fights have come under the PFL banner, as the company signed the lightweight early on. At 26, he’s still just outside of his prime, but activity will be key over the next few years.
In Gibbs, his latest opponent, Ali Walsh sees “more of a striker,” a local Chicago kid who is no doubt training with a good team. Still, he added, “I know there’s levels to this, and I don’t think he’s at that level yet.”
The inevitable comparisons come with Ali Walsh, to his late grandfather, considered almost universally the greatest boxer of all time. Asked about punching power in MMA, and knocking opponents out, he admitted that “I’m still figuring that out.”
“With four ounce gloves, you don’t have to throw 100% to knock somebody out. Even in that last fight, I felt like I threw 20% and the guy went down.” That was last August, when Brian Stapleton fell victim to an overhand right.
“It’s more like precision and timing. That’s kind of what does it. You ask any fighter, a knockout punch almost feels like you’re punching air. And that means that kinetic energy from the ground up, that energy was fully transferred. Kind of like when you’re golfing or playing baseball. A perfect swing, it feels like there wasn’t contact, it was just flowing. I’m still learning that, and hopefully Friday night I’ll feel nothing when he goes down.”
Watch the full PFL Chicago media day appearance by Biaggio Ali Walsh above.
