Credit: Boxing Insider
https://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/boxing-needs-reform-this-new-ali-act-revival-bill-needed-a-debate/
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act.
The legislation, which now heads to the Senate, means that Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs) could become a thing. The UBO can manage its own rankings, championship belts, and matchmaking without needing the approval of external organizations like the WBC, WBA, or IBF.
The bill is championed by TKO Group Holdings (Zuffa Boxing) and Dana White. It provides a “green light” for White to apply the centralized UFC business model to boxing. The Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA), led by Turki Alalshikh, has expressed significant support for the change.
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Amendments
While the bill sailed through the House Committee in January with a 30-4 landslide, it underwent several critical amendments designed to protect athletes from the potential pitfalls of a centralized monopoly. UBOs are required to offer their contracted competitors at least one fight every six months.
The bill establishes a minimum per-round payment for all professional boxers (reported at $200 per round), ensuring that even entry-level fighters on major cards have a guaranteed financial baseline. The legislation mandates a federal floor for medical insurance (including $50,000 in medical coverage and $15,000 in accidental death benefits), raising the standard for states that previously followed lower regulatory minimums.
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Reaction
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“UBO organizations proposed under [the Revival Act] will replicate a model that has been extremely lucrative in other, non-boxing mixed martial arts sports worlds that operate with few legal and economic protections for fighters,” Joe Courtney said
“The House of Representatives made history today by passing by voice vote landmark boxing legislation that will revive one of America’s greatest sports in the name of one of America’s greatest athletes. Professional boxing is the only sport regulated by Congress, and ambiguity in current law — adopted over a quarter century ago – has adversely affected boxers and stifled investment. The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act strengthens safety protections for boxers, improves the quality of life for boxers, and establishes a framework for innovation within the sport to flourish,” Brian Jack (Congressman)
“I come to this issue both as a legislator and a longtime fan of the sport,” Omar said. “At its best, boxing is a sport of courage, discipline, and dignity – but for too long, the people risking the most have not always been treated with fairness and the respect they deserve. Congress passed the original Ali Act for a reason: to stop powerful interests from exploiting boxers and denying them control over their careers. So, when this bill first came before us, I had significant concerns. That is why I worked hard to make it better. We negotiated in good faith with the majority, and we did make it better,” Ilhan Omar stated
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