You’ve seen the name on the marquee. You’ve probably seen the iconic white trunks too—the ones Muhammad Ali wore decades ago, now sitting on the hips of a 25-year-old kid trying to survive under the heaviest shadow in sports history. But when you strip away the "The Greatest" marketing and the flickering black-and-white highlights of 1970s heavyweights, what are we actually looking at?
If you're looking for the Nico Ali Walsh record, the numbers currently sit at 13-2-1 with 1 No Contest.
It’s not the pristine, untouched record of a protected prospect. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. It's gritty. It has some weird draws and a few nights where things just didn't go his way. And strangely enough, that makes him a lot more interesting than another manufactured 20-0 fighter.
The Real Numbers: Breaking Down the Nico Ali Walsh Record
Let's get the math out of the way first. As of early 2026, Nico has stepped into the ring 17 times as a professional.
- Total Wins: 13
- Knockouts: 5
- Losses: 2
- Draws: 1
- No Contests: 1
Basically, he’s a middleweight who doesn’t possess the one-punch "erase your memory" power of some of his contemporaries. Five KOs in thirteen wins tells you he’s more of a technician—or a grinder—than a demolition man. He wins on his feet. He wins by being busier.
His most recent outing was a solid, if unspectacular, Universal Decision win over Jeremiah Sserwadda in Dubai back in December 2025. He controlled the pace, stayed behind his jab, and looked like a guy who finally realizes he doesn't have to be his grandfather to be a "real" boxer.
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The Night in Manila (The Sequel Nobody Asked For)
One of the weirdest chapters in the Nico Ali Walsh record happened just a few months ago in October 2025. They called it "Thrilla in Manila 2." Talk about pressure.
Nico flew to the Philippines to fight Kittisak Klinson at the Araneta Coliseum—the exact same building where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier nearly killed each other in 1975. The atmosphere was reportedly electric, but the fight itself was a grueling, awkward affair.
Klinson wasn't there to be a sacrificial lamb. He pressured Nico from the opening bell, landing heavy overhand rights that had Ali Walsh looking a bit shaky early on. Nico eventually found his rhythm and closed the gap, but the judges weren't convinced he’d done enough. The result? A Majority Draw (77-75, 76-76, 76-76).
It was a sobering reminder that nostalgia doesn't win rounds.
Why the Record Isn't Perfect (and Why That Matters)
Most "legacy" fighters are fed a diet of Uber drivers and guys who are paid to fall down in the second round. Nico’s road hasn't been that smooth.
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His first real wake-up call came against Sona Akale in 2023. He lost a split decision that some people called a robbery, but others saw as a young fighter getting outworked. He eventually avenged that loss in 2024, showing some real mental toughness.
Then came February 2025. Nico faced Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. at Madison Square Garden. He was expected to cruise. Instead, he lost a 6-round points decision. It wasn't a fluke; he just got beat.
Then there's the "No Contest" against Danny Rosenberger. Originally, it was a draw, but Rosenberger tested positive for a banned substance. It’s those kinds of weird asterisks that make the Nico Ali Walsh record look like a journeyman's resume rather than a superstar's—and frankly, it’s refreshing.
The Learning Curve
Nico didn't have 300 amateur fights. He had about 30.
In boxing terms, that’s practically nothing. He’s learning how to fight while the whole world watches through a magnifying glass.
- Stance: Orthodox
- Height: 6'0"
- Reach: 74 inches
- Trainer: He's bounced around, working with guys like SugarHill Steward (Tyson Fury’s coach) and Ismael Salas. Currently, he seems to have found a home in Las Vegas, focusing on a more "traditional" defensive style.
What Most People Get Wrong About Him
People love to hate on him because of the name. They see the "Ali" and expect a ghost to appear in the ring. But Nico isn't trying to be a heavyweight king. He's a middleweight. He doesn't dance the same way. He doesn't trash talk with the same poetic flair.
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He’s actually a pretty quiet, deeply religious guy who spends his time praying and training. He’s said in interviews that the name is a "burden he embraces," which is a fancy way of saying he knows he’s getting paid more than he probably should because of his DNA.
But you can’t fake 13 wins. You can't fake 77 rounds of professional boxing.
What’s Next for the Record?
The Nico Ali Walsh record is at a crossroads in 2026. He’s 25 now. The "prospect" label is starting to peel off. He’s entering his physical prime.
To become a legitimate contender—not just a famous grandson—he needs to stop settling for majority draws and close decisions against regional-level opponents. He needs a statement win.
There’s talk of him moving toward a minor title shot by the end of this year, possibly in the Middle East where he’s built a massive following. But he has to stay active. He fought four times in 2025 across New York, Guinea, the Philippines, and Dubai. That’s a hectic schedule for anyone.
Practical Steps for Fans Following the Career:
- Watch the Sona Akale Rematch: If you want to see if he can actually fight, watch the 2024 rematch. It’s his best technical performance to date.
- Ignore the "Greatest" Hype: Judge him as a 13-2 middleweight prospect, not as an extension of his grandfather.
- Check the Under-cards: He rarely headlines major PPVs yet. Look for him on the undercards of Top Rank events.
The Nico Ali Walsh record might never reach the heights of a 56-5 legendary status, but it's a real, honest look at a young man trying to find his own hands in a sport that never lets him forget where he came from.