US House passes Ali Revival Act to restructure professional boxing
The United States House of Representatives passed the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act by a voice vote on Tuesday, advancing a bill that could fundamentally restructure professional boxing by allowing Unified Boxing Organizations.
The legislation will now head to the Senate before potentially reaching President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
If enacted, the bill permits the creation of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs) as an alternative career route for fighters.
Current regulations demand a strict separation between fight promoters and the sanctioning bodies that govern rankings and titles.
Creating a unified system for fighters
The proposed reforms would allow UBOs to manage promotions, rankings, titles, and matchmaking simultaneously.
This consolidated model mirrors the operational structure currently utilised by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in mixed martial arts.
Crucially, the new legislation would only govern the boxing industry and does not extend its regulatory reach to MMA.
Prominent combat sports figures, including UFC chief executive Dana White and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, have publicly backed the initiative.
Enhanced medical safeguards and financial minimums
Supporters argue the framework provides stronger health care provisions, including mandatory physicals alongside comprehensive brain and eye testing.
The bill also stipulates a strict limit of one championship belt per weight class for each sanctioning body.
Fighters would additionally be guaranteed a minimum mandatory payment of $200 per round under the new structural provisions.
Proponents emphasise that UBOs are designed to offer an alternative opportunity rather than replacing the traditional boxing model entirely.
“My hope is, by its passage, you’re not just going to have one UBO, my hope is that you’re going to have a dozen UBOs operating, if not more, in this sport.”
Representative Brian Jack
Criticism over fighter power and monopolies
However, detractors warn the sweeping changes could erode crucial protections established by the original 1996 and 2000 Ali Act bills.
Critics argue the revised structure might transfer significant financial leverage away from athletes and back towards powerful promoters.
Sceptics within the combat sports community have accused White of pushing the legislation to mirror his tightly controlled business model through his new Zuffa Boxing venture.
The world’s premier MMA promotion has previously faced two major antitrust lawsuits from athletes alleging wage suppression and monopolisation tactics, recently settling one case for $375m.
The influential promotional executive has dismissed these monopoly concerns, echoing congressional arguments that the bill simply provides fighters with additional choices.
