H.R. 4624

119 HR 4624 EH: Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
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 I
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session
 H. R. 4624
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To amend the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 to establish requirements for unified boxing organizations, to further enhance the well-being of professional boxers, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026  .
2.
Purposes
The purposes of this Act are—
(1)
to provide increased choice and opportunity to professional boxers by allowing a professional boxer to choose to participate in the alternative system offered by a unified boxing organization; and
(2)
to further enhance safety precautions that protect the well-being of professional boxers.
3.
Unified boxing organizations
(a)
In general
The Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
24.
Unified boxing organizations
(a)
Alternative system for compliance with the requirements of this Act
A unified boxing organization (in this section referred to as a  UBO ) shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this Act if the UBO meets the requirements of section 5 and the conditions of this section with respect to—
(1)
each boxer under contract with the UBO; and
(2)
each professional boxing match organized by the UBO (in this section referred to as a  covered match ).
(b)
Safety and industry standards; medical examinations
(1)
In general
A condition of this section is that a UBO meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, in addition to the requirements of section 5.
(2)
Special rule relating to knockouts
In the case of a boxer who suffers a knockout during a covered match, a UBO shall require that (in addition to the examinations required for such boxer pursuant to section 5(a)(1)(B)(iii)) the boxer undergo the applicable examinations described in section 5(a)(1)(B)(iii) relating to brain health prior to participating in the boxer’s next covered match.
(3)
Supplemental physical examinations for boxers who are
40  years of age or older
(A)
In general
A UBO shall ensure that a boxer who participates in a covered match at the age of 40 or older undergoes (in addition to the physical examinations required pursuant to section 5(a)(1)(B)(iii) and paragraph (2) of this subsection, as applicable) a supplemental physical examination conducted by a licensed physician that affirms the fitness of the boxer to safely participate in a covered match.
(B)
Elements
A supplemental physical examination under subparagraph (A) shall include each of the following:
(i)
A chest X-ray.
(ii)
A comprehensive metabolic panel blood test.
(iii)
A urinalysis to measure the overall health condition of the boxer.
(C)
Frequency
The supplemental physical examination to be conducted under subparagraph (A) shall occur at least annually, except that the chest X-ray required under subparagraph (B)(i) shall occur at least once every 6 years.
(c)
Provision of medical care during matches
(1)
Ambulances
A condition of this section is that a UBO provides (in addition to the ambulance required to be provided by such UBO pursuant to section 5(a)(2)) for at least 1 additional ambulance to be continuously present on site of a covered match.
(2)
Ringside presence
(A)
In general
A condition of this section is that a UBO provides (in addition to the licensed physician required to be provided by such UBO pursuant to section 5(a)(3)) for at least 1 additional licensed physician to be continuously present at ringside during a covered match.
(B)
Certification requirement
Beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the  Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026 , each physician required to be provided by a UBO shall have a certification obtained through a certification program administered by the Association of Boxing Commissions in partnership with the Association of Ring-side Physicians (or any successor organization).
(d)
Support services for boxers under contract with a UBO
A condition of this section is that, during the period in which a boxer is under contract with a UBO, the UBO shall ensure such boxer has each of the following:
(1)
Equipment and facilities for training and rehabilitation
The boxer has access to equipment and facilities that are operated by the UBO for training and rehabilitation.
(2)
Insurance policy
In addition to the health insurance provided to the boxer pursuant to section 5(a)(4), the boxer has in effect an insurance policy that provides medical coverage for any injury sustained by the boxer during the period of training for a covered match.
(3)
Medical coordinator
A medical coordinator is assigned to the boxer to assist the boxer with satisfying medical and licensing requirements related to the participation of the boxer in a covered match.
(e)
Comprehensive anti-doping program
(1)
Requirement
(A)
In general
A condition of this section is that a UBO has in effect a comprehensive anti-doping program that includes the testing and requirements related to such testing under this subsection.
(B)
List of prohibited substances and penalties
A UBO shall, on an annual basis, publish, and make available to the public, a list that identifies, with respect to the preceding year—
(i)
each substance tested for under the comprehensive anti-doping program of the UBO; and
(ii)
each penalty imposed on a boxer under paragraph (6).
(2)
In-competition testing
(A)
In general
The UBO shall ensure that testing is conducted, in accordance with paragraph (5), for at least half the boxers participating in each covered match organized by such UBO for an event.
(B)
Timing
Testing required under subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
occur during the period beginning on the date of a weigh-in for a covered match and ending on the date of the match; and
(ii)
determine whether a boxer is positive or negative for each substance prohibited by—
(I)
the boxing commission of the State in which the match is held; or
(II)
in the case of a covered match held within a reservation (as defined by section 21), the tribal organization (as defined by section 21 and that meets the requirements of section 21) regulating the match.
