[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5012-S5015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6833. Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Ms. Rosen) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 4624, 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; which was referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Muhammad Ali American Boxing
Revival Act of 2026''.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 3. UNIFIED BOXING ORGANIZATIONS.
The Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6301
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 2 (15 U.S.C. 6301)--
(A) 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
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(16) Unified boxing organization.--The term `unified
boxing organization' 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) implements a system for title belts for boxers under
contract with such association, league, or centralized
industry organization and may rely upon, utilize, or
recognize titles and rankings for such boxers from an
organization operating independently of such association,
league, or centralized industry organization.'';
(2) in section 18(b) (15 U.S.C. 6309(b)), by adding at the
end the following:
``(5) Unified boxing organizations.--(A) Any officer or
employee of a unified boxing organization who knowingly
violates, or coerces or causes any other person to violate,
section 21A shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for not
more than 1 year or fined not more than $100,000, or both.
``(B) If a violation described in subparagraph (A) occurs
in connection with a professional boxing match the gross
revenues for which exceed $2,000,000, the fine imposed under
such subparagraph for that violation shall be increased by an
additional amount which bears the same ratio to $100,000 as
the amount of such revenues compared to $2,000,000.''; and
(3) by inserting after section 21 the following:
``SEC. 21A. UNIFIED BOXING ORGANIZATIONS.
``(a) Alternative System for Compliance.--A unified boxing
organization shall be considered to be in compliance with the
requirements of this Act if the unified boxing organization
meets the requirements of section 5 and the conditions of
this section with respect to--
``(1) each boxer under contract with the unified boxing
organization; and
``(2) each covered match.
``(b) Safety and Industry Standards; Medical
Examinations.--
``(1) In general.--A condition of this section is that a
unified boxing organization shall meet 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
unified boxing organization shall require that, in addition
to the examinations required for such boxer under section
5(a)(1)(B)(iii), the boxer shall undergo the applicable
examinations described in such section relating to brain
health before the boxer may participate in a subsequent
covered match.
``(3) Supplemental physical examinations for boxers who are
40 years of age or older.--
``(A) In general.--A unified boxing organization shall
ensure that a boxer who participates in a covered match at
the age of 40 or older has undergone, in addition to the
physical examinations required under 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.
[[Page S5013]]
``(C) Frequency.--The supplemental physical examination to
be conducted under subparagraph (A) shall occur not less
frequently than annually, except that the chest X-ray
required under subparagraph (B)(i) shall occur not less
frequently than once every 6 years.
``(c) Provision of Medical Care During Covered Matches.--
``(1) Ambulances.--A condition of this section is that a
unified boxing organization shall provide, in addition to the
ambulance required to be provided by the unified boxing
organization under section 5(a)(2), at least 1 additional
ambulance to be continuously present on site at a covered
match.
``(2) Ringside physician presence.--
``(A) In general.--A condition of this section is that a
unified boxing organization shall provide, in addition to the
licensed physician required to be provided by such unified
boxing organization under section 5(a)(3), 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 the enactment of this
section, each physician required to be provided by a unified
boxing organization shall have a certification obtained
through a State boxing commission medical board or a
certification program administered by the Association of
Boxing Commissions in partnership with the Association of
Ringside Physicians (or a successor organization).
``(d) Support Services.--A condition of this section is
that, during the period in which a boxer is under contract
with a unified boxing organization, the unified boxing
organization shall ensure that such boxer has each of the
following:
``(1) Access to equipment and facilities for training and
rehabilitation at reasonable costs proximate to where the
boxer resides.
``(2) In addition to the health insurance provided to the
boxer under section 5(a)(4), an insurance policy in effect
that provides medical coverage for any injury sustained by
the boxer during the period of training for a covered match.
``(3) A medical coordinator 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
unified boxing organization shall have in effect a
comprehensive anti-doping program that includes testing, and
requirements related to such testing, under this subsection.
``(B) List of prohibited substances and penalties.--A
unified boxing organization 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 unified boxing organization; and
``(ii) each penalty imposed on a boxer under paragraph (6).
``(2) In-competition testing.--
``(A) In general.--The unified boxing organization shall
ensure that testing is conducted in accordance with paragraph
(5) for not fewer than half the boxers participating in each
covered match organized by such unified boxing organization
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
covered 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
covered match is held;
``(II) in the case of a covered match held within a
reservation, the tribal organization that meets the
requirements of section 21 and is responsible for regulating
the covered match; or
``(III) in the case of a covered match held in a State
without a boxing commission, the commission responsible for
regulating the covered match as provided by section 4.
``(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 unified boxing organization,
the unified boxing organization 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 unified boxing
organization.
``(4) Substances prohibited by unified boxing
organization.--The unified boxing organization 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 unified boxing
organization may elect not to 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 covered match is
being held or the tribal organization responsible for
regulating the covered 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 unified boxing organization concerned;
``(ii) the boxing commission of the State in which a
covered match is held or the tribal organization responsible
for regulating the covered match, as applicable; and
``(iii) the Association of Boxing Commissions.
