Nico Ali Walsh has stepped forward as the leading voice of a new movement opposing proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
Walsh is fronting the newly formed Ali Act Preservation Alliance, a group of more than thirty figures from across boxing aiming to defend the original law’s protections. “As an Ali, I’m completely against altering the Muhammad Ali Act,” he wrote. “My grandfather fought for it to protect fighters from getting screwed over. Remove it, and promoters take control while fighters get paid less.”
The alliance is responding to amendments included in the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which is currently under consideration in the Senate after advancing through the House of Representatives. The proposed changes would allow the creation of Unified Boxing Organizations, operating alongside the sport’s traditional sanctioning bodies.
Supporters of the bill argue it could modernize boxing by improving minimum pay, medical protections, and introducing new organizational models. However, critics - including Walsh’s alliance - warn that it could blur the separation between promoters and governing bodies which the original law was designed to enforce.
The group also raised concerns about the long-term impact on championship structures. According to its statement, introducing league-controlled belts that cannot unify with traditional titles could make undisputed champions impossible.
With the legislation still under review, the formation of the alliance marks the first coordinated pushback from within boxing.
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