EXCLUSIVE — The Ali family name is considered royalty in combat sports. Muhammad Ali, who dominated boxing for years, is known as "The Greatest." The next generation of Ali's are ready to take over the combat world.
For Biaggio Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali's grandson, he is looking to craft his own path, not letting doubters disrupt his route to becoming an MMA great.
Biaggio signed with the Professional Fighters League, a promotion with a tournament format. He is going through a different journey than his brother, Nico Ali Walsh, currently signed to Top Rank. That was the former home of his grandfather, the former heavyweight champion of the world. Both brothers fight on ESPN and ESPN+.
A former college football player, the 24-year-old fell in love with the sport at an early age and later joined Xtreme Couture MMA. He knew this was his calling.
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"I was just more attracted to MMA," Biaggio told The Sporting News. "I actually never thought about boxing. I obviously grew up in a boxing family, watching the sport. But I became a fan of MMA and the UFC when I was a freshman in high school. It attracted my eyes more. I really fell in love with the idea that multiple martial arts play a part in a fight. That you don't need to just punch someone, but you can kick someone in the leg, kick them in the head, use spinning elbows, take people down, and wrestle. You could do multiple things, have weapons, and options for those weapons."
Fighting out of Las Vegas, Biaggio is 3-1 as an amateur. He lost his first fight in 2022 but has won three in a row. The PFL signed him to a contract in 2022, and he's 2-0 with the promotion. Biaggio's next fight is on June 16 at PFL 5, facing Travell Miller in another amateur bout. Miller is 3-2 as an amateur, winning his last fight in April via unanimous decision.
Some fighters enter the cage as a pro right away, while others take their time. The latter is how Biaggio wants to handle his career.
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"This is a sport to not rush towards," Biaggio said. "When you go pro, you can’t go back to amateur. Why not take advantage of my amateur career and get as much experience as I can? This fight, my last fight, and the fight before that are all PFL fights. It’s on ESPN, on a big stage. As an amateur, the slot I have is normally for the highest level, pro experience.
"To get this type of experience as an amateur, by the time I turn pro, not only will I be more than ready to compete as a pro, but I’ll also be very used to the stage and the media attention that comes with it. I’m trying to do everything right, and I think this is the right way."
The PFL launched in 2018, following the restructuring of the World Series of Fighting promotion. Signing fighters like Kayla Harrison, Brendan Loughnane, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Cedric Doumbe, and even boxing star Claressa Shields, the PFL looks to extend its influence in combat sports. It continues that route with the signings of Francis Ngannou and YouTuber Jake Paul.
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The promotion reached out to Biaggio, who is grateful for the opportunity they have given him. Called after his first fight, a loss, he gives them credit (calling Ray Sefo and Peter Murray great people) for seeing potential in him. His name is noticeable, but his skills in the cage have been worthy of a look. Dreaming of fights against Max Holloway, Georges St-Pierre, and King Leonidas of Greek mythology fame, Biaggio continues to hone his craft.
There will always be doubters, especially those who believe his name alone got him to compete on main cards on ESPN. Biaggio knows the pressure to succeed will always be there and welcomes it with open arms and closed fists.
"I’m always going to have a target on my back," said Biaggio. "My brother’s a pro boxer, he’s always going to have a target on his back. Just us being who we are at birth is pressure. I’ve been used to haters since I was a freshman in high school. It’s always been a comparison between me and my grandfather, even when I played football, a completely different sport. ‘Oh, you’re the starting running back because you’re Muhammad Ali’s grandson.’
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"A lot of people need to understand that with sports, with respect to actors and the acting community, you can land a huge role with your father being this so-and-so actor, and you may not be a good actor at all and land a huge role. When it comes to sports, it’s all on you. How good are you really? I wouldn’t be talking to you or getting media attention if I was 0-5 or 1-4. There would be no attention because it’s not a good record. I’m about to be 4-1, which is good for an amateur.
"There’s going to be attention when people see you have some potential to be good. Pressure will always be there, and I can’t say what's going to happen in the future when it comes to the trash talking. I expect it. To me, the only thing that really matters is what happens in the cage."