Muhammad Ali’s grandson, MMA fighter Biaggio Ali Walsh, is scratching his head at the callout from social media star Jake Paul.
Paul, who crossed over from Youtube to a boxing ring and racked up a 7-1 record, signed a contract with MMA organization PFL.
Ali Walsh is also under contract with PFL.
During his boxing run, Paul defeated several MMA stars – including a decision win early this month over Nate Diaz.
He intends to make his debut in mixed martial arts in 2024.
In an interview conducted earlier this year, Paul expressed interest in fighting Biaggio Ali Walsh in MMA and then face brother Nico Ali Walsh in a boxing match. Nico is an undefeated prospect with an 8-0-1 record.
Both of the Ali Walsh brothers are much smaller than Paul – who fights at cruiserweight.
And because of the size disparity, Paul’s interest doesn’t make any sense to Biaggio.
“It doesn’t make sense to me, I fight at 155-pounds because most guys in this division walk around at the weight I walk around at, Jake’s is a lot heavier – probably over 200 I’d assume,” Biaggio told The Mirror.
“He’s a big dude and Jake Paul is Jake Paul. He’s super good at advertising and marketing, he draws a lot of eyes but that to me is a fight that doesn’t make sense. Even if I were to go up in weight I would be slower, so I don’t think it’s a fight that makes any type of sense.
“But I respect what he’s doing and both he and his brother Logan; the Paul brothers, are geniuses when it comes to marketing so that’s inspiring too because I’m trying to help market myself as well.”
Biaggio’s brother, Nico, is also dismissive of a fight with Paul.
“That’s funny… I have been asked that a few times. I would say that for me personally, right now, that’s not something I’d be interested in now,” Nico Ali Walsh said.
“I want to make a career for myself, I want to continue my grandfather’s legacy in boxing and carve my own path as well. I feel like, no disrespect to him but once you fight someone in that category you often get categorized as that type of fighter. I have a hard time as it is proving myself as a real boxer and I haven’t fought a Youtuber or anything like that so I want to stick with fighting the boxers and getting to the top.”
