Muhammad Ali's grandson called Jake Paul an "embarrassment" after his victory over Mike Tyson.
Paul fought 58-year-old Tyson in a blockbuster showdown last weekend but viewers were distressed to see the former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion unable to compete with a fighter 31 years younger than him. Netflix claims that 60 million households tuned in to witness the occasion worldwide.
That was in spite of the huge backlash the event received even in its build up, with boxing ‘purists’ criticising Paul for taking on a Tyson well past his prime. Their concerns were justified as 'The Problem Child' defeated 'Iron Mike' by unanimous decision at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.
The fight was particularly upsetting for fans as Tyson was clearly outmatched, landing only 18 punches while Paul dominated. Tyson did pocket a reported $20million (£15.8m), but his fellow boxing legend’s grandson - Nico Ali Walsh - has now slammed Paul.
Ali Walsh, whose mother is Rasheda Ali, is a middleweight fighter boasting an 11-1 record. The 24-year-old revealed he had turned down a lucrative fight offer previously from Paul, deeming a showdown with the YouTuber to be beneath the Ali name.
He told Sky Sports: “Morally it was an easy choice. I said no before I even heard the numbers. I believe it was upwards of $3m. Of course, that would be money that I’ve never made in my career. That would be money that I’ve never even seen before. But is everything really money? That’s how I was raised.
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“You’ve got to ask yourself how much does your pride cost? How much are you willing to sell out for? Because that’s exactly how it is, at least in my book. Anyone else can do it. But for me, I’m an Ali, I hold my name in such higher weight, I don’t believe I should be playing in the mud with the likes of Jake Paul.”
Ali Walsh, who shares a close bond with Tyson, expressed his disgust over Saturday's one-sided affair on X, tweeting: "Jake Paul is an embarrassment to this sport. If my grandfather was still around, he'd call him out. Absolutely no shame... Love you Mike."
However, on Instagram, the prospect revealed he would take on Paul - but only if Tyson asked him to. That could potentially lead to another headline event which Paul would successfully market through his own Most Valuable Promotions.
Nico's mother Rasheda also shared her thoughts, stating her father - who passed away in 2016 at the age of 74 - would have been "mortified" by Saturday's fight, but due to the staggering prize money on offer for both men. She told Fox News: "Boxers didn't make money, like you know, Tyson's making. Daddy would have been excited he made that kind of money.
“Well, he would have been excited to a point. Daddy would have been mortified because back then, boxers didn't really make that much. They were fighting for their lives, and I think as my dad started to make boxing more entertaining, that's when people came on board and how boxers started to, after my dad, make a lot of money.”
Ali's biggest payday came towards the end of his career when he pocketed $7.9m (£6.3m) for his loss to Larry Holmes in 1980. He only stepped into the ring once more, suffering another defeat in 1981 to Trevor Berbick, who would get knocked out by a young Tyson five years later. Three-time heavyweight champion Ali reportedly earned a total of $57m (£47.7m) in purse money throughout his illustrious Hall-of-Fame career.