``(6) Penalties.--
``(A) In general.--A unified boxing organization shall
enforce any penalty imposed by, with respect to a positive
test result related to the testing conducted under paragraph
(2)--
``(i) the boxing commission of the State in which a covered
match is held or the tribal organization responsible for
regulating the covered match, as applicable; or
``(ii) the Association of Boxing Commissions.
``(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 Association of
Boxing Commissions 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 unified boxing organization
shall include in any contract entered into between the
unified boxing organization 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.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to the requirements
described in subsection (e)(7), a contract between a unified
boxing organization and a boxer shall meet each of the
following requirements:
``(A) The contract shall not prohibit, during the 90 day
period ending on the last day of such contract, the boxer
from communicating with another unified boxing organization
or a promoter, provided that the boxer may not enter into a
new agreement before the end of the term of the existing
contract.
``(B) The contract shall--
``(i) specify the minimum payment that a boxer would or
will receive for participating in a round of a covered match,
which shall be at least $200 per round scheduled; and
``(ii)(I) arrange for such boxer to fight in a minimum of 1
covered 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 1 round specified
under clause (i), except that this subclause 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), the boxer tests positive for a prohibited
substance, or the boxer refuses or is otherwise unable to
fight for reasons beyond the control of the unified boxing
organization, including inability of the boxer to travel or
the boxer's failure to maintain relevant licensure.
``(C) Except as specified in paragraph (2), the contract
may not exceed 6 years.
``(2) Exception for first professional agreement; free
agency rights.--A contract between a unified boxing
organization and a boxer that constitutes the first
professional promotional agreement of the boxer shall not
exceed 3 years.
``(3) Application to all promotional contracts.--
Notwithstanding another provision of law, the protections
afforded to boxers under paragraphs (1)(A), (1)(C), and (2)
shall apply to any contract between a boxer and a promoter to
the same extent as those protections apply to a contract
between a boxer and a unified boxing organization.
``(g) Boxing Conduct Policy.--
``(1) In general.--A condition of this section is that a
unified boxing organization shall implement and ensure
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 covered match; and
``(B) sharing nonpublic information with a third party that
is material to the performance of a boxer participating in
the covered match or the outcome of the match for the purpose
of assisting the third party in placing a bet or wager on the
covered match.
``(2) Compliance.--A unified boxing organization shall
implement and ensure compliance with procedures for
monitoring and enforcing compliance with the boxing conduct
policy implemented under paragraph (1) and enforce any
suspension or other penalty imposed by a State, territorial,
or tribal boxing commission.
``(h) Firewall Between Unified Boxing Organizations and
Managers.--A condition of this section is that no officer or
employee of the unified boxing organization, or any
representative of the unified boxing organization, may do any
of the following:
``(1) Serve as or act as the manager of a boxer, or have
any direct or indirect financial interest in the management
of a boxer in relation to the participation of the boxer in a
covered match.
[[Page S5014]]
``(2) Employ, or make a payment to, a manager who
represents a boxer who participates in a covered match,
except--
``(A) in the case of a boxer who acts as the boxer's own
manager; or
``(B) for any consideration paid by the unified boxing
organization to the manager under the contract between the
manager and the boxer.
``(3) Receive or request from a boxer a payment related to
the ranking of the boxer or the participation of the boxer in
a covered match--
``(A) including--
``(i) charging a boxer for participation in a covered match
in which the boxer will be challenging a champion or
defending a championship; and
``(ii) any portion of an award won by the boxer; and
``(B) excluding reimbursement paid by the boxer to a
unified boxing organization for reasonable expenses incurred
by the unified boxing organization 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, unless compliant with section
4--
``(A) in a State without a boxing commission; or
``(B) within a reservation under the jurisdiction of a
tribal organization that does not meet the requirements of
section 21.
``(2) Judges and referees.--A condition of this section is
that a unified boxing organization shall meet the
requirements of section 16.
``(j) Financial Responsibility.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a condition of
this section is that a unified boxing organization shall be
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
unified boxing organization for a boxer shall be the
financial responsibility of the boxer.
``(k) Disclosure Requirements.--
``(1) Compliance with current state athletic commission
disclosure requirements.--A condition of this section is that
for each covered match, a unified boxing organization shall
comply with all disclosure requirements that the boxing
commission of the State in which the covered match is held or
the tribal organization responsible for regulating the
covered match has required of promoters.
``(2) Disclosures to boxers.--A unified boxing organization
shall disclose to each boxer who participates in a covered
match--
``(A) the compensation paid or owed to the boxer for
participation in the covered match;
``(B) an itemized statement of any fee, charge, expense,
deduction, or other amount assessed against or deducted from
compensation otherwise payable to the boxer, including the
amount and basis for each such assessment or deduction;
``(C) the final amount of compensation paid to the boxer
after application of the amounts described in subparagraph
(B); and
``(D) all information provided to the relevant boxing
commission or tribal organization under paragraph (1).
``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed to preempt or limit the authority of any boxing
commission of a State or territory, or any tribal
organization, to establish or enforce disclosure
requirements.
