Senator Ted Cruz set the tone of the hearing today on the Ali Act by introducing the witnesses as if he was Bruce Buffer. Yet, the hearing did bring up some points to a law that is destined to be passed.
Tongue in cheek, glib and smug is the only way to describe: “Return to Your Corners: Have Federal Boxing Laws Gone the Distance or Slipped the Jab?” The hearing was scheduled by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Ted Cruz. The Senator from Texas was cordial, yet smug about the hearing which addressed issues in the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act which he highlighted was passed by Congress with approval from both Democrat and Republican.
Senator Cruz was the “host” for this “event” which included Democratic Senator from Nevada Jacky Rosen telling a story about how her in-laws went to “the fights,” the Senator from Ohio lobbying for a Wrestlemania in his state and again the Chairman joking that the hearing was sponsored by “Monster.”
Certainly hearings could have a jovial, humorous tone to them but one would think the overhaul of an entire industry which would affect the livelihood of professional boxers in the United States.
Yet, there was a certain smugness about the hearing as if we all know the ending result. With a Republican Senate Majority its hard not to think how this will end.
But, Nico Ali Walsh made some great points in his statement arguing why the law is bad for boxing.
The grandson of Muhammad Ali, Nico Ali Walsh, just testified in front of The U.S. Senate against The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act.
— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) April 22, 2026
He says if the bill is passed it shouldn’t have his grandfather’s name on it.
Below is the full speech: pic.twitter.com/3lnIBsd9Ap
Oscar de la Hoya also testified today on behalf of boxers. Although de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions has been sued by its own boxers (most recently Vergil Ortiz), he advocated on behalf of boxer’s rights. He highlighted how he did not have legal representation starting as a boxer and was taken advantage of by the system. While we might argue that he has done the same, at this hearing, in this capacity, he is making the plea for the fighter.
Nick Khan and Timothy Shipman were the other two witnesses today. Shipman, the Executive Director of the Florida Athletic Commission praised the updated health and safety standards. But, as far as the Universal Boxing Organizations, he would want to see the final bill to see how the federal laws would work with existing state standards and licensing. Although not addressed in his written statement Shipman’s brings up another layer of the new bill — how will existing state laws work with the new UBO structure?
Khan, the president of WWE, was the central figure behind advocating for the new law. His argument described boxing’s glory years and remarked how American boxing had fallen off noting the lack of a U.S. men’s Boxing gold medal in the Olympics in 22 years. For those wondering, Claressa Shields won a gold medal in 2016. The last U.S. male to win was Andre Ward in 2004. He noted that boxing was “broken” and inferred that sanctioning bodies were suspect in the amount of money they charged in “fees” to boxers. He brought up the Terence Crawford situation last year where he was asked to pay $300,000 in sanctioning fees for his fight against Canelo Alvarez. Crawford forfeited the WBC title he won over Alvarez this past September because he was not going to pay the WBC sanctioning fee.
In my opinion, Sen. Cruz gave Khan some easy questions to work with including the glib “can you tell me who the middleweight champion is?” The question was actually to the panel but easy for Khan to pick up on the cue to chime in with the talking points.
To me, the hearing was informative, spliced with awkward humor which seemed patronizing. I’m not sure this session of “dad jokes” were meant to offend but this administration tends to do this a lot.
We will see where we end up from here, but I would write my Senator.
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