H.R. 4624

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4624 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4624

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 25, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To amend the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 to establish 
requirements for unified boxing organizations, to further enhance the 
well-being of professional boxers, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival 
Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to provide increased choice and opportunity to 
professional boxers by allowing a professional boxer to choose 
to participate in the alternative system offered by a unified 
boxing organization; and
(2) to further enhance safety precautions that protect the 
well-being of professional boxers.

SEC. 3. UNIFIED BOXING ORGANIZATIONS.

(a) In General.--The Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (15 
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 24. UNIFIED BOXING ORGANIZATIONS.

``(a) Alternative System for Compliance With the Requirements of 
This Act.--A unified boxing organization (in this section referred to 
as a `UBO') shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements 
of this Act if the UBO meets the requirements of section 5 and the 
conditions of this section with respect to--
``(1) each boxer under contract with the UBO; and
``(2) each professional boxing match organized by the UBO 
(in this section referred to as a `covered match').
``(b) Safety and Industry Standards; Medical Examinations.--
``(1) In general.--A condition of this section is that a 
UBO meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this 
subsection, in addition to the requirements of section 5.
``(2) Special rule relating to knockouts.--In the case of a 
boxer who suffers a knockout during a covered match, a UBO 
shall require that (in addition to the examinations required 
for such boxer pursuant to section 5(a)(1)(B)(iii)) the boxer 
undergo the applicable examinations described in section 
5(a)(1)(B)(iii) relating to brain health prior to participating 
in the boxer's next covered match.
``(3) Supplemental physical examinations for boxers who are 
40 years of age or older.--
``(A) In general.--A UBO shall ensure that a boxer 
who participates in a covered match at the age of 40 or 
older undergoes (in addition to the physical 
examinations required pursuant to section 
5(a)(1)(B)(iii) and paragraph (2) of this subsection, 
as applicable) a supplemental physical examination 
conducted by a licensed physician that affirms the 
fitness of the boxer to safely participate in a covered 
match.
``(B) Elements.--A supplemental physical 
examination under subparagraph (A) shall include each 
of the following:
``(i) A chest X-ray.
``(ii) A comprehensive metabolic panel 
blood test.
``(iii) A urinalysis to measure the overall 
health condition of the boxer.
``(C) Frequency.--The supplemental physical 
examination to be conducted under subparagraph (A) 
shall occur at least annually, except that the chest X-
ray required under subparagraph (B)(i) shall occur at 
least once every 6 years.
``(c) Provision of Medical Care During Matches.--
``(1) Ambulances.--A condition of this section is that a 
UBO provides (in addition to the ambulance required to be 
provided by such UBO pursuant to section 5(a)(2)) for at least 
1 additional ambulance to be continuously present on site of a 
covered match.
``(2) Ringside presence.--
``(A) In general.--A condition of this section is 
that a UBO provides (in addition to the licensed 
physician required to be provided by such UBO pursuant 
to section 5(a)(3)) for at least 1 additional licensed 
physician to be continuously present at ringside during 
a covered match.
``(B) Certification requirement.--Beginning on the 
date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026, each 
physician required to be provided by a UBO shall have a 
certification obtained through a certification program 
administered by the Association of Boxing Commissions 
in partnership with the Association of Ring-side 
Physicians (or any successor organization).
``(d) Support Services for Boxers Under Contract With a UBO.--A 
condition of this section is that, during the period in which a boxer 
is under contract with a UBO, the UBO shall ensure such boxer has each 
of the following:
``(1) Equipment and facilities for training and 
