Senators Ted Cruz, Jacky Rosen introduce Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act to Senate with new provisions from House version

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act was officially introduced into the Senate on Thursday in a bi-partisan effort by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), which seeks to allow UFC style promotion in the sport of boxing.

A separate version of the bill already passed through the House of Representatives back in March, although the Senate version features several changes that would have to be reconciled before a full vote could be taken and the measure potentially signed into law by President Donald Trump. The two chambers would have until January to reconcile the full bill or a new Congress is introduced after the November elections and the whole process would start over again.

“In the twentieth century, boxing produced household names and championship fights that captivated the country,” Cruz said in a press release. “Past reforms improved the safety and fairness of the sport, but today, too many of the biggest matchups never happen because the sport is trapped in a fragmented system. This bipartisan legislation will revive marquee matchups, strengthen protections for fighters, and make boxing great again.”

At the heart of the bill is the introduction of United Boxing Organizations (UBO’s), which would allow UFC style promotion 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.  Under the bill, a national per-round minimum payment would be established along with stronger drug testing rules.

As part of the changes under the Senate version of the bill, a fighter’s first contract with a UBO would be for a maximum of three years. After the first contract, fighters can sign deals for up to six years and they’d be able to negotiate a new deal up to 90 days before the expiration date, which is different from the House version, which was only 30 days.

The Senate version would also allow UBO’s to recognize titles from other sanctioning bodies as well as rankings, which was not in the House version. The new Senate version also eliminates a provision that would limit titles to one championship per weight class.

Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, testified before a hearing in Congress back in April speaking out against the new bill named after his grandfather.

“The Ali Act was built on a simple principle,” Walsh said. “The people controlling fighters should not also control the entire marketplace those fighters depend on. The separation exists to prevent conflicts of interest and exploitation. The new Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act would undermine that principle by allowing one entity to operate across promotion, management and matchmaking. It removes independence.”

Rosen told ESPN on Thursday that her team actually met with Walsh before introducing the Senate version of the bill.

“Boxing is a staple in Nevada, bringing in thousands of visitors, supporting jobs, and contributing to our local economy,” Rosen said in a statement. “Since the passage of the Ali Act, which secured critical protections for boxers almost three decades ago, the industry has continued to grow, but has sometimes struggled to keep up with an evolving combat sports landscape.

“We need legislation to revitalize this storied American pastime, while empowering and protecting the boxers who make this sport great. That is why our bipartisan bill keeps Ali Act protections in place and enhances health and safety protections for boxers, all while bringing boxing into the 21st century. These updates will allow the boxing industry to grow and thrive without sacrificing safety.”

The next step in the process would be potential amendments being introduced for the Senate version of the bill. After that, the Senate and the House would have to then reconcile the two versions of the bill to come to an agreement before a full vote could be taken.

If the Senate passes the measure, it would land in Trump’s desk to get signed into law, which would then take place 180 days later, which is actually different from the House version at 30 days.