The historic Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, passed in 2000 to protect boxers’ rights from corrupt promoters and sanctioning bodies, could be severely weakened if a new legislative initiative moves forward in the U.S. Congress. The proposal, introduced by Representatives Brian Jack and Sharice Davids, aims to “modernize” federal boxing regulations, but in practice opens the door to a UFC-style model, controlled by a single promotional entity and backed financially by Saudi Arabia.
The new bill would allow for the creation of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBO), as alternatives to traditional sanctioning bodies like the WBC or the WBO. This would pave the way for the rise of Zuffa Boxing, a joint venture between TKO Holdings Group —owner of the UFC— and Sela, a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. This new structure would disrupt the regulatory ecosystem of professional boxing and raise serious concerns among legal experts, who warn of a potential full concentration of power in promoters’ hands.
A model with Saudi branding and centralized control
Zuffa Boxing, set to debut in September 2025 with a bout between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford, represents the most ambitious foray of Saudi Arabia into boxing. Backed by the crown prince and overseen by Turki al-Sheikh, the company would have the power to establish rankings, titles, and its own rules without going through existing regulatory bodies. In theory, this promises fights between the best and greater clarity in hierarchies, but in practice it undermines competitive balance and the independence of the sport.
Attorney Erik Magraken warns that the reform would allow promoters to “control the ranking and the title,” eliminating one of the core principles of the Ali Act: the separation between promoters and sanctioning bodies. Although the bill includes some protective measures —such as minimum payments and expanded insurance— its implementation would create barriers to entry for independent promoters. This would clear the way for Zuffa Boxing and Saudi Arabia to dominate the global scene, redefining boxing as a centralized spectacle under their own terms.
Risks of monopolization and erosion of rights
The proposed model is directly based on the UFC system, an organization that has faced multiple criticisms for exploiting its fighters. Despite generating millions in revenue, the UFC allocates only 15–18% to its athletes, compared to leagues like the NFL or the NBA. The company has suppressed unionization attempts and was sued for anticompetitive practices, recently settling a lawsuit for $375 million. Now, that same model could migrate to professional boxing, a sport where athletes have, so far, been able to negotiate more freely.
Although the new law doesn’t formally repeal the Ali Act, it allows for the creation of a parallel ecosystem that effectively nullifies many of its protections. The involvement of Davids, a former MMA fighter, and the support of Ali’s widow have been crucial in legitimizing the project. However, critics argue that this move primarily benefits Saudi Arabia, which has launched an ambitious soft power strategy in sports, investing billions to control the narrative, silence criticism, and become the new epicenter of world boxing.
