Boxing
House passes Ali revival bill; the bill now goes to the Senate
Published
1 month agoon
The Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act is one step closer to becoming law.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Renaissance Act by voice vote during its Tuesday legislative session after a half-hour of debate. It now goes to the Senate. If it passes there, it will go to President Donald Trump, who will potentially sign it and become law.
If the bill becomes law, the biggest change to the Revival Act will be to allow the creation of United Boxing Organizations, better known as UBOs, as an option for boxers in their careers.
In the current boxing system, the law requires the separation of promoters, who organize fights, from sanctioning bodies, which deal with rankings, titles and selection of fighters. The Revival Act would allow UBO to handle all of these matters in a one-stop-shop format, similar to what the Ultimate Fighting Championship is in MMA. The revival bill would only regulate boxing, not MMA.
Supporters of the bill, including UFC CEO Dana White and his promotional team Zuffa Boxing, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson and the Association of Boxing Commissions, praised it as another choice for fighters. They pointed to better health care for all fighters, including mandatory physicals and brain and eye tests, one belt for each sanctioning body in each weight class and a $200-per-round minimum for all fighters.
These supporters emphasize that the addition of UBO will not replace the structure of professional boxing, but will provide fighters with another type of opportunity to choose the career path that is best for them.
“I hope that when it passes, there won’t be just one UBO. I hope that there will be a dozen UBOs in this sport, if not more,” Rep. Brian Jack, R-Ga., who wrote the bill, told ESPN on Tuesday night. “The more interest, the more innovation, the more opportunities for boxers and fans, the more opportunities to enjoy a sport that once inspired greatness.”
Critics of the bill say it could harm fighters and reduce protections afforded to them under the two original Ali Acts – the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000 – because it could shift the balance of money-making from fighters to promoters.
The Revival Act has also drawn criticism from promoters and others in the boxing community who say White is trying to amend the Ali Act so that his boxing company, Zuffa Boxing, can operate similarly to the UFC, which controls player selection, rankings, titles and contract offerings. The UFC has faced two antitrust lawsuits from fighters who alleged wage suppression and monopolization tactics. The organization settled one lawsuit for $375 million.
White responded with the same arguments as some members of Congress, claiming that UBOs were simply offering a choice.
The bill was initially passed in January by a 30-4 majority of the House Education and Workforce Committee. Nine House members spoke on the bill Tuesday and only one, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., opposed the legislation.
“UBO organizations proposed under [the Revival Act] “will replicate a model that has been extremely lucrative in other, non-boxing mixed martial arts worlds that operate with little legal or economic protection for fighters,” Courtney said.
He then pointed to concerns about how these organizations, which he did not name, are using long-term forced-arbitration contracts, preventing fighters from filing breach of contract lawsuits and waiving class-action rights.
Top Rank founder Bob Arum criticized the law in a December letter to Congress, questioning why UBOs should be exempt from the compliance rules under which non-UBOs must operate. Arum also expressed concern about the bill removing fighter protections if a boxer joins UBO.
Courtney and two other House members encouraged the Senate to continue amending the bill to strengthen it. Rep. Virginia’s Bobby Scott, who supported the bill, suggested that the Senate could include provisions prohibiting “contracts between UBO and boxers from including clauses prohibiting class actions or requiring the submission of disputes to private arbitration.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar, R-Minn., who proposed amendments to the bill in committee, supported the bill but also called for “greater financial transparency, stronger antitrust laws and stronger protections against forced contracts.”
An addition to the bill introduced in March also allows the Association of Boxing Commissions and the Ringside Medical Association to set baseline health and safety standards for each state across the sport. These would include annual medical examinations, brain, eye and heart tests, and blood tests every six months. It would also require more regular testing for players over 40.
It would also give the Association of Boxing Commissions the ability to certify judges and officials for fights. Currently, only state sports commissions can do this.
“You have a lot of options here. Players can take one path or another if this bill becomes law,” Jack said. “They can join UBO or an existing sanctioning organization model. Why not give fighters that choice?”
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Boxing
The former heavyweight champion admits he is not yet ready to fight Moses Itauma
Published
55 minutes agoon
April 24, 2026
Moses Itauma appears to have a fresh fight date set as he continues his march towards the heavyweight throne, with talk turning to who will walk through the ropes with him.
Itauma has never fought more than six rounds in his 14-fight professional career, but now he finds himself one step away from fighting for the coveted heavyweight crown. which may occur before the end of the year.
It has been reported that the 21-year-old will headline the O2 Arena in London on Saturday, July 25 in a fight that will ideally be another step forward in the competition.