rehabilitation.--The boxer has access to equipment and 
facilities that are operated by the UBO for training and 
rehabilitation.
``(2) Insurance policy.--In addition to the health 
insurance provided to the boxer pursuant to section 5(a)(4), 
the boxer has in effect an insurance policy that provides 
medical coverage for any injury sustained by the boxer during 
the period of training for a covered match.
``(3) Medical coordinator.--A medical coordinator is 
assigned to the boxer to assist the boxer with satisfying 
medical and licensing requirements related to the participation 
of the boxer in a covered match.
``(e) Comprehensive Anti-doping Program.--
``(1) Requirement.--
``(A) In general.--A condition of this section is 
that a UBO has in effect a comprehensive anti-doping 
program that includes the testing and requirements 
related to such testing under this subsection.
``(B) List of prohibited substances and 
penalties.--A UBO shall, on an annual basis, publish, 
and make available to the public, a list that 
identifies, with respect to the preceding year--
``(i) each substance tested for under the 
comprehensive anti-doping program of the UBO; 
and
``(ii) each penalty imposed on a boxer 
under paragraph (6).
``(2) In-competition testing.--
``(A) In general.--The UBO shall ensure that 
testing is conducted, in accordance with paragraph (5), 
for at least half the boxers participating in each 
covered match organized by such UBO for an event.
``(B) Timing.--Testing required under subparagraph 
(A) shall--
``(i) occur during the period beginning on 
the date of a weigh-in for a covered match and 
ending on the date of the match; and
``(ii) determine whether a boxer is 
positive or negative for each substance 
prohibited by--
``(I) the boxing commission of the 
State in which the match is held; or
``(II) in the case of a covered 
match held within a reservation (as 
defined by section 21), the tribal 
organization (as defined by section 21 
and that meets the requirements of 
section 21) regulating the match.
``(3) No-notice testing.--In addition to the testing 
required under paragraph (2), during the period in which a 
boxer is under contract with a UBO, the UBO may conduct 
testing, with no advance notice to the boxer and in accordance 
with paragraph (5), to determine whether such boxer is positive 
or negative for each substance prohibited by the UBO.
``(4) Substances prohibited by ubo.--The UBO shall prohibit 
each substance prohibited as described in subclause (I) of 
clause (ii) of section 7(a)(5)(B) (or, if no substance is so 
prohibited, each substance listed as described in subclause 
(II) of such clause), except that the UBO may elect to not test 
a boxer participating in a covered match for any substance that 
is not prohibited by the boxing commission of the State in 
which the match is being held or the tribal organization 
described in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(II) that is regulating the 
match.''
``(5) Administration of tests.--An independent third-party 
shall conduct the testing under paragraphs (2) and (3), which 
shall include--
``(A) carrying out each such test;
``(B) determining the result of each such test; and
``(C) reporting a positive result of such a test 
to--
``(i) the UBO concerned;
``(ii) the boxing commission of the State 
in which a covered match is held or the tribal 
organization regulating the match; and
``(iii) the Association of Boxing 
Commissions.
``(6) Penalties.--
``(A) In general.--A UBO shall implement any 
penalty decided--
``(i) with respect to a positive test 
result related to the testing conducted under 
paragraph (2), by--
``(I) the boxing commission of the 
State in which a covered match is held 
or the tribal organization regulating 
the match; or
``(II) the Association of Boxing 
Commissions; and
``(ii) with respect to a positive test 
result related to the testing conducted under 
paragraph (3), by the independent third-party 
conducting such testing.
``(B) Assessment for penalties.--In imposing a 
penalty on a boxer for whom the independent third-party 
reports a positive test result under paragraph (2) or 
(3), the boxing commission, the Association of Boxing 
Commissions, or the independent third-party described 
in subparagraph (A) shall consider--
``(i) the seriousness of the positive test 
result in relation to the participation of the 
boxer in a covered match; and
