MMA

MUHAMMAD ALI’S grandson Biaggio is out to make history with brother Nico. Biaggio Ali Walsh is a 3-1 amateur MMA prospect while Nico is a professional boxer, with only a draw blemishing his nine-bout record. 
Muhammad Ali’s grandson Biaggio is an amateur MMA prospectCredit: Cooper Neill / PFL
Nico Ali Walsh is a professional middleweight boxerCredit: EPA
The Klitschko brothers famously ruled the heavyweight division for over a decade while the Charlos both currently hold world titles. 
Similarly in MMA, the Nogueiras were champions and pioneers of modern day Brazilian jujitsu. 
But never have two brothers simultaneously ruled over boxing and MMA individually – so the Ali Walsh siblings want to change that. 
Biaggio, 24, told SunSport: “I believe in my heart that me and my brother were given a gift and the ability to fight is that gift. 
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“I believe that in my heart and that one day we’ll both be champions. 
“I don’t think it’s any time soon, I don’t know how I’m going to get there, I don’t know when it will happen or anything, I just know it will happen.” 
Nico, 22, boxed as an amateur before turning pro in 2021 with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who worked with Ali over 50 years earlier. 
But for Biaggio, a career in MMA was only realised after giving up on his NFL dream in 2019. 
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He is now signed to the Professional Fighters League as an amateur prospect. 
And Biaggio’s bond with Nico has only strengthened through the sport – having been at each other’s throats as kids. 
He said: “Nico knows how to get under my skin! When we were young he used to get under my skin and really draw it out of me. 
“But, we’ve always been close. I think the sport only brought us closer, we’re very supportive of each other. 
“We talk about weight issues, we talk about fighting, we talk about everything, really. He’s my brother, it’s a normal thing to us. 
“But we’ve always been really close. It’s a blessing, I’m very grateful to have someone that I can relate to. And it’s just us two, I don’t have any other siblings.” 
Having not turned pro, Biaggio is unable to compete in the PFL’s $1m winner-take-all season which consists of qualification and knockout stages.  
But he has had two amateur bouts with the PFLand returns next Friday against Travell Miller in the latest of his experience-building bouts. 
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Biaggio said: “I’m still trying to figure out the right mentality, the right style, I’m still trying to get as much experience as possible. 
“So going into this fight, I just want to fight. It’s kind of hard to convey it, I just want to go in there fight and get as much experience as possible.”
Biaggio Ali Walsh has won twice in the PFLCredit: Matt Ferris / PFL More

DEONTAY WILDER’s latest training footage has left some boxing fans adamant he’ll be huffing and puffing in his next fight.The Bronze Bomber hasn’t set foot inside the ring since last October but is ramping up training ahead of a potential blockbuster bout in December.
Deontay Wilder is gearing up to return to the ring for a blockbuster showdownCredit: GETTY
The Bronze Bomber has been hard at work in the gym but fight fans are concerned about his cardioCredit: INSTAGRAM@MALIKKINGSCOTT
Wilder has been preparing for his latest outing at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas under the watchful eye of head trainer Malik Scott.
A recent clip of Scott putting the former WBC heavyweight champion through his paces started doing the rounds on social media this week and sparked concerns from fight fans.
One tweeted: “My worry for Wilder is that he gets tired quickly.
“Early KO or risk getting gassed out before the end of the 12th round.”
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Another said: “Stiff.”
And another said: “Wilder needs to run for conditioning, not box.”
One remarked: “Honestly they need to train him to switch his style up.”
Another chimed in: “If only someone could teach him how to move well and find a bit of balance he’d carry such a threat.
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“But the way he on he’s he looks like he could fall over at any point.”
A long-awaited grudge match with rival Anthony Joshua is on the cards for Wilder, who hasn’t fought since his brutal KO of Robert Helenius.
The showdown, which is still very much in the works, is expected to land in Saudi Arabia.
Wilder and Joshua, 37 and 33 respectively, were due to throw down five years ago when they held all the heavyweight hardware.

But Wilder ended up fighting Tyson Fury – who he had three epic bouts with – Dominic Brezeale and Luis Ortiz.
Although their feud has simmered in recent years, Wilder is still very much excited at the prospect of facing AJ.
He told iFL TV: ‘We got a lot of different options right now at this moment in time. Joshua, everybody.
“I think a lot of people is going to get that dream fight everyone wants to see.” More