By Gabriel F. Cordero
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has approved the boxing reform bill, and it is now headed to the full Senate.
S. 5188 is the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revitalization Act of 2026, as amended by the Cruz-Rosen substitute amendment, as well as Cantwell amendments 2, 3, 4, and 5 (all in their modified versions).
“The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revitalization Act, which I introduced alongside Senator Rosen, would establish a new option for league-style ‘Unified Boxing Organizations.’ Unlike other major professional sports, boxing lacks a central regulatory authority, which has led to its decline. The bill enjoys broad support from organizations and boxers, including Nico Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s grandson,” said the bill’s sponsor, Republican Senator Ted Cruz.
Senator Cruz reiterates that this bill seeks to create a new option for Unified Boxing Organizations—modeled after leagues and similar to the UFC—and adds that a new central authority is needed to govern and manage boxing, just as with other professional sports.
In a surprise announcement, Cruz stated that he has already secured the support of various organizations and boxers, including Nico Ali Walsh, who changed his stance at the last minute.
As of now, nothing has been finalized regarding Congress’s role in boxing regulation, nor in its administration and commercial operations.
