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House passes Ali revival bill; the bill now goes to the Senate

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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

Ryan Rozicki won’t catch up in one training camp

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Image: Chris Billam-Smith: Ryan Rozicki Can't Catch Up In One Training Camp

Chris Billam-Smith believes Ryan Rozicki is taking his opportunity seriously, but he doesn’t think a single training camp will make up for the years spent competing at the next level.

The former WBO cruiserweight champion will return against Rozicki in Bournemouth on Saturday, with the winner moving closer to a major fight in the division led by Jai Opetai.


Billam-Smith was asked if Rozicki truly believed he belonged at this level.

“I believe he thinks he’s been given an opportunity. He takes it very seriously and does everything he has to do. But sometimes it’s just not enough. Sometimes you’re just not good enough,” Billiam-Smith told ProBox TV.

“I think he is what he is in terms of his punching power, his physique and what he does. But sometimes there are things you can’t just incorporate in training camp. When I’ve been doing it for so long and been at the next level for so long, you can’t just make up for it in one training camp.”

Rozicki comes into the fight with a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the division and has repeatedly talked about ending the fight by knockout. Billam-Smith acknowledged the threat but believes experience will be a factor when they meet.

“He’s talked about it before: ‘I win by knockout or I get knocked out.’ So there’s no doubt in my mind that he knows he can get beat.

“But I think he thinks it’s a good opportunity.”

Saturday’s fight is Billam-Smith’s first appearance since his points win over Brandon Glanton in April 2025. A victory will put him in top cruiserweight fights, including a potential clash with Ring magazine champion Jai Opetaia.

“For me, I think he believes he has a chance and will give it his all. But the Jai Opetaia fight is the one I want at the moment. It’s the next step, but I have to take care of things on Saturday first.”

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Boxing

Devin Haney Accepts Call From Undefeated Former Champion to Defend World Title: ‘Let’s Do It’

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Devin Haney accepts call-out from unbeaten former champion for world title defence: “Let’s do it”

Devin Haney won the WBO welterweight title in November, but “The Dream” was unable to agree to his first defense.

Now it looks like the American is ready to face the undefeated former champion.

Haney dethroned Brian Norman Jr in Novembernoting one of the standout performances of the year, which saw the Georgian-born operator suffer the first loss of his career after moving up from the super lightweight division.

Seven months have passed and Haney still hasn’t signed a deal to make his first title defense or unify with other 147-pound champions, despite being linked to a sought-after rematch with bitter rival Ryan Garcia and a clash with WBA titleholder Rolando Romero.

However, after being named the number one contender in the WBO welterweight division, undefeated former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis took to social media to call for a fight for Haney’s belt.

ON XHaney responded to the call by publicly accepting the proposed All-American scrap, stating, “Let’s do it KEYSHAWN.”

Haney had previously invited a fight following Davis’ win over Ortiz, but talks quickly died down when rumors of a potential meeting with Romero surfaced, only for the fight to fall through, reportedly due to Haney not being paid a guaranteed amount.

With Haney-Romero seemingly off the table, the door may now be open for Chorley’s Jack Catterall to take advantage and secure Romero’s ‘WBA Super’ crown after winning the WBA (regular) welterweight title last month.

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Boxing

Roach vs. Zepeda for the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1

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Lamont “The Reaper” Roach Jr. and William “El Camarón” Zepeda will fight for the vacant WBC lightweight world title on Saturday, August 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, announced promoter Golden Boy. The 12-round fight will headline “The Fight,” a fresh monthly series from TNT Sports and DAZN that will air in the United States on TNT and truTV and stream globally on DAZN. Golden Boy promotes itself in cooperation with TGB Promotions and ProBox Promotions.

Roach Jr. (25-1-3, 10 KO) of Washington, D.C., and Zepeda (33-1, 27 KO) of San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, arrived after back-to-back title fights without a win. Last year, Roach Jr. he has fought two majority draws: against Gervonta Davis for the WBA lightweight title in March 2025 and against Isaac Cruz at super lightweight in December 2025. Zepeda has not fought since taking a unanimous decision to Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title in July 2025, the only loss of his career.

How the title became empty

The WBC lightweight championship opened after Stevenson moved up to 140 pounds. He collected the WBO junior welterweight title from Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden on January 31becoming a four-division champion, after which the WBC declared his 135-pound title vacant. The sanctioning body later ordered Roach Jr. and Zepeda meet for the belt.

“We have been working demanding since my last fight,” Zepeda said in a press release. “We are at the top of the lightweight division and we know that any opponent at this level is a sedate challenge. Once again we have been given the opportunity to fight for the world championship and we are ready to show the world who exactly “El Camarón” Zepeda is. “

Roach Jr., who won the WBA super featherweight title with a split decision victory over Héctor García in November 2023, billed the fight as the next step in his class. “This is my fourth consecutive world title fight in a different weight class,” he said. “Without a doubt, I am bringing boxing back and fighting for the top spot.”

“William Zepeda has fully deserved this opportunity,” said Oscar De La Hoya, president and CEO of Golden Boy. “Over the years, he has taken on every challenge put before him and has established himself as one of the most thrilling fighters in boxing with his relentless pressure, incredible work rate and fan-friendly style.”

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. PT on AXS.com and GoldenBoy.com for $300, $200, $150, $75, $50 and $30 plus applicable fees. Pre-sale will start on Thursday, June 4. Details about the card and credentials will be announced in the coming weeks.

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