Canelo Alvarez is already one of the best fighters in boxing history, according to Nico Ali Walsh

• Canelo Alvarez is one of Nico Ali Walsh's favorite fighters. The other is his grandpa Muhammad Ali.
• Ali Walsh lauded Canelo's discipline, aggressiveness, and ring smarts.

LAS VEGAS — Sports fans need to get used to calling talent when they see it, even if it means making claims that a particular athlete is taking their place amongst the greats of the game.

That's according to 21-year-old fighter Nico Ali Walsh, famed for following in his famous grandfather Muhammad Ali's footsteps as a knockout puncher in his own right.

Ali Walsh obliterated his most recent opponent Alejandro Ibarra during Saturday's Top Rank event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

A one-two punch combination at the two-minute and 50-second mark was all that it took for Ali Walsh to separate Ibarra from his senses in the first round.

Speaking to Insider and other reporters prior to his stunning win, Ali Walsh claimed that Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is his favorite fighter "aside from my grandfather."

He said: "I truly believe he's one of the all-time greats. People have a hard time accepting the fact there are all-time greats right now, like Tyson Fury.

"Kobe Bryant was an all-time great. I knew that when he was alive and playing. But others didn't realize until he passed away."

Canelo is disciplined in the gym and aggressive in the ring, Ali Walsh says

For Ali Walsh, it is time to give Alvarez his flowers for the way he is establishing himself as the very best boxer regardless of what weight class he is campaigning in.

In recent years, he has scored wins from middleweight all the way through to light heavyweight to become a four-weight world champion.

"Canelo" returns to the ring Saturday for a 175-pound world title tilt against the current WBA champion Dmitry Bivol in an event that takes place at the T-Mobile Arena — a 15-minute walk from where Ali Walsh finished Ibarra with ease.

On what he thinks makes Alvarez great, Ali Walsh said: "The biggest thing I love about fighters is their discipline, and I've noticed with Canelo that he has that discipline. You always see him in the gym and focused.

"Aside from that, his aggressiveness in the ring and his ring IQ mainly is unlike other boxers today and that's what makes him so special."

The Matchroom-organized Canelo vs. Bivol event airs Saturday on DAZN pay-per-view, with Alvarez set for a $53 million payday whether he wins or loses.