Muhammad Ali’s Grandson Challenges UFC Founder Over Boxing Law Revival

Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of legendary boxer and civil rights figure Muhammad Ali, is questioning UFC founder Dana White regarding a new bill. The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026 seeks to amend a law from 2000 as TKO Group, with White at the helm, expands into boxing through Zuffa Boxing.

The bill proposes the creation of “Unified Boxing Organizations” (UBOs) that could manage fighters, organize events, rank participants, and distribute titles. According to the Congressional Budget Office, UBOs could contract with boxers, promoting matches and managing both rankings and titles within one unified system.

“My direct and respectful message to Dana White: We know what my grandfather’s legacy means to this sport, and we both know that as this bill stands, it should not have his name on it,” Walsh stated.

Walsh, following his grandfather’s footsteps in boxing, offered to meet White to discuss the Act and champion fighter protections.

The original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, co-sponsored by John McCain in 2000, was designed to eliminate exploitative practices in boxing. It also ensured that promoters and managers were financially independent of each other.

Walsh criticizes the new bill for potentially erasing this financial separation, allowing a single organization to function as promoter, matchmaker, and title body simultaneously.

Oscar De La Hoya, a promoter, agrees with Walsh, asserting that the act could lead to monopolistic control over the sport.

While Walsh acknowledges parts of the original law may need modernizing after 26 years, including health benefits for fighters, he warns that these improvements should not come at the expense of fighter rights.

The bill, introduced by Representatives Brian Jack (R-GA) and Sharice Davids (D-KS), passed the House with support from both parties. It is currently under review by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Supporters believe the Revival Act could modernize boxing, emphasizing new safety and business regulations to enhance boxers’ welfare.

Walsh urges other fighters to educate themselves on their rights and the implications of the Ali Act’s revival, stressing the importance of awareness and advocacy among athletes and fans.