``(l) Conflict of Interest.--
``(1) In general.--A condition of this section is that no
officer or employee of a unified boxing organization, or any
representative of a unified boxing organization, shall
contract with or provide any compensation to any member or
employee of a boxing commission, any person who administers
or enforces State boxing laws, or any member of the
Association of Boxing Commissions.
``(2) Application.--The conditions under paragraph (1)
shall not apply to any contract entered into, or any
reasonable compensation received, by a boxing commission to
supervise or officiate a covered match.
``(3) Compensation defined.--For purposes of this
subsection, the term `compensation' does not include funds
held in escrow for payment to another person in connection
with a covered match.
``(m) Federal Trade Commission Filing.--
``(1) In general.--A condition of this section is that, on
the date on which a unified boxing organization intends to
claim status as a unified boxing organization for purposes of
this section, the unified boxing organization shall submit to
the Federal Trade Commission and to the Association of Boxing
Commissions information regarding the unified boxing
organization, including the following:
``(A) The State in which the unified boxing organization is
incorporated.
``(B) The business address of the unified boxing
organization.
``(C) The website of the unified boxing organization.
``(2) Information regarding ratings.--For any unified
boxing organization that implements a system for boxer
ratings that such organization controls, manages, or
operates, a condition of this section is that the unified
boxing organization shall, not later than January 31 of each
year, submit to the Federal Trade Commission and the
Association of Boxing Commissions--
``(A) a complete description of the ratings criteria and
policies of the organization;
``(B) the bylaws of the organization;
``(C) the appeals procedure of the organization for a
boxer's rating, if applicable; and
``(D) a list and business address of the officials of the
organization who vote on the ratings of boxers, if
applicable.
``(3) Information regarding independent ratings
organizations.--Not later than January 31 of each year, any
entity that controls, manages, or creates boxer ratings and
has a financial tie to a unified boxing organization shall
submit to the Federal Trade Commission and the Association of
Boxing Commissions--
``(A) a complete description of the ratings criteria and
policies of the entity;
``(B) the appeals procedure of the entity for a rating of a
boxer, if applicable;
``(C) a list and business address of the officials of the
entity who vote on the ratings of boxers, if applicable; and
``(D) an attestation of the financial tie to a unified
boxing organization and the name of the unified boxing
organization.
``(4) Format; updates.--To meet the condition of this
subsection, the unified boxing organization shall--
``(A) provide the information described in paragraph (1)
and (2)--
``(i) in writing; and
``(ii) for any document greater than 2 pages in length, in
electronic form; and
``(B) promptly notify the Federal Trade Commission and the
Association of Boxing Commissions of any material change in
the information submitted.
``(5) Availability of information.--The Federal Trade
Commission--
``(A) shall make information received under this subsection
available to the public; and
``(B) may assess the unified boxing organization a fee to
offset the costs the Commission incurs in processing the
information and in making the information available to the
public.
``(6) Internet alternative.--In lieu of submitting the
information described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) to the
Federal Trade Commission, a unified boxing organization or
entity described in paragraph (3) may provide the information
to the public by maintaining an internet website that--
``(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 in a format that is easy to
search and use; and
``(D) is updated when there is a material change in the
information.
``(n) Relationship With State Law.--Nothing in this section
may be construed to prohibit a State from adopting or
enforcing--
``(1) supplemental laws or regulations not inconsistent
with this section; or
``(2) criminal, civil, or administrative fines for
violations of such laws or regulations.
``(o) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered individual.--The term `covered individual',
with respect to a boxer who participates in a covered match,
means 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 unified
boxing organization concerned.
``(E) An agent of any such person who is directly involved
with or participates in a covered match.
``(2) Covered match.--The term `covered match' means a
professional boxing match organized by a unified boxing
organization.
``(3) First professional promotional agreement.--The term
`first professional promotional agreement' means the initial
contract entered into between a boxer and a unified boxing
organization, if the boxer has not previously been a party to
any promotional agreement with any promoter or unified boxing
organization in connection with participation in a
professional boxing match.
``(4) Reservation; tribal organization.--The terms
`reservation' and `tribal organization' have the meanings
given those terms in section 21.''.
SEC. 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.
[[Page S5015]]
``(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 age 40 or older, a stress test) 1 year
Antibody tests (Negative Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody, Hepatitis B antigen, and Hepatitis 6 months
C antibody)
Brain health examinations (For a boxer age 40 or older, a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan and a 1 year
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)
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 the enactment of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing
Revival Act of 2026, shall have a certification obtained
through a State boxing commission, medical board, or a
certification program administered by the Association of
Boxing Commissions in partnership with the Association of
Ringside 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.''; and
(4) by adding at the end 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.''.
(b) Review.--Section 7(a) of the Professional Boxing Safety
Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6306(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(5) Procedures to ensure that--
``(A) drug tests are administered--
``(i) for any title match; and
``(ii) at random for all other matches; and
``(B) such drug tests 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.''.
(c) 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''.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION.
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with
respect to professional boxing matches that take place on or
after the date that is 180 days after such date of enactment.
______