Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

TKO GROUP VS. THE ALI ACT || FIGHTHYPE.COM

April 15, 2025
in Boxing
0
Home Boxing
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Caleb Plant refuses to look past upcoming opponent Armando Resendiz

Hitchins Calls Out Haney For Saudi Showdown

Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Darius Fulghum: Quotes and Fight Prediction

What if the same people designated to protect a sport and its athletes were also the ones most eager to sell it out to the highest bidder? Welcome to the world of boxing.

Anyone with even remedial knowledge of boxing history knows that our sport has had the worst watchdogs. Historically, the sport has been run by hustlers, thugs, con men, and carpetbagging hucksters looking to make a quick buck off the blood, sweat, and tears of fighters. Its media hasn’t been much better. 

And the fighters, more often than not, eventually find themselves broke and broken by this sport that swears it loves them, but just never gets around to really showing it.

Even in a day and age where legislation, in the form of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, exists to protect fighters from abuse and exploitative business practices, few fighters ever call on that protection. Why? Because corruption and exploitation have become part of the boxing business culture and a fighter too careful about being treated right is going to have a tough time finding work.

But, still, the law exists. That’s a good thing for fighters, at least in theory. 

And that’s why UFC/WWE parent company TKO Group, recently partnered up with Saudi Arabia and Saudi figurehead Turki Alalshikh for the purpose of beginning a boxing promotion, apparently wants the Ali Act neutered or flat-out gone.

In an excerpt from an email posted in the website Combat Sports Law, the current president of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), Michael Mazzulli, revealed that there are ongoing efforts by TKO Group to “amend” the Ali Act.

“Presently the UFC/TKO is requesting an amendment change to the Mohammad Ali Act [sic],” the memo read. “The board of directors is working with them to make sure the ABC is still part of the federal law.”

The behind the scenes maneuvering to alter the federal law shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given who Saudi funders have designated to handle the logistics for their US boxing plans.

In February, TKO Group CEO Ari Emanuel expressed his disdain for the Ali Act in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, as rumors began to swirl again that his company may be exploring a run at boxing.

“We’re starting to talk about boxing,” Emanuel said. “We’re kind of looking at that right now. I think you’ve got the Ali Act that hurt it. Hopefully, who knows what’s going to happen with the Ali Act. And then Dana [White] has a plan for boxing. We’ll see.”

A month later, it was announced that TKO and the Saudis had partnered up. 

And TKO, coming off a $375 million antitrust lawsuit settlement for a UFC property that was allowed to skirt around the Ali Act, is likely wincing at the liability involved in conducting their predatory, exploitative business as usual in a sport with actual guardrails and safety nets. 

So, they have apparently been working, undercover, with ABC regulators to backdoor beneficial changes to the Ali Act. And, most likely, they will try to use their friendly relationship with President Trump and the Trump administration (WWE part-owner Linda McMahon is a member of the Trump cabinet, as well as a TKO stock holder) as leverage to get their way. 

In a Boxingscene piece by Lance Pugmire, an unnamed “official” is quoted as saying that TKO Group’s targeted “amendment” involves their ability as a promotion to award their own belts. Under current legislation, a promoter is prohibited from being affiliated with, controlling, or having financial ties to a sanctioning organization. The idea is to prevent exploitative scenarios where fighters are bound to a promotion that utilizes titles and/or rankings as a means to control financial and/or contractual terms. 

TKO, via a UFC spokesperson, has another take on this issue, recently telling ESPN that the proposed changes are meant to “enhance” the Ali Act by giving fighters “more opportunities.”

“TKO is having preliminary conversations with members of Congress about how we can work together to expand the Ali Act to create more choices and opportunities for boxers,” they told ESPN “We believe the enhancements we are discussing could help to inspire a boxing revival in America, provide American boxers with access to greater opportunities and better protections, and lead to more boxing events across our country.”

Well, the freedom to be exploited more fully is certainly…a thing. 

And, also, who among us believes that the creation of belts will be the only Ali Act amendment pursued? 

While it’s unlikely the Ali Act could be repealed, it’s quite possible– given TKO’s cozy relationship with the Trump administration and just the general laissez-faire attitude towards regulation present in Congress these days– that the legislation could be aggressively “amended” into nothingness. 

