The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act took one step closer to being introduced in Congress and potentially signed into law after clearing the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act advances to Congress after adapting new amendments
The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act is one step closer to becoming the new law of the land
Damon Martin is a veteran journalist and insider covering combat sports since 2003.
In a 30-4 bipartisan vote — 19 Republicans and 11 Democrats — the committee approved the measure along with a few new amendments before being sent to the House of Representatives for the next step in the process. The debate during a session on Wednesday largely centered around a few changes that representatives introduced to improve the proposed bill but politicians on both sides of the aisle were on board with pushing the legislation through to Congress.
The new law doesn’t change the existing Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, which was signed into law back in 2000, but instead introduces new rules that allows for UFC style promotion — under the name Unified Boxing Organizations (UBO) — in the sport of boxing. That includes a promotion being allowed to sign fighters to exclusive contracts, introduce promotional rankings and titles along with other required provisions for health, safety and pay.
“Today represents a critical step toward passage of the first update to federal boxing law in over a quarter century, and this legislation is now positioned for consideration by the full United States House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support,” Representative Brian Jack from Georgia, who co-sponsored the bill alongside Sharice Davids from Kansas, said in a statement.
“I am deeply appreciative of the broad coalition of support this legislation has received from Lonnie Ali, the Association of Boxing Commissions, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, USA Boxing, former Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson, and many others. Their advocacy made today possible.”
The public session on Wednesday introduced several new amendments, which were voted on and approved by the committee before passing the bill onto Congress.
Chairman Tim Walberg, a Republican from the state of Michigan, introduced the following changes:
- Increasing the proposed minimum payment-per-round from $150 to $200
- Expanding the proposed minimum medical coverage from $25,000 to $50,000
- Updating the proposed timelines and frequency requirements for mandatory medical testing, including eye exams, bloodwork, brain health testing, and related evaluations.
Representative Mark Harris, a Republican from North Carolina, introduced a proposal that updates the minimum number of physicians and ambulances required to be present to two for any bout being promoted by a UBO.
Finally, Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, proposed the following changes, which were also approved during the meeting.
- Mandating boxer contracts be no longer than six years
- Updating the proposed free agency provisions to allow boxers, beginning 30 days prior to the expiration of their contracts, to initiate contact with other UBOs or promoters
- Establishing that, in the absence of a bout within any six-month period, a boxer is entitled to compensation equal to ten times the minimum per-round compensation of $200.
With that vote, the committee approved the measure and now that goes to the House of Representatives where GOP leadership including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson decide to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. Considering the strong support the bill has received from both Republicans and Democrats not to mention President Donald Trump almost assuredly signing the bill into law, it seems likely that it won’t take long to end up before Congress for a vote.
“Now fighters are going to have more options,” UFC CEO Dana White said about the bill during the Zuffa Boxing press conference. “Why is that a bad thing? Why are more options a bad thing? They’re not. I expected it anyway. Today was a great day for [the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act]. The vote was incredible. Looking good.”
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