The world of professional boxing may be facing a major change.
For 25 years now, the Muhammad Ali Act has served as a safe guard for professional boxers. In addition to requiring certain pre-fight medical exams, the Ali Act helps keep financial negotiations between rival promoters transparent and fair. The end goal of the act was protect all boxers from exploitation and unfair business practices, as well as the general power imbalance between athlete and promoter.
There are no such protections for mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters.
Per a report from combat sports lawyer Erik Magraken, the Ali Act is officially under pressure from UFC/TKO executives who want to amend the law.
“Presently the UFC/TKO is requesting an amendment change to the Mohammad Ali Act,” revealed Michael Mazzulli, current president of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combat Sports (ABC). “The board of directors is working with them to make sure the ABC is still part of the federal law.”
That’s a fairly vague statement that could mean many different things. However, none of the interpretations online are good. Most interpret the change as a negative, a step to make it easier to exploit boxers. For UFC CEO Dana White and TKO, amending the Ali act may be a necessary step to break into the world of boxing … without the current major sanctioning bodies.
Here’s a sample of the reactions circulating X in response to the above quote and possible amendment:
“Do they have any sort of justification for this? Are they just monsters?”
“The Muhammad Ali Act protects fighters from coercion & exploitation. For the president of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) to partner with a promoter to weaken it is a betrayal of duty.”
“Not truthfully disclosing payment? That’s an Ali Act violation. This is why TKO, Dana White, and Ari Emanuel are bad for the sport. Bunch of scammers.”
“Pretty wild that a Saudi government official via his American partners and pliable regulators is likely going to change federal U.S law by proxy. The only change the Ali Act needs is a deputy in charge of rooting out and charging violators. It’s toothless with no fed oversight.”
“These are dark times”
“They are going to have a fight getting 60 Senators. Corrupt sycophants.”
“The ABC is prioritizing its own political relevance and industry relationships over the very people it’s meant to protect, a betrayal of its mission …”
It’s important to remember that amending a congressional law will still be an uphill battle for UFC/TKO regardless of the ABC’s possible assistance. The amendment will still require substantial support in the Senate, so the sky isn’t falling just yet for boxers, even if this development feels rather ominous.
