MINNESOTA’S AKALE GETS HIS CHANCE IN THE BOXING SPOTLIGHT

JUNE 29, 2024

For boxing prospect Sona Akale, fighting on ESPN with the potential of 71 million viewers, is like a dream come true.

But he isn’t taking time to celebrate.

“I actually had a feeling I would get here, but I’m trying to stay in the moment and treat this like any other fight,” Akale said. “I’m still in the gym all the time and I just keep getting better and better. I will be at my very best for this fight.”

Akale, a Saint Paul, Minn., resident, is fighting on the main card of a Bob Arum Top Rank pro boxing event on June 29 at James L. Knight Center in Miami Beach, Fla. His opponent is Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of legendary champion Muhammad Ali.

Both fighters sport a 9-1 record, but Akale, known as “Slink Proper,” owns an upset victory over Walsh last year in Tulsa, Okla.

Scott Tolzmann of Extreme Maximus Boxing Promotions, negotiated the 6-round rematch with Top Rank matchmakers. Tolzmann, a promoter and matchmaker, has partnered with promoter Monte Cox to produce 20 events in 5 years around the Midwest.

Akale trains at Element Boxing Gym in Saint Paul, Minn., with trainer Shane Chanslor and manager Quincy Caldwell.

Tolzmann also negotiated the first Akale-Walsh fight and was criticized by people who thought Akale was being put in over his head. But Tolzmann had confidence in Akale.

“Scott has been there for me since the beginning … he’s my guy,” Akale said. “He actually cares about me as a person, not just as a fighter. Scott does his thing and gets things done. He’s straight forward and an all-around good guy.”