"In Their Corner: Creating More Opportunities for American Boxers"
House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
2025-12-04
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Source: Congress.gov
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The Honorable Brian Jack (R-GA)
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The Honorable Steven Horsford (D-NV)
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The Honorable Brian Jack (R-GA)
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The Honorable Brian Jack (R-GA)
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The Honorable Steven Horsford (D-NV)
This subcommittee on workforce protections will come to order. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the chair is authorized to call a recess at any time. And I appreciate everybody's willingness to hang with us here because we were conducting votes on the floor. But we have a very exciting hearing today. And the topic of today's hearing is to examine the current state of the boxing industry and show how HR 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, can help usher in a new golden age for the sport. For most of the 20th century, boxing stood at the heart of American sports and culture. It gave us legends like Jack Johnson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey, and Muhammad Ali, And I should also note from the 7th Congressional District in Pennsylvania, Larry Holmes. We recognize exceptional boxers like world champion Christy Martin, who was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the first year that women were on the ballot. We also honor more recent champions like the great English boxer, Ricky the Hit Manhattan, whose untimely passing reminds us of the lasting bond between fighters and the fans across the world. These boxers were champions in the ring and icons outside of it. Boxing has long been a symbol of grit, determination, and the will to overcome impossible odds, qualities that are at the heart of the American spirit. But today we must face a hard truth. Boxing is failing to meet the high standards of American sports. What was once a respected and unified sport became fragmented, plagued by inconsistent standards, weak enforcement, and a troubling lack of accountability. Too often, fighters are pushed into dangerous matches without proper medical oversight. The result is a system that too frequently exploits the athletes instead of protecting them. And that's why, again, it's a very appropriate topic for our subcommittee on workforce protections.
All of that must change. Professional boxing needs clear, consistent standards that safeguards fighters' health and restore integrity to the profession. As we learn more about the long-term dangers of CTE and performance-enhancing substances, we should honor fighters' courage with a system that protects their health and safeguards the sport. That's the purpose of H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act. Building on the foundation of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996, this bipartisan legislation will bring real change to the sport by putting fighters first. This bill establishes unified boxing organizations, or UBOs, to set uniform safety and fairness standards. Under these organizations, boxers would receive regular medical exams and routine MRI screenings with additional precautions for boxers over 40. Medical personnel will be present at every match. A strict, transparent anti-doping policy will also be enforced. This bill would set new industry-wide standards for medical insurance coverage and set a floor for per-round pay for boxers. Whether a boxer competes inside or outside a UBO, fair pay and medical protection will no longer be optional. They will be the standard. This is about rebuilding trust, protecting athletes, and reigniting the passion that once made boxing a cornerstone of American life. More importantly, it is about ensuring the sport doesn't sacrifice the health and dignity of its athletes. Boxing can be great again. It can inspire, uplift, and unify. HR 4624 can help revive a proud tradition while ensuring every fighter, from the first bell to the final round, is treated with dignity and respect. This is great legislation and I want to commend those who are joining us here today as champions of this legislation in Congress.
You and the work that you're doing embodies America's fighting spirit and this administration, President Trump and this Congress who are all fighting to make America great again want to join you in starting with that work and improving our boxing system right here in the United States. We also would like to enter into the record six letters in support of HR 4624 for the following organizations and individuals, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Boxing Champion Mike Tyson, the Association of Boxing Commissions, Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions, PPB,
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