The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) voted 6-0 to support the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act during Wednesday’s meeting. The unanimous vote followed a heated round of public debate that divided athletes, promoters, and industry stakeholders.
CSAC postponed the decision after a September 8 meeting, where all 12 public speakers condemned the bill. Critics argued it would give Zuffa Boxing, founded by UFC CEO Dana White, WWE President Nick Khan, and Saudi fight financier Turki Alalshikh, excessive control over the sport.
The TKO-backed bill, introduced in July by U.S. Representatives Brian Jack (R-Ga.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), would allow Zuffa to form Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs). These organizations could manage rankings, titles, and events, letting promoters oversee the same titles they promote — a system similar to the UFC’s business model.
Zuffa promoted the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight on September 13 and plans to officially launch its boxing division in January. It recently secured a five-year deal with Paramount, promising at least 12 annual shows. White aims to create a Zuffa Boxing championship belt, but he needs the Ali Revival Act to legalize that plan.
Subcommittee Pushes Bill Forward After Rapid Review
After tabling the vote in September, CSAC formed a two-member subcommittee to review the legislation and its criticism. The group met four times in one month, held talks with key figures, and urged the commission to endorse the act.
Commissioner Chris Gruwell introduced the motion to support the bill, including a state-level cost-of-living adjustment for minimum purses and insurance coverage to protect fighters as economic conditions change.
Following the motion, public comments began. Nick Khan of TKO spoke first.
“Boxing is stagnant,” Khan said. “It’s fragmented, outdated, and driven by organizers who don’t understand modern media or athlete pay.”
He criticized the sport’s lack of major media support.
“Only Zuffa, Matchroom, and Golden Boy have TV deals,” he added. “HBO, Showtime, and ESPN left because the system is broken.”
Currently, Matchroom and Golden Boy work with DAZN, while Premier Boxing Champions airs infrequent events on Amazon Prime. Top Rank remains without a partner since ESPN ended its deal earlier this year.
Fighters Condemn Vote as a “Betrayal”
At Wednesday’s meeting, 32 people spoke during public comment. Twelve supported the bill, while twenty opposed it. Among 13 former UFC fighters, 11 rejected the proposal, and two supported it. Former UFC champion Forrest Griffin, now employed by the company, defended the act.
A 17-year-old amateur boxer named Gabriel called the bill “a slap in the face” to those who fought for Ali Act protections.
“This disrespects Muhammad Ali and everything the act stood for,” Gabriel said.
Veteran UFC fighter Matt Brown condemned the commission.
“This feels like a joke,” Brown said. “You’re supporting promoters, not fighters. We just want basic rights — financial transparency, fair contracts, and no conflicts of interest.”
Despite the backlash, the CSAC voted unanimously to endorse the act.
Critics, however, warned of monopolization.
“This UBO model would strip fighters of free-market rights,” one opponent said. “It would remove financial transparency and independent rankings, forcing athletes into coercive contracts.”
The original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, passed in 2000, gave fighters access to financial disclosures like television fees and gate receipts to ensure fair pay. The UFC, which operates outside that framework, keeps most event revenue — leaving many fighters underpaid and uninformed about their true market value.
Opponents argue the new bill undermines those protections entirely.
“How dare they use Muhammad Ali’s name to weaken his own legacy?” one speaker said. “This act gives promoters total control — and fighters none.”
