Mackenzie Leads Hearing on Strengthening Safety and Opportunity in American Boxing

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, held a hearing titled "In Their Corner: Creating More Opportunities for American Boxers." The hearing examined how strengthening safety standards, improving medical protections, and creating clearer rules across the industry can help restore the competitiveness and integrity of American boxing.

Professional boxing once stood at the center of American sports culture, but witnesses noted that the sport has become increasingly fragmented, with inconsistent oversight, weak enforcement, and a lack of basic medical safeguards for fighters. The hearing explored H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which strengthens the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act and builds on the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 by adding new protections to improve the safety and well-being of boxers.

Witnesses testified about opportunities to strengthen the sport through improved medical protections, clearer standards, and a more consistent regulatory framework. Witnesses included:

"As Chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, my focus is on ensuring that every American worker, including professional athletes, has a fair and safe workplace. Boxing has long represented grit, determination, and the American will to fight hard and overcome the odds, but today too many fighters are put at risk by uneven rules and inadequate protections," said Chairman Mackenzie. "As we evaluate proposals to strengthen the sport, our goal is simple: protecting fighters, restoring fairness, and building a stronger future for American boxing. And we are proud that one of the sport's greatest champions, Larry Holmes, comes from Pennsylvania's Seventh District."

"I was honored to testify before Chairman Mackenzie's subcommittee in support of my bipartisan legislation, H.R.4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act," said Congressman Jack. "This bill provides professional boxers with more career opportunities, better pay, and greater safety protections. As Lonnie Ali, the wife of Muhammad Ali, testified yesterday, 'Muhammad [Ali] would be proud to have his name associated with this legislation.' In that spirit, I look forward to making history with my colleagues to revive one of America's greatest sports in the name of one of America's greatest athletes."

"Boxers deserve options. For too long, professional boxing has been in decline as an outdated patchwork of regulations leaves fighters vulnerable to injury, exploitation, and limited opportunity. Today's hearing offered strong insights into how innovative solutions such as the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act would create new options and frameworks to enhance safety standards, expand opportunities, and restore integrity to the sport-and revitalize one of America's most iconic sports." said Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI).

Members and witnesses discussed how proposed reforms would:
• Establish unified boxing organizations to create consistent safety and fairness standards.
• Require routine medical exams, MRI screenings, and enhanced protections for older athletes.
• Ensure medical personnel are present at every match.
• Create strict, transparent anti-doping rules.
• Set minimum standards for insurance coverage and per-round pay.

"These discussions are an important first step," Mackenzie said. "As the only sport regulated by Congress, we have a responsibility to examine ways to strengthen safety, transparency, and opportunity for American boxers."

A full recording of the hearing is available HERE.
Chairman Mackenzie's opening remarks are available HERE.

Photos are available HERE