``(ii) the degree to which the boxer is at 
fault for the positive test result.
``(7) Contract requirement.--A UBO shall include in any 
contract entered into between the UBO and a boxer regarding 
participation in covered matches such terms and conditions as 
may be necessary to require the boxer to submit to testing 
under this subsection during the period of the contract.
``(f) Required Contract Provisions.--In addition to the 
requirements described in subsection (e)(7), a contract between a UBO 
and a boxer shall meet each of the following requirements:
``(1) During the 30-day period ending on the last day of 
such contract, the boxer may not be prohibited from 
communicating with another UBO or a promoter.
``(2) Such contract shall--
``(A) specify the minimum payment that such boxer 
will receive for participating in a round of a boxing 
match, which shall be at least $200 per round; and
``(B)(i) arrange that such boxer fight in a minimum 
of 1 boxing match every 6 months; or
``(ii) ensure that such boxer is paid an amount 
that is not less than 10 times the minimum payment for 
such boxer for 1 round as specified pursuant to 
subparagraph (A), except that this clause shall not 
apply if an injury prevents the boxer from fighting and 
the boxer is collecting insurance for such injury 
pursuant to subsection (d)(2), or the boxer refuses or 
is otherwise unable to fight for reasons beyond the 
control of the UBO, including inability of the boxer to 
travel or the boxer's failure to maintain relevant 
licensure.
``(3) Such contract may not exceed 6 years.
``(g) Boxing Conduct Policy.--
``(1) In general.--A condition of this section is that a 
UBO implements and ensures compliance with a comprehensive 
boxing conduct policy that prohibits a boxer, or any covered 
individual, who is directly involved with or participates in a 
covered match from--
``(A) placing a bet or wager, directly or through a 
third party, on the match; and
``(B) sharing non-public information with a third 
party that is material to the performance of a boxer 
participating in the match or the outcome of the match 
for the purpose of assisting the third party in placing 
a bet or wager on the match.
``(2) Compliance.--A UBO shall implement and ensure 
compliance with procedures for monitoring and enforcing 
compliance with the boxing conduct policy implemented under 
paragraph (1).
``(3) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the 
term `covered individual' means, with respect to a boxer who 
participates in a covered match, any of the following:
``(A) An adult living in the same household as the 
boxer.
``(B) A coach, manager, or athletic trainer of the 
boxer.
``(C) A physician or other medical professional who 
provides services to the boxer.
``(D) An employee, officer, or director of the UBO 
concerned.
``(E) An agent of any such person who is directly 
involved with or participates in a covered match.
``(h) Conflicts of Interest.--A condition of this section is that a 
UBO implements prohibitions against the officers or employees of the 
UBO, or any representative of the UBO, engaging in any of the 
following:
``(1) Any direct or indirect financial interest in the 
management of a boxer in relation to the participation of the 
boxer in a covered match.
``(2) Employment of, or making a payment to, a manager who 
represents a boxer who participates in a covered match, 
except--
``(A) when the boxer acts as the boxer's own 
manager; or
``(B) for any consideration paid by the UBO to the 
manager under the contract between the manager and the 
boxer.
``(3) Receiving or requesting from a boxer the payment of a 
fee related to--
``(A) the ranking of the boxer; and
``(B) the participation of the boxer in a covered 
match--
``(i) including any fee related to a boxer 
participating in a covered match in which the 
boxer will be challenging a champion or 
defending a championship, including any award; 
and
``(ii) excluding any cost related to a 
boxer reimbursing a UBO for reasonable expenses 
incurred by the UBO on behalf of the boxer in 
relation to the participation of the boxer in a 
covered match, including any medical expense 
and travel expense.
``(i) Boxing Commissions.--
``(1) Prohibition.--A condition of this section is that a 
covered match may not be held--
``(A) in a State without a boxing commission; or
``(B) within a reservation (as defined by section 
