Major Arenas Endorse Congressman Brian Jack’s Bipartisan Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Regan Hinson

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Brian Jack (GA-03) announced that five of the largest arena operators in the United States have endorsed the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (H.R. 4624), bipartisan legislation that seeks to establish regulatory certainty and encourage innovation to reverse the steady decline of professional boxing in America.

The arena operators which have expressed their support in letters to the U.S. House Committee on Education & Workforce include AEG, Legends Global, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., MGM Resorts International, and Oak View Group.

Collectively, these companies represent many of the most prestigious venues in the United States, including:

● State Farm Arena (Atlanta)

● Madison Square Garden (New York City)

● Chartway Arena (Norfolk)

● Little Caesars Arena (Detroit)

● Target Center (Minneapolis)

● T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)

● Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)

● Prudential Center (Newark)

"Over the last two decades, boxing in America has faced a steady decline. The number of marquee boxing fights held at American venues is a fraction of what it used to be, with many of boxing's premier events now taking place overseas," said Congressman Brian Jack. "As these boxing matches have migrated outside of the United States, they have also taken away the economic benefits our local communities once enjoyed during the golden age of boxing. Passage of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act will revitalize this once-great American sport, and drastically increase the number of professional boxing events held in communities across the United States."

Major boxing events create enormous economic success for the host communities. Local workers are employed in event operations, hospitality, security, and across many other functions. In addition, neighboring businesses outside of the arenas, such as restaurants, bars, and hotels, all experience revenue spikes due to the increase in consumer spending from local fans and out-of-town visitors.

Passage of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act will increase the number of professional boxing matches in the United States by encouraging and incentivizing new promotions to produce such events.

MAABRApreserves the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act (the "Ali Act") that was codified in 2000, and enhances the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 by adding supplemental provisions to improve the safety and well-being of boxers.

The bill establishes a national minimum payment-per-round for all professional boxers ($150 per round), which prevents up-and-coming fighters from being exploited. In addition, all professional boxers would have access to better health insurance, including a first-time national minimum of $25,000 of coverage for injuries sustained during a bout - higher than the current minimum in 43 states.

MAABRA allows for the creation of alternative systems called Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), which would provide boxers with better health and safety protections, greater compensation, and more choice and opportunities. UBOs would not replace the current sanctioning organizations. Instead, UBOs would exist side-by-side and operate independently, with UBO events regulated by state athletic commissions.

Boxers would have the freedom to choose which of the two systems - the existing sanctioning organizations model or the new UBO model - is most advantageous to them.

This legislation represents the first update to boxing in a quarter-century and will revive a once-great American sport.

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