Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of former heavyweight champion and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, made a successful professional boxing debut Saturday night, winning in the first round and then paying homage to his grandfather.

On Saturday, Nico Ali marked his pro debut in a scheduled four-round middleweight bout in Oklahoma. Ali Walsh had been fighting amateur but then signed with Top Rank, to turn pro in the middleweight division. The 21-year-old took on Jordan Weeks, a former MMA fighter, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Ali Walsh won his opponent midway through the first round before the middleweight fight was finally stopped at 1:49 of the round. Wearing trunks made for his grandfather, Ali Walsh knocked down his outmatched opponent in the first round itself. Nico Ali landed unanswered punches to the opponent's head.

The fight between Nico Ali, a 21-year-old college student, and Jordan Weeks was notable not because of anything the two had done in the ring but because Ali Walsh was trying to follow in his grandfather's footsteps into boxing. Ali Walsh celebrated with family members in the ring aftermath of the match with 89-year-old promoter Bob Arum, who promoted 27 of Muhammad Ali's fights.

Nico Ali said, "It’s been an emotional journey, this whole ride. Obviously, my grandfather, I’ve been thinking about him so much. I miss him." Bob Arum, who was overwhelmed by Nico's success, told, “I’m a believer in genes. What a magical night for this young man, His grandfather would have been so proud of the way he's honoring him in his own way.”

Called "The Greatest," three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali died in June 2016 after a lengthy battle against Parkinson's disease. His grandson Nico Ali Walsh is trying to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps into professional boxing. He had nine children, including daughter Laila, who, like her father, became a world champion boxer.

Nico Ali Walsh makes his boxing pro debut #TopRank pic.twitter.com/G90Xmh1hBl

— Jim (@ItAlways420) August 15, 2021

It's still surreal to me that more than 50 years after I began promoting The Greatest, his grandson @NicoAliX74 turns pro on our @trboxing show Saturday night. A true moment of pride for me.

His four-round Middleweight debut will air on the ESPN #FrancoMoloney3 main card. pic.twitter.com/KIBc8bDBYC

— Bob Arum (@BobArum) August 12, 2021