Conservatives in Congress are using boxing great Muhammad Ali’s legacy as a Trojan horse to pass a bill that could unlock more wealth and influence for people like Trump ally and fight promoter Dana White.
At first glance, one might see “Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act” and assume it is some kind of homage to Ali, a man many people revere for his willingness to speak truth to power. Indeed, that seems to have been the intent behind naming the bill, which is heavily backed by executives from TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is led by White.
But a closer look at the bill, which passed the House last month and a version of which Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, expects to introduce in that chamber, suggests it’s little more than a means of enriching some of the president’s allies.
The bill would amend the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000, which was intended to protect boxers from exploitative business practices. The new bill would create an antitrust carve-out to allow for the formation of a boxing superleague similar to the UFC, a company that has faced lawsuits alleging exploitative employment practices.
Notably, UFC and its parent company, TKO, reached a massive $375 million settlement in 2024 following allegations of antitrust violations and insufficient payments to some fighters. Another lawsuit is still pending, and the UFC has said the plaintiffs in the pending case “lack the standing to represent the proposed class.”
Ja’han Jones is an MS NOW opinion blogger. He previously wrote The ReidOut Blog.
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