The only pushback against turning the Ali Act into empty words on paper could come from the ABC, whose members, apparently, are being courted by TKO and from media, many of whom are currently working for (or hoping to work for) Saudi interests tied to this TKO boxing project. 

In other words, there appears to be nothing and nobody standing in the way of nullifying the Ali Act and/or modifying it in the best interest of the Saudi-motored TKO Group. 

It would be naive to think that Dana White, essentially declared the face of the TKO boxing initiative, is just looking to add another set of belts to the belt-heavy boxing landscape. As a matter of fact, White, basking in the glow of TKO’s initial announcement, flat-out said that his goal is to do away with all other belts. A self-congratulatory Turki Alalshikh, meanwhile, backed White up, vowing that TKO would “crush everything” in its way. 

Despite the pair walking back their bluster when establishment boxing powers began to take their statements as the declarations of war that they were, the reality is that the major effort involved in amending the Ali Act in order to create their own belts only makes sense if they have the ONLY belts. 

This leads one to believe that the present push is, most likely, TKO moving to clear a path for their palace, funded by a murderous monarchy and enabled by regulators and compliant media, from which they can rake in revenue and, per their MO, turn the sport into slick, but meaningless corporate fluff built on the practice of exploiting fighters as expendable company property.

The frustrating part is that there may be nobody around who will even try to stop them. 

Got something for Magno? Send it here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com



Source link

Tags: actalibest boxing websitebest mma websiteboxersboxingboxing newsFightfightersFightHypeFIGHTHYPE.COMFloyd MayweathergrouphypeinterviewsManny PacquiaoMayweatherMMAmma newsPacquiaotkoUFC
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Caleb Plant refuses to look past upcoming opponent Armando Resendiz

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Caleb Plant refuses to look past upcoming opponent Armando Resendiz

Ahead of this weekend’s headlining fight between Caleb Plant and Armando Resendiz, the fighters appeared for a final press conference yesterday where Plant expressed his confidence that he’s...

Read more

Hitchins Calls Out Haney For Saudi Showdown

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Hitchins Calls Out Haney For Saudi Showdown

Richardson Hitchins said today on social media that he wants to fight Devin Haney in Saudi Arabia if he’s no longer fighting Teofimo Lopez. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs)...

Read more

Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Darius Fulghum: Quotes and Fight Prediction

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 29, 2025
0
Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Darius Fulghum: Quotes and Fight Prediction

Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) and Darius Fulghum (14-0, 12 KOs) will soon face each other in a 12-round super middleweight clash.Their bout headlines a Golden Boy Promotions...

Read more

Jaime Munguia Tests Positive For Banned Substance

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 29, 2025
0
Jaime Munguia Tests Positive For Banned Substance

By: Sean Crose Fresh off an impressive win over Bruno Surace earlier this month, Jaime Munguia tested positive for having a banned substance in his system. According to...

Read more

‘Proud’ Kieran Molloy’s Galway Homecoming Bigger Than Boxing

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 28, 2025
0
‘Proud’ Kieran Molloy’s Galway Homecoming Bigger Than Boxing

For Kieran Molloy, June 28 in Pearse Stadium won’t just be about victory or the prize on offer—it will be about legacy. The Oughterard native is set to...

Read more
Next Post
Andrea Zambonin rumoured to Exeter Chiefs

Andrea Zambonin rumoured to Exeter Chiefs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

Gervonta Davis subsequent opponent revealed

Gervonta Davis subsequent opponent revealed

September 30, 2024
Antony blames personal issues for failing to make the grade at Manchester United – Man United News And Transfer News

Antony blames personal issues for failing to make the grade at Manchester United – Man United News And Transfer News

April 18, 2025
Final-Ditch Hero: Ray Ford says he’s solely getting stronger

Final-Ditch Hero: Ray Ford says he’s solely getting stronger

April 26, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Antonio Conte wants Napoli to beat Juventus to sign Serie A striker
  • UFC 107 main event weigh-in video: Maycee Barber misses weight
  • UEFA Champions League All-time top scorers list: From Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.