‘I Talk to Psychologists’: Grandson Details Impact of Having Muhammad Ali as Grandfather

Muhammad Ali’s grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh opened up about his upcoming MMA debut. The former high-school football star decided to make the transition after watching Conor McGregor. Currently, he is receiving training at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Now, training and grooming fighters since 2007, Xtreme Couture MMA was founded by former UFC champion and great Randy Couture. Biaggio Ali’s upcoming fight at New York’s Hulu Theater on November 25 is under the banner of the Professional Fighters League. Founded by Donn Davis in 2018, the league offers a new format that will keep the fighters engaged per season.

Talking to the magazine Insider.com, Biaggio Ali explained how carrying a world-famous surname has impacted his preparations.

Family that Eats Together, Fights Together…

Speaking of family, his younger brother Nico Ali Walsh is already an established name in boxing with a 7-0 record, out of which five were knockout wins. His aunt is  WBC and WIBA super middleweight title holder Laila Ali.

Read More : Muhammad Ali’s Model Grandson Set to Make His MMA Debut to “Continue the Tradition of Fighting in My Family”

Ostensibly, in her book titled ‘Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power’, Muhammad Ali’s far-reaching fame was cited by Laila  for going through bouts of isolation.

An outstanding footballer in Gorman Bishop high school, Biaggio Ali is a recipient of the Review-Journal’s 2016 male athlete of the year award. He played a pivotal role in taking his school team to state as well as national championship.  Later, he was in the college teams of California and Nevada as well.

Taking a new turn, he attended training sessions at Xtreme Couture. Soon, falling in love with kickboxing and grappling, Ali Walsh started participating in minor tournaments. The great Ali’s grandson prefers striking, which is understandable.

The Will Must be Stronger Than The Skill – Muhammad Ali

Ample reasons exist for any fighter to make a name and achieve legitimacy by beating up an Ali. Biaggio, as a result wishes to turn the perceivable disadvantage into a motivation. Seeking help from psychologists to make him mentally stronger, he find meditation an effective method to tackle the pressure. 

“This sport is 90% mental and 10% physical. So, I don’t just train physically — I train my mental side, too. I talk to psychologists, I meditate, and I do all types of things that could help my mental game. And it’s working. “I know I’m gonna have a target on my back for my entire career — and that’s okay.” He said.

It’s a daunting task to fill in the shoes of someone as great as Muhammad Ali. Time alone will tell whether Biaggio Ali Walsh could carry that torch forward. People will be out there to go after him to attain bragging rights. He will have to display a strong chin as his legendary grandfather possessed.

Watch Out for More: Laila Ali on her famous family