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Muhammad Ali’s grandson begins the fight to defend the Ali Act

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Nico Ali Walsh IBA 2

Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, is leading a newly formed alliance that opposes changes to federal laws protecting professional boxers.

More than thirty boxing figures have formed the Ali Act Preservation Alliance in response to proposed amendments to the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act.

The group says its goal is uncomplicated: defend protections established under Muhammad Ali’s original Boxing Reform Act of 2000, rules intended to prevent promoters from simultaneously controlling fighters’ contracts, rankings and championship opportunities.

Ali Walsh, grandson of the heavyweight legend after whom the law is named, has become the public voice of the movement.

“As Ali, I am completely opposed to changing the Muhammad Ali Act,” wrote Walsh in X. “My grandfather fought for it to protect fighters from being cheated. Remove it and promoters take control and fighters make less.”

The Alliance questions the proposed changes

The Ali Act Preservation Alliance argues that the proposed Revival Act could open the door to a system in which promoters or league-style organizations operate with control over rankings, championships and matchmaking.

As World Boxing News explained after the Ali Act amendments were introduced in Congress, the legislation currently pending in the U.S. Senate would allow up-to-date entities known as United Boxing Associations to operate alongside the conventional sanctioning bodies that have long governed the structure of boxing championships.

Supporters of the bill say the reforms could modernize the sport by strengthening minimum wage standards, improving medical coverage and allowing up-to-date organizational models to compete in the boxing market.

But critics say the same framework could also blur the lines between promoters and management bodies, which Ali’s original bill was intended to separate.

The alliance’s statement warns that if these boundaries disappear, fighters could lose negotiating power while promoters gain control over many aspects of the business.

The debate grows as legislation progresses

WBN followed the progress of work on the Ali Revival Act throughout the legislative process.

Previous reports have examined how this bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in over twenty-five years, bringing the most significant change to federal boxing law since 2000 a step closer to reality.

A separate analysis also examined how the legislation could put pressure on sanctioning authorities by offering competitors alternative routes that bypass conventional championship fees.

The debate across sports continues to escalate.

During fight week, Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman in Las Vegas, Premier Boxing Champions belts have emerged around the event, reigniting debate over whether league-style titles could ultimately function in conjunction with boxing’s long-established four-belt system.

The alliance represents the first coordinated intra-box opposition to proposed legislation heading toward a Senate decision.

Concerns about the structure of boxing championships

The newly formed alliance also argues that creating separate championship structures could further complicate the sport’s existing title system.

The group’s statement said the introduction of up-to-date league-controlled belts that cannot be unified with conventional titles could make it impossible to win undisputed championships in the future.

That possibility is at the center of a growing divide between those who see the Rebirth Act as a modernization and those who fear it could further fracture the boxing championship structure.

For now, the bill is being considered in the Senate.

As the debate continues, the formation of the Ali Act Preservation Alliance signals that the opposition in boxing is beginning to organize – led by the grandson of the man whose name defines the law at the center of the dispute.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Gervonta Davis accused of avoiding undefeated rival: ‘He said he would never fight’

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Gervonta Davis accused of avoiding unbeaten contender: “He said he’d never take the fight”

Gervonta Davis’ return appears imminent, but it’s unclear whether the now-hiatus WBA lightweight champion will fight at 135 pounds, and the team of his expected lightweight opponent says “Tank” is avoiding them.

Davis, a three-division champion, has held the WBA title since delayed 2023 and defended it twice, defeating Frank Martin and then drawing with Lamont Roach Jr during his last trip, over a year ago.

However, in January, Davis lost his champion status and was instead named halftime champion, meaning he will likely get a chance to regain the belt after his first fight at 135 pounds.

Although despite rumors that the Baltimore-born knockout puncher will fight at super lightweight and face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz upon his return, no modern lightweight champion has yet been crowned or a free-for-all title fight ordered.

Floyd Schofield is currently the man to benefit from this situation, but his team is growing increasingly frustrated with the slowness of the process as they wait to be promoted to champion or ordered to fight for the title – against Davis or an alternative challenger.

I’m talking to Boxing in Mill City“Kid Austin”‘s father and trainer, Floyd Schofield Snr, expressed his belief that Davis was avoiding his son and revealed plans to fight for the “Tank” title against a slimmed-down version.

“You need to drop the belt! They’re breaking the law now, federal law. Do I think ‘Kid’ is ready for ‘Tank’?” “The Kid” is ready for them all. There’s a reason why Tank said, “I’ll never get in the ring with that kid. There’s a reason his trainer went online and said Tank will never get in the ring with him.”

