Meet Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Biaggio Ali Walsh: unlike the boxing legend, the American footballer debuted with his first MMA match this month, and once modelled for Versace with Irina Shayk

Jun 28 , 2022

Biaggio Ali Walsh (right) is the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali (left). Photos: AP, @biaggioaliwalsh/Instagram

The 23-year-old didn’t get into boxing like his famous late grandad and brother, Nico Ali Walsh, but instead ‘fell in love’ with MMA, making his debut this June

He’s also a model, signing with Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas’ agency Wilhelmina Models, before his mum Rasheda Ali confirmed his move to Next Models on Instagram

When you’re related to one of the greatest boxing legends of all time, it’s perhaps inevitable that sporting prowess will be one of your defining characteristics. And so it is with Biaggio Ali Walsh, grandson of the late Muhammad Ali, whose athletic career to date has already included American football, snowboarding and MMA.

Rasheda Ali (left) cheers for her son Biaggio Ali Walsh (centre) at his game. Photo: @rashedaali1/Instagram

Unlike his younger brother Nico Ali Walsh, 23-year-old Biaggio didn’t get into combat sports right away, instead starting out as a running back in American football at his senior school in Nevada.

Biaggio Ali Walsh joined University of California’s university American football team. Photo: @rashedaali1/Instagram

Not long after, Biaggio signed with UC Berkeley’s California Golden Bears football team and played for them between 2018 to 2019. In late 2019, he switched teams to join the UNLV Rebels (University of Las Vegas), and stayed there until 2020.

Biaggio Ali Walsh’s brother, Nico. Photo: @nicoaliwalsh/Instagram

Meanwhile his brother Nico was training hard to become a professional middleweight boxer and is already excelling. So far he has an undefeated record of 5-0 with three knockouts.

Biaggio Ali Walsh won Gatorade’s Player of the Year for the Vans US Open of Surfing in 2015. Photo: @rashedaali1/Instagram

American football isn’t the only sport that Biaggio has excelled in, however. His earliest Instagram post shows him snowboarding, and while there is little to show that he’s also a keen surfer, his mum posted a photo of him wearing a Vans US Open of Surfing top, so we wouldn’t be surprised if he was good at that too.