[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E844-E845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MUHAMMED ALI BOXING REFORM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2000

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, four years ago, the Congress passed the 
Professional Boxing Safety Act, an Act within the primary jurisdiction 
of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. This Act created 
comprehensive nationwide regulations for the sport of boxing. It was a 
first step establishing a uniform system of licensing and minimum 
health and safety standards for boxers.
  Because of the Professional Boxing Safety Act, for the first time, 
states could keep track of and protect professional boxers with 
appropriate oversight and supervision.
  Corruption continues to taint the sport of boxing. A major 
international sanctioning body has been charged with bribery, 
racketeering and money laundering. And, the sport continues to endure 
allegations of fixed fights. The Miami Herald has reported that over 30 
prizefights in the last 12 years have been fixed. Tragically, the 
boxers themselves suffer the most from the exploitation and anti-
competitive business practices seemingly endemic to the sport.
  The Muhammed Ali Boxing Reform Act would help to put an end to this 
corruption. It requires the establishment of objective and consistent 
criteria for the ratings of professional boxers. It requires the 
disclosure of compensation received in connection with a

[[Page E845]]

boxing match by promoters, managers, sanctioning bodies, judges and 
referees. It provides tough new penalties for criminals who continue to 
try to manipulate and undermine the sport through coercion and bribes. 
ESPN says that ``The Ali Act, modest in scope, can make a difference. 
It is a small, but significant step, and one that would cost nothing to 
taxpayers.''
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Oxley, the 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials, and 
the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Bliley, the Chairman of the Committee 
on Commerce, for their leadership in moving the Muhammed Ali Boxing 
Reform Act forward.

                          ____________________