Jake Paul hits back as Muhammad Ali's grandson turns down 'circus' boxing showdown with social media star

The grandson of sporting icon Muhammad Ali has opened up on his decision to turn down a fight with Jake Paul and instead has his sights on WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez.

Nico Ali Walsh extended his record to 10 wins and one defeat with a unanimous points victory against Sona Akele in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. After the fight, the 23-year-old expressed his desire to share the boxing ring with Lopez after the American 'disrespected' his family legacy. Walsh also revealed that he knocked back a lucrative offer to face social media star turned-boxer Paul.

A fired-up Walsh said: "One thing for sure I gotta clear, Teofimo Lopez said in an interview a few weeks before this fight he disrespected my family saying that I'm only in boxing because I'm desperate for money and fame and I thought that was real wrong for someone I used to look up to say.

"But, you know, it is what it is. I just wanna let everyone know that I chose the path of boxing, I chose the path of legacy If I wanted to, I could be a millionaire right now.

"Before this fight, I denied a multi-million-dollar contract from MVP Promotions, to fight Jake Paul, and I'm fighting a real fighter tonight. I'm not a part of that circus league of boxing. This is the real league of boxing and this is what I'm gonna do."

In response, Paul, 27, took to social media to scoff at Ali Walsh's comments. He decidedly tagged him as an imposter, discounting Walsh's complaints: "Lol exactly. His whole point here works against him.

"I been trying to fight this fraud and now he admitted he ducked me but calling me a circus act. Gifted a decision tonight because of his last name. Shake my head."