Last week, a bipartisan bill was introduced that would add to the existing Muhammad Ali Act. The thrust of the addition was to create a model that would circumvent the traditional model of promotions and sanctioning organizations.
Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs) are being introduced as an “alternative” to the traditional method that currently occurs in professional boxing. The UBOs, according to a press release by one of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Brian Jack, it “would provide boxers with better health and safety protections, greater compensation, and more choice and opportunities.”
The bill’s co-sponsor Congresswoman Sharice Davids, a Democrat, and a former MMA participant of two professional fights supports it as well. “This bipartisan bill is about giving professional boxers the protections, opportunities, and freedom of choice they deserve.”
The bill’s introduction also infers that boxing is on the decline in the United States. The title, “Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act” gives the sense that boxing is mired in decline in need of help.
While it would not replace the current structure involving sanctioning organizations, it would “compete” with them creating a parallel universe with the creation of their own rankings and belt system. It would also create a “national minimum payment per round for all professional boxers ($150 per round) which would prevents up-and-coming fighters from being exploitation.
And while that may seem all well and good, the creation of the system would be the same that the UFC has implemented over the years. It is also the system which saw them be sued by former fighters and after a decades long lawsuit, settled the case for $375 million. The company still has three other antitrust lawsuits pending.
The introduction of the new law is being endorsed by the Association of Boxing Commissions and the widow of the namesake of the act, Lonnie Ali.
So it can’t be that bad…can it?
Obviously, if TKO is supporting the Ali Act, then there must be something about it that would be advantageous to them. After all, they are about sucking as much money out of its assets as possible.
Notably, Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom Boxing has spoken out about “The Ali Revival Act” calling it “not a good look.” Even though Hearn is a promoter, he noted that the changes would not be helpful for the fighter.
Hearn also talked about the disparity in fighter pay Dana White’s TKO Boxing will have when it enters the market. He believes that UFC fighters will be upset at the amount of money TKO will shell out for boxers.
Obviously, there’s a reason why Hearn is speaking out against TKO Boxing. It will soon be a rival and he’s already finding issue with signing some boxers to fill out his events because they have signed with TKO Boxing. This will be one of the key issues if the UBOs are offered – exclusivity.
Presumably, one of the biggest issues boxing has had is the inability to put together fights with rival promoters as well as navigating the different sanctioning bodies. There’s a reason why there’s only a couple lineal champions and/or a clear champion in a weight division. For those wondering, according to ESPN’s list, only Naoya Inoue (Junior Featherweight) and Oleksandr Usyk (Heavyweight) hold all the belts in their respective weight divisions. Even Usyk has some caveats as the WBO, WBA and WBC has “interim” or “regular” champions. This creates confusion among the casual boxing fan as not one promoter or sanctioning organization can get together and put fights that would consolidate the number of champions.
The UBOs, well quite frankly, TKO is attempting to create its own space where it will have anonymity to create its own weight divisions and champions. Similar to the UFC, it will not recognize the parallel universe of sanctioning organization belts. Remember when the UFC did not allow a Randy Couture-Fedor Emelianenko “superfight” because Fedor was not under contract with the UFC? Although the UBOs will claim that it would eliminate the squabbles between promoters and sanctioning organizations, there are still issues like this that may come up.
But, the bigger problem with the latest amendment is that it did nothing to assist with the enforcement of the Ali Act that is currently in place. In fact, it makes the existing Act weaker by usurping the enforcement powers in the Act and giving it to UBOs. The thrust of the new creation of the UBO is that it will allow for it to do away with the bargaining power of fighters with the elimination of promoters and sanctioning bodies.
Even if we were to consider the boxing manager as a check on protecting the “health and safety” of the fighter, we all know from the UFC practice that most managers are merely “agents” of the UFC. And while, the Ali Act has a firewall between manager and promoter, it has none for promoter and sanctioning organization. So while it will be easier to create the fights people will want to see, the interest of a fighter will be neglected.
As for the minimum pay of fighter, one has to just look at the UFC to learn that its not the minimum pay to be concerned with but the further exploitation later down the road. One may note that there weren’t any lockstep assurances on contracts (let alone any talk about contractual limitations) in the bill submitted last week.
TKO has won the public relations on the introduction of the bill as most of the followed media have supported it and many have done so as they are attached to media partners.
To be honest, it will be hard for boxers and their respective managers to fight against this new bill as many see it as enriching their opportunities. TKO is flush with money and its alignment with Riyadh Season amplifies its interest in the boxing business. Dana White has long extolled his ability to repair the sport of boxing based on what he has done with the UFC. Clearly, it has worked. And, clearly, the business model has hurt many fighters.
So, while this new rendition of an old trick will likely clear congress and the senate, one has to wonder how this Act will be applied in the future and what that will mean to the sport.
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