U.S. Representative Brian Jack (GA-03) announced that former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has endorsed the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (H.R. 4624). The bipartisan bill aims to increase opportunities, improve pay, and enhance safety protections for professional boxers.
“I am honored to earn the support of Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers of all time. Mike Tyson’s unprecedented success in the sport enabled him to transcend his accomplishments in the ring, and become an American cultural phenomenon,” said Congressman Brian Jack. “Mike Tyson supports the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act because it protects boxers and offers more choice and new career opportunities for fighters to reach the same level of success that he once earned.”
Tyson joins other supporters including Lonnie Ali, wife of Muhammad Ali, the Association of Boxing Commissions, and several health and safety experts.
In a letter addressed to the U.S. House Committee on Education & Workforce, Tyson wrote: “Muhammad Ali has always been my hero, both inside and outside the ring. Supporting these revisions honors the spirit of the original Ali Act by closing loopholes that have allowed some promoters to regain monopolistic control over fighters’ careers. This new legislation restores balance – allowing boxers to choose their own path while preserving the integrity of the sport. The Act does not alter the opportunities of those who are comfortable with the current system; it simply adds options for fighters who wish to pursue a different path that better suits their career goals.”
Tyson also emphasized improvements for boxer compensation and health coverage: “The proposed reforms provide meaningful benefits for fighters. Establishing a per-round minimum ensures that every athlete who steps into the ring receives fair compensation for the risks they take with their body and mind. The requirement for mandatory health insurance is equally critical – no fighter should ever have to choose between paying medical bills and pursuing their career. I’ve seen too many of my peers face that impossible decision.”
The legislation builds on previous federal laws such as the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act (2000) and enhances provisions from the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 by introducing additional measures focused on boxer welfare.
Key features include a national minimum payment-per-round ($150), aimed at preventing exploitation of less experienced fighters, as well as improved access to health insurance with a national minimum coverage amount set at $25,000 per bout injury—an increase over existing requirements in most states.
MAABRA would allow creation of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), offering an alternative regulatory structure with greater protections and compensation for athletes. These UBOs would operate alongside existing sanctioning bodies under state athletic commission oversight.
Boxers could choose between participating under current sanctioning organizations or opting into UBOs based on which model best serves their interests.
This proposal marks what supporters describe as boxing’s first major legislative update in 25 years.
Brian Jack was elected to Congress after defeating Maura Keller in 2024 with 66.3% of votes compared to Keller’s 33.7%.
