Who is Nico Walsh?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Sep 2025
There is a serious move to include middleweight Nico Walsh on the “Thrilla In Manila” commemoration card at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 29 and negotiations are underway to bring him over So who is he?
Walsh, 25, happens to be Muhammad Ali’s grandson. His mother Rasheda is the daughter of Ali and Khalilah, formerly known as Belinda Boyd. Rasheda is married to Bob Walsh and their children are Nico and Biaggio. Khalilah was 17 when she married Ali, who was 25, in 1967. Khalilah was Ali’s second wife after Sonji Roi. Khalilah and Ali were divorced in 1977. Ali was married twice more to Veronica Porche and Yolanda (Lonnie) Williams.
Khalilah was in Chicago while Ali escorted Veronica around Manila for the “Thrilla” in 1975. Ali’s affair with Veronica was hot news and Khalilah, unaware of her husband’s romantic tryst, reacted like a scorned woman out for retribution when she found out. She took the first flight out of Chicago to Manila and upon landing, went straight to Ali’s hotel room for a showdown. Mark Kram, in his book “Ghosts of Manila,” wrote about the incident:
“President Marcos had met Ali on a previous occasion, was complimentary of Veronica’s beauty. She had been introduced by Ali as his wife. In Chicago, Belinda read of the moment in the papers. Embarrassed and angry, she flew immediately to Manila. Once in Manila, Belinda went to the Hilton Hotel, wrecked his suite with Ali gazing on in silence. A few hours later, she flew back to Chicago, their marriage was over and Belinda would get $2 million and their houses.”
Walsh was nine when he figured in his first amateur fight. He turned pro in 2021 and racked up eight straight wins before encountering Danny Rosenberger at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas in 2023. The six-round bout went the distance and the outcome was a split draw, later overturned to no-contest after Rosenberger tested positive for an illegal substance. His record is now 12-2 with five KOs.
Asked why he took up boxing, Walsh told writer Thomas Hauser, “Doing what my grandfather did makes me feel closer to him.” A Muslim like Ali, Walsh said, “I don’t have a problem inflicting pain when I’m in the ring … it’s part of the job but other than that, I try to be nice.” Hauser, writing in Boxing News, made this assessment of Walsh’s boxing ability: “He has reasonably fast hands but he doesn’t move his head enough and brings his jab back low, he doesn’t have the hunger or wellspring of anger that can fuel a fighter to be great.”
Walsh’s bloodline is more interesting than his record. If ever he shows up for the “Thrilla” commemoration, it would be a treat, more out of the ring than in. Still, to watch Ali’s grandson square off wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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