Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a federally recognized alternative compliance pathway that lets private 'unified boxing organizations' operate alongside state, territorial, and tribal regulators. It aims to expand choice for professional boxers while imposing new safety, medical, contract, anti-doping, and governance standards.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More medical protections for boxers
This bill would require unified boxing groups to buy match and training injury insurance and to staff extra emergency care. Match insurance would include at least $50,000 for medical costs and $15,000 for accidental death, and boxers would not pay the premium though they would pay any deductible. Organizers would need an extra ambulance and an extra licensed ringside physician at covered matches, and those physicians must have special certification two years after enactment. Boxers who suffer a knockout would need brain-health exams before fighting again, and boxers age 40+ would get yearly supplemental exams with specific tests. These rules would apply to professional matches 180 days after enactment.
Boxer pay and contract rules
This bill would set new pay and contract protections for professional boxers. Promoters or unified organizations would have to pay at least $200 per round, and contracts must either provide a match every six months or pay at least $2,000 in lieu of activity, with narrow exceptions for injury, positive drug tests, or forces beyond control. Contracts would be limited to six years maximum and three years for a boxer's first professional promotional agreement. During the final 90 days of a contract boxers would be allowed to communicate with other promoters, and organizations would be barred from having money interests in a boxer's management or paying managers who represent a boxer in a covered match except in limited cases. These rules would apply to professional matches 180 days after enactment.
Stronger officiating and venue rules
This bill would require that every referee and judge in a professional match be certified by the State boxing commission that regulates the match or by the Association of Boxing Commissions. A covered match could not be held in a State without a boxing commission or on a tribal reservation that does not meet the law's tribal requirements. The bill would also force organizations to ban betting by participants and to bar sharing nonpublic material information that could help betting, with monitoring and discipline rules. These rules would apply to professional matches 180 days after enactment.
New anti-doping tests and reports
This bill would require unified boxing organizations to run an independent anti-doping program and to publish an annual list of substances tested and penalties imposed. At least half the boxers in each covered match would be tested from weigh-in through the match, and organizations could do no-notice testing while a boxer is under contract. Testing must be done by an independent third party and positive results reported to commissions. Contracts would have to require boxer cooperation with testing. These rules would apply to professional matches 180 days after enactment.
Transparency rules and penalties for organizers
This bill would require any group claiming unified status to file organizational details with the Federal Trade Commission and the Association of Boxing Commissions, and to publish ratings rules and voting officials each year if they control boxer ratings. The FTC could make filings public and charge a fee to cover processing. The bill would also create criminal penalties for officers or employees who knowingly violate the unified-organization rules, with fines up to $20,000 and up to one year in prison on conviction. These rules would apply to conduct and matches 180 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov