De La Hoya opposes Ali Act changes as Senate hearing divides boxing

Oscar De La Hoya warned a Senate committee Wednesday that proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act would hand corporate promoters monopoly control over the sport, while Zuffa Boxing executive Nick Khan defended the amendments as offering fighters minimum pay guarantees and health protections long overdue.

The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing, per The Ring, featured De La Hoya arguing the bill would let a promoter serve as both promotional entity and governing body under what the legislation calls a Unified Boxing Organization. "This mirrors the existing MMA model and creates a closed system controlling rankings, titles and access to opportunity," De La Hoya said. "This is a fundamental shift in power, that if changed, would put corporate profits first, fighters second."

What Zuffa's proposal includes for fighters

Khan, a TKO Group executive overseeing the company's boxing push, countered that the bill preserves the current Ali Act structure while introducing an optional framework. He outlined provisions for $200 per round minimum purses, mandatory $50,000 injury insurance beginning at camp start, six-year promotional contract caps comparable to rookie deals in major American sports, and standardized annual brain and cardiac testing. "All we're asking for is an option for fighters," Khan told the panel. "We're not saying to get rid of anything. Either we'll succeed or we'll fail."

Nico Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali's grandson and a middleweight contender, testified against the bill despite his late grandmother Lonnie Ali supporting the changes. Ali Walsh said the amendments betray the principles the original act was built to protect. "Fighters should not have to choose between their careers and their rights," he said, according to the report. "If this bill is passed in its current form, it should not have my grandfather's name on it."

Timothy Shipman, president of the Association of Boxing Commissions, backed the enhancements for improved medical and compensation standards. The House passed the bill by voice vote in March after a 30-4 Education and Workforce Committee approval in January. The legislation now awaits Senate action before reaching President Donald Trump's desk.

Source: ringmagazine.com