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When Ari Emanuel—the powerful Hollywood dealmaker and CEO of TKO Holdings Group, which owns both UFC and WWE—made a rare media appearance on The Pat McAfee Show in February 2025, he made vague comments about the future of boxing. Known for being guarded, Emanuel hinted, “Who knows what’s going to happen with the Ali Act?”—referring to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a federal law protecting boxers’ rights. Since then, rumors have suggested TKO is working behind the scenes to amend the law, clearing the way for its new boxing venture with Saudi Arabia.
Last week, those rumors were confirmed when U.S. Representatives Brian Jack (R-GA) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) introduced the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act in Congress.
The bill is being promoted as a necessary update to federal boxing regulations, revising the 1996 Professional Boxing Safety Act and introducing “alternatives” to the sport’s traditional sanctioning bodies.
“I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill, which gives boxers more opportunities, better pay, and stronger safety standards,” Jack said in a statement. “Boxing is the only sport regulated by Congress, and outdated laws have discouraged investment. This legislation will revive the sport by creating a framework for innovation.”
The “stifled investment” Jack mentioned refers to TKO’s new boxing partnership with Sela, an entertainment arm of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Turki al-Sheikh, a key figure in Saudi entertainment and a close ally of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The venture, called Zuffa Boxing, will launch on September 13, 2025, with a high-profile super middleweight fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford. A larger boxing promotion is expected in 2026.
Backed by Saudi Arabia’s vast resources, TKO lobbied for the bill, which includes provisions to create alternatives to established sanctioning bodies like the WBO and WBC. These new entities, called Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), would likely be the model for Zuffa Boxing.
While framed as “innovation,” the bill effectively lets Saudi Arabia create a parallel boxing system where it controls rankings and championship belts. This could sideline existing sanctioning bodies, weaken other promoters, and reshape professional boxing.
“This bill is bad news for boxers,” said Erik Magraken, a combat sports lawyer and founder of combatsportslaw.com. “It strips key protections from the Ali Act for promoters using the UBO model. It lets a promoter control rankings and titles, giving them a stranglehold on the sport.”
The bill also sets compliance rules for UBOs, including minimum fighter pay, medical exams, and expanded insurance. While these could help young boxers, they also make it harder for smaller organizations to compete. With Saudi funding, Zuffa Boxing would dominate the space, attracting fighters and reshaping boxing’s power structure—effectively letting TKO decide who holds world titles.
This new model mirrors the UFC’s structure, an organization long criticized for exploiting fighters.
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This version keeps the original meaning while making the text more fluid and easier to read. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!The UFC has long prioritized profits over fair compensation for its fighters. This approach aligns with UFC CEO Dana White’s business philosophy, as he prepares to lead the new Zuffa Boxing venture. White, a close friend of former U.S. President Donald Trump, recently told The Ring magazine—owned by Saudi Arabia’s Turki Al-Sheikh—that his vision for boxing is simple: “The best fight the best. Fighters climb the rankings, and once the top five in each weight class are clear, they compete for the title. Whoever holds that belt is undisputedly the best—no extra labels needed.”
Despite generating billions in revenue, the UFC pays fighters a fraction of what other major sports leagues offer. While NFL and NBA players receive nearly 50% of league revenues, UFC fighters get just 15-18%, with many earning as little as $10,000 to $20,000 per fight—barely enough to cover training and medical costs. Attempts by fighters to unionize or challenge these pay disparities have been crushed by the UFC, which uses restrictive contracts and market dominance to maintain control.
Last year, the UFC settled a $375 million antitrust lawsuit with hundreds of fighters who accused the promotion of suppressing competition and keeping wages artificially low. While the UFC denied wrongdoing, similar claims remain central to an ongoing legal battle.
In 2000, Congress passed the Ali Act to combat corruption and exploitation in professional boxing, where powerful promoters and sanctioning bodies often manipulated fighters. The law introduced federal oversight, financial transparency, and protections to prevent coercive contracts. It remains the only instance of Congress directly regulating a professional sport.
Now, the proposed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act could reshape the sport by allowing new organizations to operate outside existing sanctioning bodies—effectively applying the UFC’s model to boxing. The bill has gained support from Muhammad Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, who stated he “would be proud” of the legislation. One of its co-sponsors, Rep. Sharice Davids, is a former MMA fighter who once competed on The Ultimate Fighter, a reality show offering a UFC contract. Their involvement reflects strategic lobbying by UFC parent company TKO and advisor Ari Emanuel.
Critics argue the bill undermines the Ali Act’s protections. “The Ali Act was meant to prevent promoter monopolies and exploitation,” said Erik Magraken, a combat sports lawyer. “Boxers earn more than MMA fighters because titles are independent—promoters compete for fighters, not the other way around. If promoters control titles, fighters lose leverage.”
The changes would greatly benefit Saudi Arabia and Al-Sheikh, who have spent billions to dominate boxing. Al-Sheikh has brokered record-breaking fights, earning him immense influence—and the nickname “His Excellency” among fans and media. With Congress in recess until September, the bill’s future remains uncertain, but its potential impact on boxing’s power structure is undeniable.Sheikh’s growing power has silenced critics in boxing. Fans turn a blind eye to questionable actions as long as he keeps producing thrilling fights, while journalists—careful not to lose their privileged access—often spin stories in his favor. The kingdom even owns a boxing magazine and uses an extensive PR network to push its political agenda through sports.
This highlights Saudi Arabia’s wider playbook in sports: gaining influence, controlling narratives, and creating self-contained systems under its rule. Boxing might just be the perfect piece to fulfill that vision.
—Karim Zidan, who writes about sports and authoritarian politics.
