The Senate Commerce Committee announces an April 22 hearing on the federal boxing bill
By Boxing Insider Staff
On Wednesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. EST, the Senate Commerce Committee will hold a full committee hearing on federal boxing law. Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced a hearing Tuesday under the title “Back to Your Corners: Have Federal Boxing Regulations Gone or Been Forgotten?”
The hearing will examine the current state of professional boxing under the Ali Act and evaluate H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which passed the House on a March 24 vote. This bill would create a fresh category of organization called the Unified Boxing Organization (UBO), allowing a single entity to combine promotions, rankings, titles and sanctions under one roof.
Witnesses
Four witnesses are to testify.
Oscar De La Hoyapresident and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. De La Hoya is one of boxing’s most prominent promoters and publicly opposes the UBO structure.
Timothy Shipmanpresident of the Association of Boxing and Combat Sports Commissions and executive director of the Florida Athletic Commission. H.R. 4624 designates the ABC as the certifying body for physicians, referees and ringside officials throughout professional boxing. ABC does not currently require brain imaging of professional boxers before a fight. Notable is Shipman’s dual role as president of ABC and head of the Florida commission. Florida Athletic Commission does not require brain imaging in players under 40 years of age and imposes sanctions on influencer boxing and other events that commissions in Up-to-date York, Up-to-date Jersey and Nevada have not approved.
Nico Ali Walshprofessional boxer and grandson of Muhammad Ali. Ali Walsh has been a vocal opponent of changes to the Ali Act and is affiliated with the Ali Act Preservation Alliance.
Nick Khanpresident of World Wrestling Entertainment. Khan’s appearance is listed under the WWE title, rather than TKO Group Holdings or Zuffa Boxing, entities more directly associated with the UBO concept. TKO, the parent company of both the UFC and WWE, is widely seen as the entity most likely to form a UBO if the bill becomes law.
What to watch
Cruz’s framing was particularly neutral. He described the hearing as an opportunity to examine “how the current structure has shaped the sport” and hear from witnesses with “different perspectives.” He did not support or oppose H.R. 4624 in his statement.
The witness team is divided. De La Hoya and Ali Walsh represent the opposition to the UBO structure. Shipman represents a regulatory body authorized by statute. Khan represents the organization most likely to benefit from it.
The hearing marks the first time the Senate Commerce Committee is examining boxing law since the committee unanimously approved the federal boxing commission’s legislation in 2004 AND 2009. No bill became law.
The hearing will be broadcast live on commission website and YouTube.
Boxing – confidential report
BoxingInsider.com published an extensive series examining H.R. 4624 and the history of federal boxing reform:
A brief history of Congress trying to fix boxing and failing
From Mafia Monopoly to the Muhammad Ali Act: The 50-Year Struggle that Set the Ground for Everything Congress is Fighting About Now
The Muhammad Ali Revival Act turns the ABC into the de facto US National Boxing Commission
Bob Arum has identified three protections that Ali Bill is taking away from fighters
If the Ali Revival Act is passed, who will now watch over the militants?