James Hagler Jr. felt compelled to reveal where he stood after Nick Khan mentioned Marvin Hagler during a Senate discussion on proposed changes to the Ali bill.
Using his grandfather’s large name in sports as leverage in an argument was seen by many as a blow, and Hagler Jr. he made it clear that he wanted no part of it.
“I didn’t like that they tried to apply my grandfather’s name to represent something that would take away the rights of the players” – Hagler Jr. he told World Boxing News exclusively.
The comments follow Hagler Jr.’s previous public outcry. regarding the apply of Marvin Hagler’s name in the Ali Act debate, in which he rejected any attempts to link his family legacy to changes that he believed would limit the freedom of fighters.
Hagler Jr. rejects Zuffa’s argument
When asked what Marvin Hagler would think about the proposed changes, Hagler Jr. he pointed to the way his grandfather managed his own career.
“My grandfather wouldn’t have liked it because he was a man who believed that players should have a say in their careers,” Hagler Jr. said.
“As we all know, he was not tied to a contract with a promoter. He worked with them from fight to fight. He was not tied to one particular promoter.”
This point is at the heart of opposition from both Hagler Jr. and Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, who also opposed proposed changes to the law bearing his grandfather’s name.
Ali Walsh helped lead the opposition through the Ali Act Preservation Alliance, arguing that fighters could lose influence if promoters gained too much control over rankings, titles and opportunities.
Warning about the rights of fighters
Hagler Jr. expressed hope that the fact that boxers can choose their own fight route will not be enough to push the proposed changes through the Senate.
“I hope that doesn’t happen because we should have the right to leave if we don’t come to an agreement with the promoter,” Hagler Jr. said.
“And if so, Ali’s name should not be associated with it.”
@jameshagelrjr
His starkest warning concerned what he believed would happen once the players signed the novel structure.
“I believe they will be imprisoned, like gladiators to kings in the age of gladiators, and will have no say in their career,” he said.
“Basically like a promoter’s slave.”
Despite opposition from Hagler Jr. and Ali Walsh, promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who also made a statement during the hearing, believes the law is already written in stone.
De La Hoya said the hearing was merely a public sham and that key decisions had already been made behind closed doors between people who wanted the law introduced and those who approved of it.
Promoter Golden Boy argued that the sport was currently being pushed towards a structure that could change the way fighters move, negotiate and chase titles.
Zuffa is already causing problems
Hagler Jr. may continue to lobby against it, but Zuffa Boxing will remain and be a direct competitor to the regular sanctioning body system.
The waters were already muddied by David Benavidez’s comments in Las Vegas following his victory over Gilberto Ramirez.
Benavidez stated that Zuffa was closed to negotiations with other promoters and that if any cruiserweight fighter who had recently signed with Zuffa, like Jai Opetaia, wanted a title shot, they had to work away from Zuffa’s mainframe.
His warning to Zuffa fighters showed how quickly the problem can become real in the ring.
This is the fear behind Hagler Jr.’s position. Once fighters become confined to one structure, the ability to leave, negotiate elsewhere, or seek a better opportunity may become more hard.
For a family name built on independence, stamina and control, this is the limit that Hagler Jr. I don’t want to exceed.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a seasoned boxing reporter with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives and reported in-ring performances. Read the full biography.
Ryan Garcia has named the fighter that he believes can put an end to Shakur Stevenson’s 25-fight undefeated record.
Stevenson stepped up in weight to dominate Teofimo Lopez and claim the WBO super-lightweight title back in Januaryfully intending on returning to his natural lightweight division during the aftermath, until those plans were derailed when he was stripped of his 135lb title.
As a result, Stevenson has kept hold of his 140lb marble but has not fought since, despite links to a showdown with Garcia in spring, which collapsed when the Newark southpaw declared that he would not be willing to move up in weight once again.
Now, Garcia is scheduled to face Conor Benn next month, whilst Stevenson has recently signed with Zuffa Boxing and is searching for an opponent for his second outing of 2026.
Speaking to FightHypeGarcia revealed that he would favour IBF lightweight world champion Raymond Muratalla to come out on top if he and Stevenson collide.
“That would be a good a** fight. He [Muratalla] is smart, he is not going to just go in there and just [be reckless].
“I just think that Raymond has a lot of things that would give Shakur problems. It won’t be an easy fight for Shakur, that is for sure.
“[If it was] a three-round fight, I would give it to Shakur, even a six-round fight. A 12-round fight? I am siding with Muratalla.”
Muratalla is set to vacate his IBF crown and move into the super-lightweight division imminently, with the WBO having recently stated that he could be named as Stevenson’s mandatory challenger when he does.
Robert Garcia, the trainer and manager of Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, has expressed his annoyance with a lack of communication from Team Nayoa Inoue.
‘The Monster’ made a seventh successful defence of his undisputed crown in May, unanimously outpointing Junto Nakatani in their all-Japanese encounter.
As a result, Inoue is not only considered the super-bantamweight king but, on a pound-for-pound metric, many would also place him at the top of the tree.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, made his bantamweight debut in June, becoming a three-division world champion by dethroning WBA champion Antonio Vargas with a sixth-round finish.
While there is much talk surrounding a potential clash between Rodriguez and Inoue, it would seem that no official negotiations have actually taken place.
Or at least, it is far from certain that the pair will square off in March 2027, when Inoue is reportedly looking to stage his next outing. He recently stated that he will not hang around at 122lbs waiting for ‘Bam’, and will move on if the fight does not happen in Q1 of 2027.
On the proposed showdown, coach Garcia has told Ring Magazine that he and ‘Bam’ have no problem with the deadline.
“There’s been talk that Inoue says he’s moving up [to featherweight] sooner than later – that he probably won’t wait [for the Rodriguez fight] past March of next year.
“We’re okay with that, but nobody’s told me that. Nobody from Inoue’s team has approached me saying, ‘Look, Robert. This is what Inoue wants. He wants to know if you guys are interested in the fight’.
“Yeah, we’re interested in the fight. But I’m not trying to change the date. I would love Bam to get one more fight at 118[lbs].”
Garcia went on to name WBO bantamweight champion Christian Medina as the ideal opponent for Rodriguez in November, before he hopefully steps up to 122lbs and challenges Inoue.
Teofimo Lopez has criticised his father for showing a lack of competence during his unanimous decision defeat to Shakur Stevenson.
‘The Takeover’ was handily outboxed and dethroned by Stevenson in January, winning just one round as his opponent became a four-division world champion at 140lbs.
As a result, Lopez is now moving up to 147lbs in an attempt to reinvent himself and become a three-weight world champion against Rolando Romero.
But while he felt a change in weight was most certainly needed, the 29-year-old saw no reason to dismiss his father, Teofimo Sr, as his head coach.
This is in spite of the fact that Lopez Sr was heavily ridiculed for his efforts in the corner at Madison Square Garden, where Stevenson’s route to victory was only made clearer by his bizarre style of coaching.
Rather than offering his son any words of advice, he just simply pointed out his flaws and gave the defending champion no direction on how to improve.
Lopez therefore confronted his father while speaking with Ring Magazinealbeit with no threats of employing a different trainer.
“Every son wants to make their father proud. When you got your father in that moment – when you’re bleeding; when they’re allowing Shakur to do all these extra things … and your trainer is not going you instructions – they’re just talking you down: ‘Where’s your power? Where’s this? You’re gonna hate yourself’ – all roads lead to [defeat].”
As he takes on WBA champion Romero at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, it should be interesting to see how Lopez’s corner shapes up between rounds.
In any event, the American will be under a fair amount of pressure to produce an improved performance.
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