(3)
No-notice testing
In addition to the testing required under paragraph (2), during the period in which a boxer is under contract with a UBO, the UBO may conduct testing, with no advance notice to the boxer and in accordance with paragraph (5), to determine whether such boxer is positive or negative for each substance prohibited by the UBO.
(4)
Substances prohibited by UBO
The UBO shall prohibit each substance prohibited as described in subclause (I) of clause (ii) of section 7(a)(5)(B) (or, if no substance is so prohibited, each substance listed as described in subclause (II) of such clause), except that the UBO may elect to not test a boxer participating in a covered match for any substance that is not prohibited by the boxing commission of the State in which the match is being held or the tribal organization described in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(II) that is regulating the match.”
(5)
Administration of tests
An independent third-party shall conduct the testing under paragraphs (2) and (3), which shall include—
(A)
carrying out each such test;
(B)
determining the result of each such test; and
(C)
reporting a positive result of such a test to—
(i)
the UBO concerned;
(ii)
the boxing commission of the State in which a covered match is held or the tribal organization regulating the match; and
(iii)
the Association of Boxing Commissions.
(6)
Penalties
(A)
In general
A UBO shall implement any penalty decided—
(i)
with respect to a positive test result related to the testing conducted under paragraph (2), by—
(I)
the boxing commission of the State in which a covered match is held or the tribal organization regulating the match; or
(II)
the Association of Boxing Commissions; and
(ii)
with respect to a positive test result related to the testing conducted under paragraph (3), by the independent third-party conducting such testing.
(B)
Assessment for penalties
In imposing a penalty on a boxer for whom the independent third-party reports a positive test result under paragraph (2) or (3), the boxing commission, the Association of Boxing Commissions, or the independent third-party described in subparagraph (A) shall consider—
(i)
the seriousness of the positive test result in relation to the participation of the boxer in a covered match; and
(ii)
the degree to which the boxer is at fault for the positive test result.
(7)
Contract requirement
A UBO shall include in any contract entered into between the UBO and a boxer regarding participation in covered matches such terms and conditions as may be necessary to require the boxer to submit to testing under this subsection during the period of the contract.
(f)
Required contract provisions
In addition to the requirements described in subsection (e)(7), a contract between a UBO and a boxer shall meet each of the following requirements:
(1)
During the 30-day period ending on the last day of such contract, the boxer may not be prohibited from communicating with another UBO or a promoter.
(2)
Such contract shall—
(A)
specify the minimum payment that such boxer will receive for participating in a round of a boxing match, which shall be at least $200 per round; and
(B)
(i)
arrange that such boxer fight in a minimum of 1 boxing match every 6 months; or
(ii)
ensure that such boxer is paid an amount that is not less than 10 times the minimum payment for such boxer for 1 round as specified pursuant to subparagraph (A), except that this clause shall not apply if an injury prevents the boxer from fighting and the boxer is collecting insurance for such injury pursuant to subsection (d)(2), or the boxer refuses or is otherwise unable to fight for reasons beyond the control of the UBO, including inability of the boxer to travel or the boxer’s failure to maintain relevant licensure.
(3)
Such contract may not exceed 6 years.
(g)
Boxing conduct policy
(1)
In general
A condition of this section is that a UBO implements and ensures compliance with a comprehensive boxing conduct policy that prohibits a boxer, or any covered individual, who is directly involved with or participates in a covered match from—
(A)
placing a bet or wager, directly or through a third party, on the match; and
(B)
sharing non-public information with a third party that is material to the performance of a boxer participating in the match or the outcome of the match for the purpose of assisting the third party in placing a bet or wager on the match.
(2)
Compliance
A UBO shall implement and ensure compliance with procedures for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the boxing conduct policy implemented under paragraph (1).
(3)
Covered individual defined
In this subsection, the term  covered individual  means, with respect to a boxer who participates in a covered match, any of the following:
(A)
An adult living in the same household as the boxer.
(B)
A coach, manager, or athletic trainer of the boxer.
(C)
A physician or other medical professional who provides services to the boxer.
(D)
An employee, officer, or director of the UBO concerned.
(E)
An agent of any such person who is directly involved with or participates in a covered match.
(h)
Conflicts of interest
A condition of this section is that a UBO implements prohibitions against the officers or employees of the UBO, or any representative of the UBO, engaging in any of the following:
(1)
Any direct or indirect financial interest in the management of a boxer in relation to the participation of the boxer in a covered match.
(2)
Employment of, or making a payment to, a manager who represents a boxer who participates in a covered match, except—
(A)
when the boxer acts as the boxer’s own manager; or
(B)
for any consideration paid by the UBO to the manager under the contract between the manager and the boxer.