Promoter Frank Warren didn’t have time to catch up with the youthful talent, claiming that many heavyweights had either rejected the fight altogether or overestimated themselves. Itauma’s future depends on strategically selecting players, increasing his exposure and attracting opponents who can bring fresh aspects to his game. There were many suggestions for good candidates, and Andy Ruiz Jr was mentioned as a hard-wearing and experienced operator by the likes of Tony Bellew.
However, when asked if he would be willing to compete in his opponent’s corner, the former unified heavyweight ruler, who shocked the world by defeating Anthony Joshua in 2019, said: Casino.org that he would like at least two fights to get rid of the rust in the ring.
“Of course I’m not backing down from any fight, but I want to be ready to fight. I want to fight at least two fights first. Then, if they put me against him, I’ll be ready and it will be a great fight.
“If you combine the Mexican fighting style, which is about moving forward and not being afraid of getting hit, with his style, I think it will be an intriguing fight. So we’ll see if he succeeds or not.”
“If I’m 100% and in shape, I don’t think there’s anyone who can beat me. But I think me and Itauma could do it. I feel like I could beat those guys (AJ and Itauma).
“Other than that, I was like Patrick Star, I was just resting under a rock while everyone else was getting beat up and taking losses and stuff like that. So I’m going to come in fresh and come in differently than before.”
The search is on for Itauma’s next foe, which will be his first headlining appearance in London.
Jones was billed as one of the company’s rising names, and the hometown headline gave him a apparent platform on DAZN. The organizers don’t randomly hand out the main events. It’s a sign that Golden Boy wants to see if Jones can move from prospect talks into rival territory. This part still needs to be proven.
Jones boasts an attractive record and clear physical tools, but his rise has come without a victory to dispel doubts. He showed strength against his chosen opponent, but astute observers were still waiting for a performance that would confirm he was more than just a well-managed, undefeated fighter.
For this reason, Gualtieri is a useful opponent. The German won the vacant IBF middleweight title in 2023 by defeating Esquiva Falcao before losing in a unification fight to Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. He has since bounced back with four straight wins and brings experience, size and composure.
It’s not the most perilous fight in the division, but that’s how Jones should be judged. If he is a solemn middleweight, as Golden Boy claims, then a former champion with a rebounding streak is the type of guy he should beat, and beat it decisively.
A close victory would keep Jones going, but it wouldn’t silence him much. A flat display would raise louder questions than a press release.
The middleweight category needs recent names. Jones now has a chance to show that he belongs.
Golden Boy has taken a sluggish approach throughout Jones’ career, but at some point you have to turn up the heat or fans will lose interest. From a promoter’s point of view, this is a protected pairing that looks like a step forward.
By pairing Jones with a former world champion, Golden Boy can claim to be fighting a world-class talent. In fact, they chose a guy who has already played at the highest level and doesn’t have the one-punch power to keep Amari from taking him to the ground.
If Amari truly is the next huge star to come out of Virgil Hunter’s gym, he should blow Gualtieri out of the water. Anything less will only confirm that it is still protected.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
Boxing
Floyd Mayweather confirmed who he will fight before his rematch with Manny Pacquiao
Published
5 hours agoon
April 24, 2026
Floyd Mayweather is officially scheduled to return to the ring this summer, ahead of his clash with Manny Pacquiao later this year.
The shocker was that earlier this year it was announced that Mayweather would end his nearly decade-long retirement and return to competition face former foe Pacquiao on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
However, doubts have been raised about the fight in recent weeks, with Mayweather claiming the fight will be an exhibition rather than a professional fight, while Pacquiao insists it will be a fully sanctioned fight.
As the confusion surrounding this fight continues, one thing is certain that Mayweather is expected to compete before his fight with Pacquiao, after he confirmed details about the June exhibition.
Mayweather was scheduled to fight both Mike Tyson and Mike Zambidis this year, and while there is no further information on Tyson’s fight, Mayweather posted on social media officially reveal the details of his fight with Zambidis.
“IT’S OFFICIAL. June 27 – Athens, Greece. History will be made. I’m stepping into the ring with Mike Zambidis. One night. One stage. An all-out fight you can’t miss.”
Zambidis is a Greek kickboxing legend who has won multiple world titles during his career in the sport, but has only competed professionally once, winning in March 2019.
The Zambidis fight gives Mayweather a chance to get busy, but most boxing fans will be keen to resolve the issues surrounding his fight with Pacquiao as the two boxing legends look to resume their rivalry since their first meeting in 2015.
The former heavyweight champion admits he is not yet ready to fight Moses Itauma
Amari Jones headlines May 22 vs. Vincenzo Gualtieri
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