The Ali Act Battle: Why De La Hoya and Hearn Are Fighting Dana White's Boxing Revolution

Dana White's Boxing Revolution Hits Capitol Hill as De La Hoya and Hearn Launch Counterattack

The Muhammad Ali Act, boxing's 25-year-old fighter protection law, faces its most existential threat yet as Dana White's Zuffa Boxing pushes Congress to rewrite the legislation that could reshape the sport forever.

The battle lines were drawn in January when the proposed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act passed committee 30-4, advancing toward a full House and Senate vote. The bill would create a Unified Boxing Organization (UBO) that would rank fighters and award its own belts, eliminating the need for promoters to work with multiple sanctioning bodies.

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing's chairman, has emerged as White's most vocal critic. "The problem with the Ali Act for them is, you have to disclose to the fighters the revenue of the show, particularly from the broadcaster," Hearn told Bloody Elbow in October. That transparency requirement, he argues, is exactly what White wants to eliminate.

White's vision mirrors the NFL's league structure, where a single entity controls rankings, championships, and revenue distribution. TKO Group Holdings, UFC's parent company, has submitted detailed responses to Congressional questions about how the UBO would operate, arguing that current boxing promoters have failed to grow the sport effectively over the past 50-60 years.

But boxing's establishment sees a power grab. Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions' founder, called the plan "shady" and accused White of exploiting boxers. "They're trying to screw fighters over with this new bill," De La Hoya told Yahoo Sports in September.

The controversy has drawn in Muhammad Ali's family. His daughter Hana Ali opposes the changes, stating her father "would have always sided with whatever truly protected a person's free will and best interests." However, Ali's widow Lonnie has endorsed the proposal, creating a split in the boxing legend's legacy.

California's State Athletic Commission added momentum with a 6-0 vote endorsing Zuffa Boxing's push for the new act. The commission's support suggests the proposal has significant backing from state-level boxing authorities who have grown frustrated with the current system's fragmentation.

Paulie Malignaggi, former welterweight champion, defended the existing law's importance. "Why I want to protect it is that no matter what happens now, a fighter can take them to court and audit the books," Malignaggi told BoxingScene. "It needs more teeth, not changing or abolishing."

The timing is critical. Zuffa Boxing 01 debuted on Paramount+ on January 23, just two days after White's press conference in Las Vegas. The event featured six fights and marked the company's first major public test of its boxing operations.

White has dismissed the criticism. "There hasn't been any push-back," he told Sports Illustrated in February, though the mounting opposition from boxing's biggest names suggests otherwise.

The bill's journey through Congress represents more than a regulatory change—it's a fundamental question about boxing's future. Should the sport maintain its current promoter-driven model with multiple sanctioning bodies, or embrace a unified structure that could bring the financial stability and growth seen in other major sports?

What to watch: The full House and Senate votes scheduled for spring 2026 will determine whether boxing enters a new era or maintains its traditional structure. The California State Athletic Commission's endorsement suggests state-level support could influence federal lawmakers.

The Ali Act battle isn't just about boxing—it's about who controls the future of combat sports and whether fighters will gain more protection or less in the process.