(3)
Receiving or requesting from a boxer the payment of a fee related to—
(A)
the ranking of the boxer; and
(B)
the participation of the boxer in a covered match—
(i)
including any fee related to a boxer participating in a covered match in which the boxer will be challenging a champion or defending a championship, including any award; and
(ii)
excluding any cost related to a boxer reimbursing a UBO for reasonable expenses incurred by the UBO on behalf of the boxer in relation to the participation of the boxer in a covered match, including any medical expense and travel expense.
(i)
Boxing commissions
(1)
Prohibition
A condition of this section is that a covered match may not be held—
(A)
in a State without a boxing commission; or
(B)
within a reservation (as defined by section 21) under the jurisdiction of a tribal organization (as defined by section 21) that does not meet the requirements of section 21.
(2)
Judges and referees
A condition of this section is that a UBO meets the requirements of section 16.
(j)
Financial responsibility
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), a condition of this section is that a UBO is financially responsible for the costs of meeting the requirements of section 5 and the conditions of this section.
(2)
Cost of any deductible
 The cost of any deductible for any health insurance required to be provided by the UBO for a boxer shall be the financial responsibility of the boxer.
(k)
Federal trade commission filing
(1)
In general
A condition of this section is that, on the date in which a UBO intends to claim status as a UBO for purposes of this section, the UBO submits to the Federal Trade Commission and to the Association of Boxing Commissions information regarding the UBO, including the following:
(A)
The State in which the UBO is incorporated.
(B)
The business address of the UBO.
(C)
The website of the UBO.
(2)
Format; updates
To meet the condition of this subsection, the UBO shall—
(A)
provide the information described in paragraph (1) in—
(i)
writing; and
(ii)
for any document greater than 2 pages in length, electronic form; and
(B)
promptly notify the Federal Trade Commission of any material change in the information submitted.
(3)
Federal trade commission to make information available to public
The Federal Trade Commission—
(A)
shall make information received under this subsection available to the public; and
(B)
may assess the UBO a fee to offset the costs the Commission incurs in processing the information and in making the information available to the public.
(4)
Internet alternative
In lieu of submitting the information described in paragraph (1) to the Federal Trade Commission, a UBO may provide the information to the public by maintaining a website on the internet that meets the following requirements:
(A)
Is readily accessible by the general public using generally available search engines.
(B)
For full access to the information, does not require a password or payment of a fee.
(C)
Contains the information described in paragraph (1) in a format that is easy to search and use.
(D)
Is updated when there is a material change in the information.
(l)
Relationship with State law
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a State from adopting or enforcing supplemental laws or regulations not inconsistent with this section, or criminal, civil, or administrative fines for violations of such laws or regulations.
 .
(b)
Enforcement
Section 18(b) of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6309(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(5)
Unified boxing organizations
Any officer or employee of a unified boxing organization who willfully and knowingly violates, or coerces or causes any other person to violate, section 24 shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for not more than 1 year or fined not more than $20,000, or both.
 .
(c)
Definitions
Section 2 of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6301 ) is amended—
(1)
by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
(7)
Physician
The term  physician  means a doctor of medicine, with a degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who is legally authorized to practice medicine by the State in which the physician performs such function or action.
 ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(16)
Unified boxing organization
The term  unified boxing organization  or  UBO  means an association, a league, or a centralized industry organization in the private sector that—
(A)
organizes a professional boxing match in a system in which a boxer under contract with such association, league, or centralized industry organization competes against another such boxer pursuant to unified rules; and
(B)
without reliance on a sanctioning organization operating independently of such association, league, or centralized industry organization, implements a system for title belts and ranking for boxers under contract with such association, league, or centralized industry organization.
 .
4.
Boxing industry standards
(a)
Boxer safety and industry standards
Section 5 of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6304 ) is amended—
(1)
in the section heading, by inserting
and industry   after
Safety  ;
(2)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
(A)
by striking  No person  and inserting the following:
(a)
Health and safety of boxers
No person
 ; and
(B)
by inserting  , at a minimum,  after  that provides ;
(3)
in subsection (a), as so designated—
(A)
by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
(1)
Physical examination
(A)
In general
A physical examination of each boxer by a physician certifying whether or not the boxer is physically fit to safely compete, copies of which shall be provided to the boxing commission by such physician.
(B)
Minimal medical requirements
(i)
In general
A physician may certify as required under subparagraph (A) only if the examinations described in clause (iii) are conducted, which examinations shall be valid only for the amount of time prior to a match indicated in such table.
