H.R. 4624 — Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026

This section sets forth the purposes of the Act: (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.

This section adds a new section 24 to the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 to establish an alternative compliance system deeming a unified boxing organization (UBO) in compliance with the Act if it meets the requirements of section 5 of the Act plus specified conditions for boxers under UBO contract and professional boxing matches organized by the UBO (covered matches). The conditions include the following: (1) Safety and medical exams—(A) for a boxer suffering a knockout in a covered match, additional brain health exams under section 5(a)(1)(B)(iii) before the next covered match; and (B) for boxers age 40 or older in a covered match, annual supplemental exams (chest X-ray every six years, comprehensive metabolic panel blood test, and urinalysis) affirming fitness by a licensed physician. (2) Medical care during covered matches—at least two ambulances on site and two licensed ringside physicians (with certification required two years after enactment of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026). (3) Support services for contracted boxers—access to UBO-operated training and rehabilitation equipment and facilities; insurance covering training injuries (in addition to event insurance under section 5(a)(4)); and an assigned medical coordinator for medical and licensing requirements. (4) Comprehensive anti-doping program—in-competition testing of at least half the boxers per covered match (from weigh-in to match day, for state- or tribal-prohibited substances); optional no-notice testing of contracted boxers; annual public list of tested substances and penalties imposed.

This section revises health and safety standards for professional boxing matches under the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 by (1) expanding physical examination requirements to include specific in-person exams by a physician with written opinions certifying fitness to compete, valid for set periods prior to a match (complete physical with blood work, dilated eye exam, heart exams including stress test for boxers aged 40 or older, HIV/Hepatitis B/C antibody tests for 6 months, brain MRI/MRA or neurologic exam for 1 year, and pregnancy test for female boxers for 14 days); (2) requiring both an ambulance and medical personnel with resuscitation equipment on site (from an ambulance or medical personnel); (3) requiring the ringside physician, beginning 2 years after enactment of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026, to hold certification from a program administered by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Association of Ringside Physicians; and (4) mandating health insurance for each boxer providing at least $50,000 in medical coverage for match injuries and $15,000 in accidental death coverage, with premiums not the boxer's responsibility. It further establishes a minimum payment of $200 per round to each participating boxer by the promoter or unified boxing organization and limits sanctioning organizations to awarding one championship title per weight class, with interim titles permitted only for a titleholder's injury or illness, refusal or inability to defend, or reasons beyond the boxer's control (e.g., travel inability). This section also amends commission review procedures to require drug testing for all title matches and random testing for others, screening at minimum for commission-prohibited substances or, if none, those banned by the Association of Boxing Commissions or World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list.

This section specifies that the amendments made by the Act take effect on the date of enactment and apply to boxing matches occurring on or after 30 days after the date of enactment.