NICO ALI WALSH has been told to put aside his family’s legendary legacy and accept a mega-money fight with Jake Paul.
The 25-year-old middleweight – grandson to Muhammad Ali – revealed last year that he turned down $3million (£2.2m) to face YouTuber-turned boxer Paul.
But his new manager Amer Abdallah – who has worked with Paul and his promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian before – would have advised Ali Walsh otherwise.
Because despite carrying the most iconic surname in all of boxing – that alone cannot set up his future like the millions of dollars Paul can offer.
Abdallah told SunSport: “I mean that was before I was involved with Nico I wasn’t aware of the conversations, the discussions. I would have probably told him to take it.
“And I and you gotta give the kid a lot of credit – especially in his early 20s – he’s never seen even remotely close to that kind of money.
“But he’s trying to do it the right way and and I commend him for that. I’m a little bit more of the mindset of situate yourself in the sport.
“Situate yourself financially because at the end of the day, careers are over.
“You see these horrible cases of legitimate fighters, legitimate champions, distinguished guys, distinguished legends that can’t unfortunately feed their families.
“So use your brand, use your legacy, use what you have to be able to maximise that and monetise that because at the end of the day, the belts collect dust.
“The legacy sometimes are forgotten and you just have to be able to provide for your family.
“So I think if I would have been here in that position, I would have probably grabbed him by the arm and taken him to the table to sign it.
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“But I give him so much credit and it tells me where his heart is and where his head is in the sport.”
Abdallah – a former kickboxing world champion – knows the Paul brothers well.
He helped promoter British YouTuber KSI’s two fights against older brother Logan in 2018 and 2019.
Abdallah also worked on Paul’s 2023 fight with Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia – which stills stands as his only loss in 13 professional bouts.
He was even in Mike Tyson’s training camp and corner before the heavyweight legend controversially made a comeback last November to fight Paul – losing over eight rounds.
So Abdallah would be ready to come to the table with Paul’s camp once again on behalf of Ali Walsh.
He said: “I love working with Nakisa and Jake. I think what they’ve done with MVP is phenomenal. I think it’s unprecedented.
“I think it’s disrupting the sport – in a positive way – it’s bringing eyeballs to the sport in a positive way.
“I was with KSI when he first started this in Manchester and LA and there’ll be some things that come out here soon in the future.
If that opportunity came again I would absolutely sit down and have that.”
Nico Ali Walsh’s manager Amer Abdallah on Jake Paul fight
“But what they’ve done for the sport is great so if that opportunity came again I would absolutely sit down and have that.”
Paul returns on November 14 in a controversial exhibition against lightweight champ Gervonta Davis – who is FIVE STONE lighter.
The spectacle showdown – over ten, three minute rounds with 12oz gloves to be worn – will NOT count towards their official records but a winner will be declared.
Ali Walsh meanwhile takes to the ring on Wednesday in the Philippines against 10-2 Thai fighter Kittisak Klinson – promoted by IBA.
It falls on the week of the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila – in the renovated arena where Ali beat Joe Frazier.
And Abdallah said: “Nico is coming off a shoulder injury, I’d like him to get back in, get a couple of wins, get his confidence back to where it was.
“He’s very confident, he had a great camp, coach Fernando and him and the strength and conditioning guys have done a great job.
“I think mentally he’s where he needs to be, physically you’re going to have probably the best performance of Nico Ali Walsh’s career.
“He’s going to go out there and have fun and it’s commemorative of the 50th anniversary of his grandfather.”
