MUHAMMAD ALI’S grandson is set for one final amateur MMA bout before turning professional.
Biaggio Ali Walsh is currently 5-1 in the unpaid ranks and signed to the Professional Fighters League.
The American has five knockout wins in the PFL and returns this Friday in Washington, DC against Joel Lopez.
And he will enter the cage for the last time as an amateur as he hopes to turn pro next year.
Biaggio, 25, told SunSport: “The ideal 2024 would be finish this fight with a win and get my pro career started.
“I don’t expect to jump into the tournament, that would be foolish I think.
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“As soon as I turn pro I need to build some resume, build some stability, maybe still be showcase bouts on the card.
“Regardless of where I am on the card I’m still fighting, still getting that experience so the ideal 2024 would be to get three or four fights as a pro and build my record.”
Biaggio has never gone past the second round due to his impressive display of striking.
So he actually hopes Lopez can see the third and final round as he looks to gain as much experience as possible before entering the pros.
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He said: “To be completely honest, I hope this next fight is a three-round back and forth war.
“That’s what I’m hoping for in this next fight because it will prepare me for my pro career and it will only help me.
“I’m hoping it’s a back-and-forth war and it’s an amateur fight but I hope it’s a fun fight to watch. That’s what I want to give the fans.
“I think having that kind of back-and-forth brawl, that will help me so much in my career and it will prepare me and also give the fans what they want to see.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk