Wednesday was the day that the Senate Committee dealing with the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (“Ali Act”) earmarked for any revisions on changes to the current version of the Ali Act in the Senate. But, there were no changes made to the one presented at a hearing this past July.
The one notable event occurring at the hearing was Senator Ted Cruz stating that Nico Ali Walsh has reversed course and is now supporting the Ali Act. In July, Walsh testified before Senator Cruz and the rest of the committee in charge of the proposed law to speak about the issues wrong with it. He was one of the few boxers speaking out against the law which would bring widespread changes to the sport of boxing.
Today, we will mark up the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which now has stronger protections for fighters thanks to our work with Nico Ali Walsh. Nico cares deeply about protecting fighters and the future of boxing.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 16, 2026
Originally opposed to the bill, he came before the… pic.twitter.com/gEjTYAMPBW
This was met with disdain by many supporters of Walsh claiming that he had sold out to Zuffa Boxing and those in support of the bill. Walsh attempted to defend himself on social media.
This new Revival Act is NOT the old one. I know what I fought for. I know what changed. I know who I fought for. I didn’t do this for praise. I did it for the fighters. History will remember the work, not the people who sat on the sidelines complaining.
— Nico Ali Walsh (@nicoaliwalsh) September 16, 2026
Social media showed pictures of Walsh meeting with TKO executive Nick Khan this summer and he indicated progress was made on the Ali Act but it was not finished.
But the above letter indicates that Walsh is fine with the Senate version of the Ali Act. This means that concessions were made by Walsh and it does not look like (on its face) that the primary lobby of the bill, TKO gave up much, if anything.
At some point, Walsh had to consider his own career rather than be a martyr for a cause that he likely would lose. There just was not enough support for Walsh and he caved to pressure. He likely thought of Colin Kaepernick’s excommunication from the NFL in trying to make a stand and wanted to ensure he didn’t kill his own career. However, its disappointing form the standpoint that Walsh stood for a cause, made himself a social media star because of it and then succumbed to the powerful TKO machine.
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