TKO Boxing Pushes for Changes to Muhammad Ali Act
With the anticipated event set for January 22, 2026, TKO Boxing is working quickly to modify the Muhammad Ali Act.
TKO, which collaborates with the UFC, argues that the proposed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (MAABRA) could improve boxing’s health. However, this perspective is not shared by many fighters and fans who fear it might restrict fighters’ freedoms in contracts and consolidate control.
Nakisa Bidalian, the former CFO of UFC and current CEO of Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, has voiced concerns about using complex legal jargon, suggesting it might be risky for fighters.
At a recent TKO press conference, Max Kellerman remarked, “UFC is really popular, and it’s because of Dana White. He’s created something akin to the NBA. Stop it.” His comments garnered boos from the audience, highlighting some tension regarding boxing’s future direction.
The proposed bill aims to establish a unified boxing organization that sets a minimum wage of $150 per round and provides insurance coverage of $25,000.
TKO still faces several legal challenges ahead.
“It’s beneficial for TKO but harmful for fighters,” Bidalian stated.
He continued, “While some aspects of what they call the Ali Resurrection Act seem promising, upon closer examination, it’s clear that TKO has constructed it in a way that makes it hard for others to comprehend. It looks like an attempt to establish a new monopoly.”
Dana White, UFC’s president and part of the TKO initiative, is backing the MAABRA as an enhancement to the original Ali Act that was enacted in 2000.
Previous comments from Evander Holyfield warned that these changes could lead to exploitative contracts, depress fighter earnings, and erode their autonomy.
Holyfield criticized the act, claiming, “They are the ones who made ‘business first, fighters last’ a mega sport.”
Bidalian brings a rich professional background to the table, having graduated from Dartmouth and worked at Morgan Stanley, giving him a unique perspective on the current Ali Act and the proposed revisions.
Reactions within the boxing community are notably polarized. Boxing great Oscar De La Hoya and promoter Eddie Hearns oppose these proposed reforms, citing transparency issues and reliance on state commissions. In contrast, Mike Tyson and Kellerman posit that UFC’s success could benefit the boxing scene, though Kellerman’s association with Ring Magazine may complicate his stance, given the recent acquisition by Turki Alarcik.
Bidalian previously expressed indifference toward these changes, but he emphasized that he had some significant clarifications.
“When I say indifferent, I mean this: What percentage of your income is it? Are you willing to help boxers be part of this resurgence?” He noted that Lawrence Epstein, UFC’s Senior Executive Vice President and COO, couldn’t answer right away, reflecting the complexities of new ventures in sports. If they pledged even a portion of profits to athletes, he argued, revising the Ali Act could truly be beneficial. Yet, he pointed out that TKO’s earnings are significantly high by industry standards, which raises questions about the impact on fighters.
Paul’s promotional efforts have stirred controversy in boxing, featuring fights against older and differently-sized opponents, spurring accusations of match-fixing.
Paul is gearing up to face former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on December 19, following the cancellation of his bout with Gervonta Davis due to domestic violence allegations against Davis. In this matchup, Paul is seen as a significant underdog, with Joshua recently securing a victory against Francis Ngannou, maintaining a record of 28 wins and 4 losses.
