E&W Blog

With the rise of sports betting, interest in boxing is growing again but so are concerns about the sport’s integrity and the well-being of its athletes.

Today, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing to examine how legislation like H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (MAABRA), can provide professional boxers with more career opportunities, better pay, and stronger safety protections, all while encouraging innovation in the sport.


Subcommittee Chairman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) started the hearing by explaining how current law fails to protect boxers. “What was once a respected and unified sport has become fragmented—plagued by inconsistent standards, weak enforcement, and a troubling lack of accountability. Too often, fighters are pushed into dangerous matches without proper medical oversight,” he said.

Today’s first panel highlighted the need for bipartisan solutions to revive boxing in America—and promote new opportunities for future fighters. “I authored and introduced this bipartisan legislation with Representative Sharice Davids, a talented athlete and a chief deputy whip within the House Democratic Caucus,” said Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA). “For over a century, individual states have enacted legislation to regulate professional boxing, but the patchwork of regulations without uniform standards led to widespread exploitation and rampant corruption.”


Echoing Rep. Jack’s support for the bill, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) said, “H.R. 4624 creates room for innovation, competition, and expanded opportunities. It establishes a new pathway that can increase stability, elevate safety standards, and ultimately give fighters more control over their career.”

Muhammad Ali’s widow gave testimony about how MAABRA honors Muhammad Ali’s legacy by addressing the need for greater protections and examinations of fighters’ brain health. “Although Muhammad suffered from idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease, I understand intimately how neurological conditions can rob athletes and families of their futures. I have served on various boards and continue to support organizations and institutions focused on brain health research because I believe we have a moral obligation to protect the brain health of those who entertain and inspire us through sports. This work has shown me that prevention and early intervention are crucial,” said Mrs. Lonnie Ali, Co-Founder of the Muhammad Ali Center. 


Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) asked Mr. Lawrence Epstein, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Ultimate Fighting Championship, about medical coverage in combat sports. “In many situations, athletes don’t have coverage and they will actually go into a bout injured in order to avail themselves of… the fairly limited accident insurance policy they’ll have relating to a bout injury.” Mr. Epstein further explained how the UFC assists injured fighters, and how a unified boxing organization (UBO) model can replicate the UFC’s success and support boxers.


Mrs. Ali also told Rep. James Comer (R-KY) how new UBOs can spur competition in boxing and ignite new interest in the sport. “Right now we are looking at a barren landscape,” said Mrs. Ali. “Boxing is not there…This is a parallel organization opportunity for boxers to participate in…When you see that competitive spirit, and the ability to create that spectator sport, which is what all professional sports really are, I think it’s something that will increase awareness of the sport and really regain that fan base.”

Bottom line: The Committee is putting forward solutions to protect boxers, expand opportunity, and create fair fights to safeguard the legacy—and future—of American boxing.