21) under the jurisdiction of a tribal organization (as 
defined by section 21) that does not meet the 
requirements of section 21.
``(2) Judges and referees.--A condition of this section is 
that a UBO meets the requirements of section 16.
``(j) Financial Responsibility.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a condition of 
this section is that a UBO is financially responsible for the 
costs of meeting the requirements of section 5 and the 
conditions of this section.
``(2) Cost of any deductible.-- The cost of any deductible 
for any health insurance required to be provided by the UBO for 
a boxer shall be the financial responsibility of the boxer.
``(k) Federal Trade Commission Filing.--
``(1) In general.--A condition of this section is that, on 
the date in which a UBO intends to claim status as a UBO for 
purposes of this section, the UBO submits to the Federal Trade 
Commission and to the Association of Boxing Commissions 
information regarding the UBO, including the following:
``(A) The State in which the UBO is incorporated.
``(B) The business address of the UBO.
``(C) The website of the UBO.
``(2) Format; updates.--To meet the condition of this 
subsection, the UBO shall--
``(A) provide the information described in 
paragraph (1) in--
``(i) writing; and
``(ii) for any document greater than 2 
pages in length, electronic form; and
``(B) promptly notify the Federal Trade Commission 
of any material change in the information submitted.
``(3) Federal trade commission to make information 
available to public.--The Federal Trade Commission--
``(A) shall make information received under this 
subsection available to the public; and
``(B) may assess the UBO a fee to offset the costs 
the Commission incurs in processing the information and 
in making the information available to the public.
``(4) Internet alternative.--In lieu of submitting the 
information described in paragraph (1) to the Federal Trade 
Commission, a UBO may provide the information to the public by 
maintaining a website on the internet that meets the following 
requirements:
``(A) Is readily accessible by the general public 
using generally available search engines.
``(B) For full access to the information, does not 
require a password or payment of a fee.
``(C) Contains the information described in 
paragraph (1) in a format that is easy to search and 
use.
``(D) Is updated when there is a material change in 
the information.
``(l) Relationship With State Law.--Nothing in this section shall 
prohibit a State from adopting or enforcing supplemental laws or 
regulations not inconsistent with this section, or criminal, civil, or 
administrative fines for violations of such laws or regulations.''.
(b) Enforcement.--Section 18(b) of the Professional Boxing Safety 
Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6309(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``(5) Unified boxing organizations.--Any officer or 
employee of a unified boxing organization who willfully and 
knowingly violates, or coerces or causes any other person to 
violate, section 24 shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for 
not more than 1 year or fined not more than $20,000, or 
both.''.
(c) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Professional Boxing Safety Act 
of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6301) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
``(7) Physician.--The term `physician' means a doctor of 
medicine, with a degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of 
Osteopathic Medicine, who is legally authorized to practice 
medicine by the State in which the physician performs such 
function or action.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(16) Unified boxing organization.--The term `unified 
boxing organization' or `UBO' means an association, a league, 
or a centralized industry organization in the private sector 
that--
``(A) organizes a professional boxing match in a 
system in which a boxer under contract with such 
association, league, or centralized industry 
organization competes against another such boxer 
pursuant to unified rules; and
``(B) without reliance on a sanctioning 
organization operating independently of such 
association, league, or centralized industry 
organization, implements a system for title belts and 
ranking for boxers under contract with such 
association, league, or centralized industry 
organization.''.

