APBC President Albert Low and Ali’s Grandsons Reject Proposed CSAC Changes to Muhammad Ali Act
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Sacremento, CA (October 22nd, 2025)– In a newly released public statement, Albert Low, current president of the Association of Professional Boxing Commissions, and the members of the APBC Commission, unanimously disagrees with the California State Athletic Commission, and vehemently objects to the proposed amendments to the H.R. 4624 Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, a bill was proposed by Representatives Brian Jacks (R – Georgia) and Sharice Davids (D – Kansas), stated as for the purpose of amending 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.
“It is clear that the members, as well as the board, of the APBC are unified in their objection to this abomination of an act, that literally will reverse all the good the original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act has done for the protection of the boxers from unscrupulous managers and promoters. The original Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and the later Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000 were specifically written to prevent organizations like the T.K.O. Group from having absolute control to ensure boxers are protected from the very conflicts of interest the latest T.K.O. amendment risks bringing back. “The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act made it illegal for a promoter to act as a manager and required full financial transparency from promoters and sanctioning bodies. It was designed to keep the business side of boxing honest, or at least transparent, and to give fighters the information and freedom to make the best decisions for their careers.
“This so-called Revival Act, however, is a disgrace as it will open the door for self-serving ‘Unified Boxing Organizations’ (UBOs) to operate outside the current sanctioning framework, effectively allowing one corporation, in this case T.K.O. Group, to both regulate and promote under its own banner. In other words, this will allow T.K.O. to act within professional boxing in the same way it already does in mixed martial arts, that is control the talent, the titles, the schedules, and the pay. We need to learn from past mistakes, we must prevent this disgrace of an act becoming law, otherwise the boxers will potentially suffer exploitation, one-sided contracts and lack of pay transparency in the future, which are the inherent dangers of allowing one company to dominate the marketplace. The APBC warns the act threatens to unravel decades of fighter protections established by the original Ali Act and the 1996 Professional Boxing Safety Act. These laws were designed to prevent promoter-manager conflicts, ensure financial transparency, and safeguard boxers’ careers.”
Ali’s boxing grandson, 11-2 professional middleweight boxer Nico Ali Walsh, supports the APBC. “Anyone who truly knew my grandfather (the late World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali) knows he would never support this ‘Revival Act’ (attempt). Legacy isn’t about last names. It’s about principles. I stand with my grandfather’s principles. If you’re not a fighter, don’t speak for us. It’s disappointing the CSAC is backing this.”
Muhammad Ali’s other fighting grandson, MMA fighter Biaggio Ali Walsh of the PFL, said in August 2025 “As an Ali (family member and descendant), I’m completely against altering the Muhammad Ali Act. My grandfather fought for it to protect fighters from getting screwed over. Remove it, and promoters take control while fighters get paid less. Keep the act and protect the fighters who put their lives on the line.” The PFL is the Professional Fighters League, a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion that uses a sports-season format, unlike traditional one-off events. Fighters compete to earn points in a regular season to advance to a playoff and a championship for a chance to win a one million dollars prize. The PFL also operates regional international leagues and acquired Bellator MMA, and it is expanding.
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