It appears boxing will be permitted to move into a sport with multiple systems, as the House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to pass the Zuffa Boxing-backed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act.
It thus means the creation of UBOs — that is, Unified Boxing Organization — could go ahead imminently, that the government is backing TKO Group’s way of doing this, paving the way for a UFCified approach to boxing, with things like minimum pay and insurance perhaps looking like a premium and safer alternative than the relative structureless old guard.
“Today, the United States House of Representatives passed by voice vote Congressman Brian Jack’s Revival Act, the first boxing legislation to pass the House of Representatives in 26 years,” the Office of Congressman Brian Jack said in a statement sent to Boxing Social.
“Last year, Congressman Jack introduced his landmark bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Sharice Davids … On January 21, during a House Committee on Education and Workforce markup, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act was overwhelmingly approved by a bipartisan vote of 30–4.”
Jack himself said: “The House of Representatives made history today by passing by voice vote landmark boxing legislation that will revive one of America’s greatest sports in the name of one of America’s greatest athletes.
“Professional boxing is the only sport regulated by Congress, and ambiguity in current law — adopted over a quarter century ago — has adversely affected boxers and stifled investment.”
“The Revival Act strengthens safety protections for boxers, improves the quality of life for boxers, and establishes a framework for innovation within the sport to flourish.”
The vote is a big win for Zuffa as it will allow them to build a centralized promotion, or league as they would call it. Within this framework, Zuffa can control belts internally like UFC, and operate alongside — rather than against — sanctioning bodies.
This is regulatory legitimacy for Zuffa’s model and plans for boxing. For Zuffa’s opponents, though, of which there are many, there are also significant changes as it means the alphabet system is no longer the only one in boxing, and there is a risk of fighters leaving to UBO leagues.
For promotional companies like Matchroom, Top Rank, and Golden Boy, among others, they may adjust their own business plans to avoid fighters leaving fractured matchmaking for the structure and possibly clearer pathways at Zuffa.
Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia, famously, have already left an established promoter in Matchroom, in favor of the upstart fight firm Zuffa. From what Boxing Social understands, only more fighters will follow them into Zuffa headquarters in Las Vegas.
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