Nico Ali Walsh Had Huge Offer To Fight Celebrity Boxer Jake Paul

Saturday night in Miami up and coming fighter Nico Ali Walsh showed a lot of guts in getting a revenge decision win over African journeyman Sona Akale via a sixth round decision. But, for what was shown in the ring it’s what Ali Walsh revealed after the fight that was intriguing as it related to a potentially being the new opponent for Jake Paul later this month.

First, Walsh was part of the undercard of Teofimo Lopez’s WBO junior welterweight title defense win over Steve Claggett on the Top Rank Boxing card.

Ali Walsh, 10-1, 5 KOs, got a rematch with Akale, who beat him surprisingly by decision, handing the grandson of Muhammad Ali his first defeat last August. Ali Walsh scored a knockdown midway through the fight and toughed out dislocating his left shoulder in the final round of the bout to go on to the decision.

Then, in victory, Ali Walsh, who will turn 24 years old next week, revealed a couple of interesting tidbits regarding comments Lopez had made about him. And, then, he broke the news that he could have been Jake Paul’s July 20th opponent for the DAZN pay-per-view show that will instead feature bare knuckle fighter Mike Perry fighting the YouTube/social media celebrity turned fighter Paul.

“Teofimo Lopez said in an interview a few weeks ago, he disrespected my family and saying I’m only in boxing because I am desperate for money and fame. And, I thought that was real wrong for someone I used to look up to, to say,” Ali Walsh told ESPN in the ring.

“I just want to let everyone know that I chose the path of boxing. I chose the path of legacy. If I wanted to, I could be a millionare right now. Before this fight, I denied a multi-million dollar contract from MVP Promotions to fight Jake Paul and I’m fighting a real fighter (Akale) tonight. So, I’m not apart of that ‘circus league of boxing.’ This is the ‘real league of boxing’ and this is what I’m going to do.”

Paul wanted to remain active, when Mike Tyson couldn’t fight him in their huge showdown for July 20th due to health problems and obviously, Ali Walsh was under consideration.

Hear Dan Rafael and me discussing more about this on our newest “Fight Freaks Unite Recap Podcast” by clicking play below,

As we discussed above on the latest “Fight Freaks Unite Pod,” there would have been a large weight discrepancy between Walsh and Paul, who is fighting at cruiserweight, currently. But, obviously the talks had progressed far enough for an offer to be made to Ali Walsh.

Even in victory Saturday night, Ali Walsh will likely be out of action for at least a few weeks due to the shoulder separation and it will be intriguing to see if maybe he’s an opponent for Paul at a future date as well.