“Tank said it out of his own mouth and Tank’s trainer said it on the internet in an interview and said that ‘The reason Tank said it is because he looks at him like an older brother.’ The thing is, Tank can’t go down to 135 and fight Kid, Tank would be at a disadvantage.”

“We want to suck him arid and fight him at 135 pounds, that’s the biggest advantage we have right now. If we let Tank get used to it, he would be on fire, and we let Tank get used to that weight? No!”

“He weighs around 175 pounds now, he needs to get down to 135 pounds and get ready to get in the ring to fight, and the WBA will just do it.” [rehydration clause] where it can only go up to 152 pounds.

Negotiations for Davis-Cruz II are believed to be ongoing, and once confirmation is announced, the WBA will likely make its own announcement regarding the modern lightweight champion.

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Jermell Charlo is negotiating a fight with Sebastian Fundora

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Image: Jermell Charlo Posts Training Video, Declares '154 is Mine'

He also claimed that future options are already planned for Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr.

“We are talking to Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence. All three have agreed to fight me.”

This is an ambitious statement from a fighter who has not competed since his defeat to Canelo Alvarez in 2023. Charlo turns 36 on May 19, and many fans believe the long break should mean tuning in or fighting a challenger first rather than immediately fighting for the champion. Charlo, however, made it clear that he still sees himself as the best man in the division.

The problem is that Jermell is essentially trying to cash his 2022 check in a completely different economy. PPV prices on PBC have increased to over $75, and asking fans to pay that for a guy who hasn’t won a fight since May 2022 is tough. This is a financial risk for promoters.

Jermell is used to unquestioned ‘money. If he’s asking for a huge guaranteed amount to fight Fundora or Ennis, the math just doesn’t work for the promoter unless the bid is above $150 or $200,000.

In boxing, three years is an eternity. Since Jermell stayed noiseless, we’ve seen the rise of Xander Zayas and the emergence of “Boots” Ennis at 154.

“I told you I was coming back. I told you I wanted my stripes,” Charlo said. “Nobody beat me by the belt.”

Promoters aren’t calling because Jermell’s confidence is currently low. If the promoter puts him in the main event and he looks like the version of himself that did or didn’t show up in the Canelo Alvarez match, the event is a disaster. Financially, it could still be a disaster.

Jermell wants the reward of a champion without the upgrade tax that every other veteran has to pay after a long layoff. With 2026 filled with newborn, hungry and busy talent, thinking that you can simply move to the front of the queue because of what you did four years ago is definitely a bold choice.

If Jermell had just gone for it and beaten some of the top 154 ​​fighters like Israil Madrimov, Bakhram Murtazaliev and Brandon Adams, it wouldn’t have been much of a problem.

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David Benavidez Says One Man ‘Must Face Him’ After Zurdo Ramirez: ‘I’m Taking All His Belts’

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David Benavidez says one man “must face him” after Zurdo Ramirez: “I’m taking all his belts”

David Benavidez will fight for Gilberto Ramirez’s unified cruiserweight crown this weekend and if he passes this test, there will only be one person in the “Mexican Monster”.

Benavidez has established himself as one of the most fan-friendly fighters in sports, not only thanks to his fascinating fighting style, but also thanks to his mentality that allows him to face all opponents and take on the toughest challenges.

Reigning at both super middleweight and lightweight heavyweight, the reigning WBC 175-pound champion now moves up to cruiserweight, hoping to hand “Zurdo” Ramirez his second career defeat in what will be the titleholder’s 50th career appearance.

The only other man to defeat Ramirez is unified light heavyweight ruler Dmitry Bivoland v interview with Ariel HelwaniBenavidez made it clear that he intended to return to lightweight heavyweight and then face the Russian.

“I don’t want it to look like he’s scared or nothing, but he knows what it’s like when it comes to David Benavidez. He saw me up close and I saw him up close too.

“He’s a great fighter, we had some great sparring sessions, but he knows I’m not coming to play. He knows that when David Benavidez steps into the ring, all those belts go with David Benavidez.

“I think he knows the dangers and seriousness of this fight and that’s why he took the preparatory fight first. I respect Dmitry Bivol, he’s a great fighter, but he will definitely have to come to me after this fight.”

While Benavidez will fight next weekend, Bivol will make a mandatory defense of his titles against German Michael Eifert on Saturday, May 23, which will be his first fight on home soil since 2021.

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