Niko Ali Walsh revealed that he turned down an offer to face Jake Paul as he got back on the winning track with a win over Sona Akhare on Saturday night.
Ali Walsh, grandson of the great Muhammad Ali, avenged his previous loss to Akhare by winning on the scorecards after six tough rounds.
The 23-year-old knocked his opponent down with a left hook in the third round and fought through a dislocated shoulder in the final round.
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Despite dislocating his shoulder during the bout, Walsh managed to hold on and win against Akare in a middleweight rematch.
In his post-fight interview, he cited recent comments from the night's main fighter, Teofimo Lopez, explaining that he turned down the opportunity to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.
“I want to be clear about one thing: Teofimo Lopez in an interview a few weeks before this fight insulted my family by saying I was in boxing because I was desperate for money and fame. I feel really wrong that someone I once looked up to would say something like that,” Walsh said. “But it is what it is.”
“I want everyone to know that I chose boxing, I chose the path of legend. If I wanted to, I could be a millionaire right now.”
“Before this fight, I turned down a multi-million dollar contract from MVP Promotions to fight Jake Paul. And tonight I'm fighting a real fighter. I'm not part of some circus league in boxing. This is a real boxing league and I'm going to do it.”
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Watch highlights from Teofimo Lopez's unanimous points decision victory over Steve Clagett to retain his WBO junior welterweight title.
Ali Walsh, who improved to 11-1 as a professional with the win over Akale, ruled out a third meeting between the two and reiterated his belief that he deserved to win the first bout.
“I don't know what happened. [with his shoulder]”I'd never experienced anything like that before and it blew up but I survived and I definitely beat him. I don't know what he's upset about,” he said.
“If it had happened to him I think I would have cried like a baby, sat on the ground and quit the fight, but it happened to the right person and I'm just happy with the win. Now I feel like I've won twice because the first time was by decision but I felt like I won.”
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