Muhammad Ali’s Grandson on Anthony Joshua fight: “It’s dangerous, I don’t want to see Jake Paul get hurt”
Boxer Anthony Joshua’s next fight is a professional heavyweight bout against Jake Paul on Thursday, December 19 in Miami, Florida, streamed live on Netflix.
Rasheda Ali Walsh, daughter of Muhammed Ali and her son professional boxer Nico tell Al Arabiya English that prayers should be said for Jake Paul ahead of his fight with Joshua.
Although the two do not see eye to eye, Ali Walsh says he does not want Jake Paul to get hurt because “Anthony Joshua is no joke”.
Nico also adds, “Usyk is the GOAT [greatest of all time]. Usyk is absolutely amazing”, while speaking to W News presenter Leigh-Ann Gerrans.
Watch the clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIsvcenC9jg
ON HIS PREDICTIONS AHEAD OF THE MATCH AS A PROFESSIONAL BOXER, NICO SAYS:
“No, it’s really dangerous. In all seriousness, you just got to pray for the health of [Jake Paul]. I’m not trying to sound like I’m taking shots at Jake Paul, but you got to like pray for his health because Anthony Joshua is no joke.”
ON IF ANTHONY JOSHUA WILL HAVE THE UPPER HAND, NICO SAYS:
“That fight should not go past probably two rounds. But I am hoping that, you know, me and Jake Paul have never seen eye to eye. We’re not in the same kind of atmosphere, but I don’t want him to get hurt.”
ON LIVING IN HIS GRANDFATHER’S SHADOW, NICO SAYS:
“It’s and and I’m learning more and more about why it’s difficult. I think it’s difficult because people expect something from me and I get treated a certain way because of it. So there it’s a double-edged sword.
“Of course, my name gets out there quicker than anybody else’s because of the Ali name, but with that same token, I’m getting fought harder. I’m getting judged harsher. It’s not just me living in the shadow of my grandfather. He casts a shadow over the world of boxing.”
ON FELLOW BOXER OLEKSANDR USYK BEING THE ‘GOAT’, NICO SAYS:
“Usyk is the GOAT [greatest of all time]. Usyk is absolutely amazing. He stands for something. That’s why I’m a huge Usyk fan. Not only is he an extraordinary talent in boxing, but he stands for something. He stood with his country, which you can’t do anything but respect.
“We were talking about my grandfather casting a shadow on the sport of boxing. The first thing after Usyk won his last title fight was they were comparing to my grandfather and I was like how are they still comparing, like I mean I get comparisons all the time but they’re comparing everyone to him.
“Usyk has the same birthday as him. He was the same weight, same height. They’ve just got so many similarities. But my grandfather cast a shadow over the sport. It’s not just me. Everyone gets it.”
ON HER FATHER’S LEGACY, RASHEDA SAYS:
“My dad used boxing as a platform to create change. And I think what people loved about my dad, he was a great boxer. There’s no question about the three-time world heavyweight champion. Nobody can dispute that.
“He created change and freed his people. My dad grew up in a very segregated community and his people, people of colour were suffering and what he wanted to do was help the people who were oppressed.
“After he retired he still continued to help people even stricken with Parkinson’s. He continued to become a peace ambassador and also he continued to help people who didn’t have a voice and I think those qualities are why my dad will I think forever be the GOAT.”
Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/live/VjdoOuGpvaQ?si=bwf092pB69vmidYY&t=1752
Rasheda and Nico Ali Walsh were on Al Arabiya English for the 2025 IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships taking place in Dubai, UAE from December 2 to December 13 with athletes from over 100 countries in attendance.
The event at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium is part of a larger “Festival of Boxing” featuring a record-breaking total prize pool of over $8 million, the richest in the sport’s history.
About Leigh-Ann Gerrans
Leigh-Ann Gerrans is a seasoned broadcast journalist and presenter currently anchoring at Al Arabiya English in Dubai. With a career that spans major international newsrooms, she brings a sharp, engaging delivery to global headlines.
Before joining Al Arabiya, Gerrans was a news anchor and producer at Bloomberg Radio and Bloomberg TV in London, where she covered business, finance, and political developments across Europe and beyond. Her reporting has appeared in outlets like Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Adria, and she’s known for her clear, authoritative style and ability to break down complex stories for a broad audience.
About Al Arabiya English
Al Arabiya English is the leading source of news and opinion from the Middle East for English-speaking audiences around the world. It is a 24-hour digital news platform publishing breaking news, politics, business, features, opinion and lifestyle. With a headquarters in Dubai and correspondents across the region, Al Arabiya English presents a globalised view of the Arab world to audiences across five continents.
Courtesy of Ammar Aziz