(ii)
Validity
No examination shall be valid unless it is conducted by a physician, in person, and includes a written opinion that the result of such examination does not contraindicate that a boxer is able to compete safely.
(iii)
Required examinations
The examinations described in this clause are those set forth in the following table:
  Required examinations  Validity        Complete physical examination, including blood work  1 year      Dilated eye examination  1 year     Heart examinations (Electrocardiogram, and for a boxer aged 40 years or older, a stress test)  1 year     Antibody tests (Negative Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody, Hepatitis B antigen, and Hepatitis C antibody)  6 months     Brain health examinations (For a boxer aged 40 years or older, a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan and a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the brain; for a boxer under age 40, an MRI of the brain or neurologic examination conducted by a neurologist)  1 year     In the case of a female fighter, a pregnancy test  14 days
 ;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking  Except  and inserting
Ambulance; equipment .—Except ; and
(ii)
by striking  an ambulance or medical personnel  and inserting  an ambulance and medical personnel ;
(C)
by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
(3)
Physician
A physician continuously present at ringside who, beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the  Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026 , shall have a certification obtained through a certification program administered by the Association of Boxing Commissions in partnership with the Association of Ring-side Physicians, or any successor organization.
 ; and
(D)
by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
(4)
Insurance
For each boxer, health insurance that—
(A)
provides a minimum of $50,000 in medical coverage for any injuries sustained in the match and $15,000 in accidental death coverage for any fatality arising from such match; and
(B)
with respect to any premium, is not the financial responsibility of the boxer.
 ;
(4)
by adding after subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, the following:
(b)
Minimum payment to boxers
A promoter or unified boxing organization shall pay a minimum of $200 to each boxer for each round in a match in which the boxer participates.
 ; and
(5)
by adding at the end the following:
(c)
Simplification of titles
(1)
Singular titles
A sanctioning organization or unified boxing organization shall award only 1 championship title for each weight class.
(2)
Interim titles
A sanctioning organization or unified boxing organization may not award an interim championship title except in the case of an injury or illness to a reigning titleholder, refusal or inability by the reigning title holder to defend his title, or for reasons beyond the control of the boxer, including inability to travel.
 .
(b)
Review
Section 7 of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6306 ) is amended—
(1)
subsection (a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(5)
Procedures to ensure that—
(A)
drug tests shall be administered—
(i)
for any title match; and
(ii)
at random for all other matches; and
(B)
such drug tests shall screen, at a minimum, for—
(i)
if the boxing commission with jurisdiction over the match (or the tribal organization (as defined in section 21) that is regulating the match) prohibits the use of one or more substances, each substance so prohibited; or
(ii)
if no substance is prohibited as described in clause (i)—
(I)
each substance prohibited by the Association of Boxing Commissions; or
(II)
if no substance is prohibited as described in subclause (I), each substance listed in the most current edition of  The World Anti-Doping Code, The Prohibited List International Standard  of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
 ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(c)
Consistent standards
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
uneven development of standards and practices by boxing commissions (including tribal organizations in compliance with section 21) has enabled matches that would not have been authorized by boxing commissions with robust standards and practices, and that boxers have been seriously injured or killed as a result;
(2)
the Association of Boxing Commissions (in this subsection referred to as the  ABC ), in partnership with the Association of Ringside Physicians, is well-positioned to identify policies and practices most conducive to boxer safety and wellbeing; and
(3)
the ABC should, accordingly, publish and maintain—
(A)
a model legislative and regulatory code for professional boxing, derived from—
(i)
State policies that are most protective of boxers’ safety, health, wellbeing, and economic opportunity;
(ii)
rigorous sporting authority guidelines, such as the USA Boxing protocols for medical suspension; and
(iii)
expert consensus statements from the Association of Ringside Physicians and other sports medicine organizations;
(B)
best practices recommendations for oversight of professional boxing and implementation of legal duties by boxing commissions; and
(C)
an annual report card of boxing commission conformance with such model codes and best practices.
 .
(c)
Judges and referees
Section 16 of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6307h ) is amended to read as follows:
16.
Judges and referees
No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a professional boxing match unless all referees and judges participating in the match have been certified and approved by—
(1)
the boxing commission responsible for regulating the match in the State where the match is held; or
(2)
the Association of Boxing Commissions.
 .
(d)
Conflicts of interest
Section 17(c)(2)(A) of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6308(c)(2)(A) ) is amended by striking  or reasonable expenses in connection therewith .
(e)
Technical amendment
Paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 21(a) of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 ( 15 U.S.C. 6312(a) ) are amended by striking  25 U.S.C. 450b  and inserting  25 U.S.C. 5304 .
5.
Effective date and application
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to boxing matches that take place on or after the date that is 30 days after such date of enactment.
     Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2026.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.