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Nico Ali Walsh takes fight to Capitol Hill
Pro boxer Nico Ali Walsh, who as a youngster would spend time in Phoenix visiting his late grandfather, Muhammad Ali and would later win a fight in Glendale in 2023, has been spending time trying to help those in his profession by testifying before federal lawmakers.
Walsh, 25, testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in April 2026, opposing a bill that bears his family name.
Walsh, along with former champion Oscar De La Hoya, spoke out in opposition of the Muhammad Ali America Boxing Revival Act, a variation of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act named for the legend that gave fighters rights and protection from exploitation.
The new version of the bill, as put forth by Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing and partner TKO Holdings, would undermine the original act and take away a lot of boxers’ rights. Walsh just wants to find a middle ground so that what his grandfather pushed for is not completely lost.
“I’m used to fighting inside the ring,” Walsh said. “I’m not used to fighting outside of the ring. It felt like a little bit of a full circle moment, because I know my family has had fights, of course, if you know my grandfather’s history, he has had fights with the government. … But there I was, and I feel like was standing up for what I believe in, and I feel like I was standing up for boxing, for the sport I love.”
In short, Walsh wants the lesser-known fighters who don’t get a shot at blockbuster pay-per-view fights to be able to make as much money as possible, as opposed to a more centralized business model such as White’s UFC, where fighters are often treated more like commodities.
“Boxing doesn’t need to be saved,” Walsh said, expressing respect for White’s business acumen. “But there’s things that can be added to it that can make boxing even better. … We can’t be using us fighters as just simple employees just to use for the benefit of companies.”
-José M. Romero
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Digest. Muhammad Ali grandson takes fight to senators
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