WBC Boss Defends Ali Act as Boxing Remains Threatened
As talks continue about potential changes to the Muhammad Ali Act, WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán has delivered a stark reminder of why boxing’s current system remains unmatched in terms of fighter safety, fairness, and global growth — and why moves to push the sport toward a UFC-style league could threaten its very foundation.
Decentralized Boxing vs. Centralized Leagues
In his latest Round 12 column, Sulaimán emphasizes boxing’s unique decentralized structure, which separates the sport’s regulatory and medical oversight from its business side:
“In boxing, the sanctioning bodies are only in charge of regulatory, medical, and boxing-related matters, while promotional companies like Don King, Bob Arum, PBC, Matchroom, Queensberry, and Oscar de la Hoya control all aspects of the business. All WBC decisions are based on rules and justice without any financial benefit.”
He contrasts this with leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, FIFA, and Premier League, where the league itself controls nearly everything:
“This is a business structure which gives those leagues all the power to do anything they wish… In boxing, we preserve the athlete’s voice and freedom.”
Ali Act Protections Under Threat
The Muhammad Ali Act, enacted in the mid-1990s, grants boxers complete control over their careers, ensures transparent financial reporting, and mandates an 80/20 revenue split that favors the fighter. Sulaimán underscores the law’s importance:
“This law has many aspects which were introduced with one sole intention: absolute protection of the athlete in all aspects.”
By contrast, mixed martial arts promotions like the UFC operate outside the Ali Act, retaining centralized control and splitting revenue heavily in favor of the company, with the promotion often receiving 83% and fighters receiving just 17%.
Boxing’s Global Ecosystem
Sulaimán also highlights the sport’s organic growth, from local gyms in underprivileged neighborhoods to regional and international promoters:
“It’s an industry of open competition where the promoters, with their skills, create stars, and the boxers, with their performance, earn the public’s affection, admiration, and adoration.”
He points to legends such as Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, and Canelo Álvarez — fighters who rose from humble beginnings through structured guidance and competition — as proof of the system’s effectiveness.
Boxing’s strict regulatory framework ensures safety via comprehensive medical exams, licensing, suspensions, and mandatory insurance, setting it apart from brutal, emerging “pseudo-sports”:
“While the safety of the boxer is being looked after, pseudo-sports continue to emerge that are brutal and inhumane, making the Roman circus seem like a child’s game.”
TKO Group’s UFC-Style Push
Amid these debates, TKO Group, under Saudi-backed initiatives, is seeking amendments to centralize control over promotions, rankings, and championship belts — creating a closed-league model reminiscent of the UFC.
Sulaimán’s column underscores the importance of preserving boxing’s decentralized structure, fighter autonomy, and regulatory safeguards.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
