MIAMI – Boxing could soon undergo structural changes that vastly affect the way the sport works. While some claim it’s for the better, others do not.
TKO, the UFC’s parent company, has been lobbying to introduce the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act in replacement of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act that gives boxers many protections, including not allowing promotors to own championship titles, and have independent sanctioning bodies regulating the belts. Jake Paul, a former YouTube star turned boxer and promoter, dislikes the proposed changes.
“I just don’t think it should be a thing, absolutely not,” Paul told MMA Junkie during a media scrum on Tuesday. “It’s there for a reason, and the Muhammad Ali Act is very, very important.”
Paul returns to the ring Nov. 14 to take on champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition bout. The fight goes down at the Kaseya Center in Miami, and it will stream live and free on Netflix.
Paul assures the proposed bill that would change the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act would negatively affect the sport of boxing. He thinks it hands too much power to the promoters, making fighters vulnerable to being exploited.
“One hundred percent, which is why it’s something we want to avoid,” Paul said. “MVP is always fighter first, and we always care about the fights, and we know what these fighters have to go through. We don’t want them to be taken advantage of, and I think getting rid of the act would lead to things in those situations.”