MUHAMMAD ALI AMERICAN BOXING REVIVAL ACT OF 2026

MUHAMMAD ALI AMERICAN BOXING REVIVAL ACT OF 2026

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2641-H2647] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] MUHAMMAD ALI AMERICAN BOXING REVIVAL ACT OF 2026 Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 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, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4624 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 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. (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: ``SEC. 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 any substance described in section 7(a)(2)(C)(ii), 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 [[Page H2642]] ``(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 figh

Referenced legislation: HR4624, HR4624