The U.S House of Representatives passed the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, legislation which would allow Unified Boxing Organizations to handle a boxer’s promotion, rankings, titles and matchmaking, similar to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Under the current law, promoters are separate from sanctioning bodies. Promoters put on fights while sanctioning bodies like the WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA handle rankings, titles and matchmaking.
Recommended Videos
The law is supported by UFC CEO Dana white who has transitioned into the boxing world with his new Zuffa Boxing promotional company.
Supporters say the law will allow for better and more consistent health care for fighters including routine physicals, an increase in ringside physicians, comprehensive drug testing, good-faith contract negotiations at the boxer’s best interest, one belt per weight division and a minimum payment of $200 per round to all fighters.
Critics of the bill say that fighters will not benefit financially from the bill because the influx of cash will flow more towards the boxing organizations instead of the fighters. There is also a presumption that White is supporting this bill in an effort to make his Zuffa Boxing company operate similarly to the UFC.
Currently, fighters are protected under the the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000 which is a law designed to protect professional boxers from exploitative business practices, regulate corrupt sanctioning bodies and increase financial transparency.
These protections have allowed boxers at the top level to make significantly more money than UFC fighters. The purse for 2025’s most anticipated boxing match, Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez was over $200M.
Conor McGregor holds the record for the highest disclosed fight purse in UFC history, earning a $3 million guaranteed payout at both UFC 229 (vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov) and UFC 202 (vs. Nate Diaz).
Supporters of the bill have stressed that the Unified Boxing Organizations will not replace the current major sanctioning bodies and will simply offer a choice to the fighters.
Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released the following statement after the House passed the bill.
“Today, the House took an important step to protect professional boxers and strengthen the integrity of the sport,” said Rep. Stevens. “Fighters deserve a system that prioritizes their health, ensures fair pay, and holds promoters and organizations accountable. We are making the sport safer, more transparent, and more equitable for the athletes who dedicate their lives to it.”
The legislation authorizes the establishment of private-sector Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), creating a new framework for organizing professional matches while maintaining strong regulatory oversight. UBOs will operate alongside existing sanctioning bodies and must comply with state boxing commission authority.
Stevens cosponsored the legislation, helped secure an amendment protecting boxers from coercive contracts, and voted to advance it in the House Education and Workforce Committee in January.
Back in December, Stevens met with Lonnie Ali, Muhammad Ali’s widow, who has long been an advocate for minimum pay and health care standards for professional boxers.
The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.