SEC. 4. BOXING INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

(a) Boxer Safety and Industry Standards.--Section 5 of the 
Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6304) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and industry'' 
after ``safety'';
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``No person'' and inserting the 
following:
``(a) Health and Safety of Boxers.--No person''; and
(B) by inserting ``, at a minimum,'' after ``that 
provides'';
(3) in subsection (a), as so designated--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Physical examination.--
``(A) In general.--A physical examination of each 
boxer by a physician certifying whether or not the 
boxer is physically fit to safely compete, copies of 
which shall be provided to the boxing commission by 
such physician.
``(B) Minimal medical requirements.--
``(i) In general.--A physician may certify 
as required under subparagraph (A) only if the 
examinations described in clause (iii) are 
conducted, which examinations shall be valid 
only for the amount of time prior to a match 
indicated in such table.
``(ii) Validity.--No examination shall be 
valid unless it is conducted by a physician, in 
person, and includes a written opinion that the 
result of such examination does not 
contraindicate that a boxer is able to compete 
safely.
``(iii) Required examinations.--The 
examinations described in this clause are those 
set forth in the following table:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Required examinations Validity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Complete physical examination, including blood work 1 year
Dilated eye examination 1 year
Heart examinations (Electrocardiogram, and for a boxer aged 40 years or older, a stress test) 1 year
Antibody tests (Negative Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody, Hepatitis B antigen, and Hepatitis 6 months
C antibody)
Brain health examinations (For a boxer aged 40 years or older, a magnetic resonance image (MRI) 1 year
scan and a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the brain; for a boxer under age 40, an MRI of
the brain or neurologic examination conducted by a neurologist)
In the case of a female fighter, a pregnancy test 14 days'';
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``Except'' and inserting 
``Ambulance; equipment.--Except''; and
(ii) by striking ``an ambulance or medical 
personnel'' and inserting ``an ambulance and 
medical personnel'';
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Physician.--A physician continuously present at 
ringside who, beginning on the date that is 2 years after the 
date of enactment of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival 
Act of 2026, shall have a certification obtained through a 
certification program administered by the Association of Boxing 
Commissions in partnership with the Association of Ring-side 
Physicians, or any successor organization.''; and
(D) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) Insurance.--For each boxer, health insurance that--
``(A) provides a minimum of $50,000 in medical 
coverage for any injuries sustained in the match and 
$15,000 in accidental death coverage for any fatality 
arising from such match; and
``(B) with respect to any premium, is not the 
financial responsibility of the boxer.'';
(4) by adding after subsection (a), as designated by 
paragraph (2) of this subsection, the following:
``(b) Minimum Payment to Boxers.--A promoter or unified boxing 
organization shall pay a minimum of $200 to each boxer for each round 
in a match in which the boxer participates.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Simplification of Titles.--
``(1) Singular titles.--A sanctioning organization or 
unified boxing organization shall award only 1 championship 
title for each weight class.
``(2) Interim titles.--A sanctioning organization or 
unified boxing organization may not award an interim 
championship title except in the case of an injury or illness 
to a reigning titleholder, refusal or inability by the reigning 
title holder to defend his title, or for reasons beyond the 
control of the boxer, including inability to travel.''.
(b) Review.--Section 7 of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 
1996 (15 U.S.C. 6306) is amended--
(1) subsection (a) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``(5) Procedures to ensure that--
``(A) drug tests shall be administered--
``(i) for any title match; and
``(ii) at random for all other matches; and
``(B) such drug tests shall screen, at a minimum, 
for--
``(i) if the boxing commission with 
jurisdiction over the match (or the tribal 
organization (as defined in section 21) that is 
regulating the match) prohibits the use of one 
or more substances, each substance so 
prohibited; or
``(ii) if no substance is prohibited as 
described in clause (i)--
``(I) each substance prohibited by 
the Association of Boxing Commissions; 
or
``(II) if no substance is 
prohibited as described in subclause 
(I), each substance listed in the most 
current edition of `The World Anti-
Doping Code, The Prohibited List 
International Standard' of the World 
Anti-Doping Agency.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Consistent Standards.--It is the sense of Congress that--
``(1) uneven development of standards and practices by 
boxing commissions (including tribal organizations in 
compliance with section 21) has enabled matches that would not 
have been authorized by boxing commissions with robust 
standards and practices, and that boxers have been seriously 
injured or killed as a result;
``(2) the Association of Boxing Commissions (in this 
subsection referred to as the `ABC'), in partnership with the 
Association of Ringside Physicians, is well-positioned to 
identify policies and practices most conducive to boxer safety 
and wellbeing; and
``(3) the ABC should, accordingly, publish and maintain--
``(A) a model legislative and regulatory code for 
professional boxing, derived from--
``(i) State policies that are most 
protective of boxers' safety, health, 
wellbeing, and economic opportunity;
``(ii) rigorous sporting authority 
guidelines, such as the USA Boxing protocols 
for medical suspension; and
``(iii) expert consensus statements from 
the Association of Ringside Physicians and 
other sports medicine organizations;
``(B) best practices recommendations for oversight 
of professional boxing and implementation of legal 
duties by boxing commissions; and
``(C) an annual report card of boxing commission 
conformance with such model codes and best 
practices.''.
(c) Judges and Referees.--Section 16 of the Professional Boxing 
Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6307h) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 16. JUDGES AND REFEREES.

``No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a 
professional boxing match unless all referees and judges participating 
in the match have been certified and approved by--
``(1) the boxing commission responsible for regulating the 
match in the State where the match is held; or
``(2) the Association of Boxing Commissions.''.
(d) Conflicts of Interest.--Section 17(c)(2)(A) of the Professional 
Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6308(c)(2)(A)) is amended by 
striking ``or reasonable expenses in connection therewith''.
(e) Technical Amendment.--Paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 21(a) 
of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6312(a)) are 
amended by striking ``25 U.S.C. 450b'' and inserting ``25 U.S.C. 
5304''.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION.

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of 
enactment of this Act, and shall apply with

respect to boxing matches that take place on or after the date that is 
30 days after such date of enactment.

Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2026.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.