Top Rank middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (3-0, 2 KOs), the grandson of Muhammad Ali, will now have a new head trainer guiding his corner when he steps in the ring this Saturday against Jeremiah Yeager (1-1-1, 1 KO). Former heavyweight boxer and Joe Frazier protégé Richard Slone will now serve as chief cornerman for Nico.
“Working with Slone is a blessing to my career”, said Walsh. “Most people recognize Rich Slone as the world’s greatest boxing artist but I’ve known him for many years. I know his extensive background working with Joe Frazier and Emanuel Steward as a professional boxing trainer. Together we will do great things.”
“Working with Nico is something I never anticipated but I have known him for most of his life and I know that he has a good work ethic,” said Slone, who spent over a decade training boxers and working corners for top fighters with Emanuel Steward. Nico has worked very hard in preparation for this fight and I think that will show in his performance.”
Slone spent over a decade as the Vice President of Kronk Gym. He’s the official artist for the International Boxing Hall of Fame and has done the artwork for many magazines and fight posters.
Walsh-Yeager will air live Saturday on ESPN+ from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Seems like Walsh is a good guy but Top Rank shoving him down are throat like they did Butterbean and Mia St John back in the day.
It looks like Top Rank is making a adjustment in lessor level opponent due to the mediocre performance last fight. Probably will take this a bit slower and mix in some of these smaller cards until Walsh gets some more fights under his belt. Not that we expected a KO last time but he was not dominating that fight. It was closer than it should be.
Nico definitely not The Greatest.
Dosen’t have to be-has some ability and is interesting to see Ali’s grandson.
At least he’s fighting actual boxers and not retired, 40 year old UFC stars
Yes but the guys you are talking about if they were fighting real boxers the boxers might not even be as good as the 40 year old ufc guys
He looks like he has jaundice.
“Nico Ali Walsh” is one of the best Boxing names. The broadcasters usually say all three names when discussing him so seemingly a name people like to say. Me included.