Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026 seeks to modernize and enhance the safety and well-being of professional boxers by amending the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996. Its primary goals are to provide professional boxers with increased choice and opportunity through the establishment of unified boxing organizations and to significantly strengthen existing safety precautions.

The bill defines unified boxing organizations (UBOs) as private entities that organize matches and manage title belts for their contracted boxers. These UBOs must adhere to stringent new requirements, including enhanced medical examinations for boxers who suffer knockouts or are over 40 years old, and the provision of additional ringside medical personnel and ambulances. UBOs are also mandated to offer support services such as access to training facilities, insurance for training injuries, and a medical coordinator for each boxer.

A crucial aspect of the bill is the requirement for UBOs to implement a comprehensive anti-doping program, featuring in-competition and no-notice testing administered by an independent third party. Furthermore, boxer contracts with UBOs must include specific protections: they cannot restrict communication with other organizations in the final 90 days, must guarantee a minimum payment of $200 per scheduled round, and ensure at least one fight every six months or a compensatory payment. Contract lengths are capped at six years, or three years for a boxer's first professional agreement, with these protections extending to all promotional contracts.

Beyond UBOs, the bill also strengthens general boxing safety standards. It mandates more detailed and frequent physical examinations, including specific brain health and heart examinations, and increases minimum health insurance coverage to $50,000 for medical and $15,000 for accidental death, with premiums covered by the promoter or UBO. All professional matches will now require drug testing, either for title fights or randomly for others, screening for prohibited substances as defined by commissions or international standards. Finally, the bill requires all referees and judges to be certified by either a state commission or the Association of Boxing Commissions.