Oscar De La Hoya Slams Proposed Ali Act Changes in Boxing
Boxing is entering a new era, but not everyone is thrilled. The emergence of Turki Alalshikh, Riyadh Season, and TKO Group Holdings has brought big-money events to the sport. However, Oscar De La Hoya is sounding the alarm over proposed changes to the Ali Act, a federal law designed to protect fighters from exploitation.
De La Hoya: Fighters Are Being Set Up to Fail
De La Hoya, who has promoted boxing for over two decades, believes TKO Group’s interest in changing the Ali Act is less about reform and more about replicating the UFC’s controversial business model. He warns that the UFC—famous for underpaying fighters—has faced lawsuits and criticism for suppressing wages and stifling rival promoters.
“The Ali Act was put in place to protect fighters,” De La Hoya stated. “TKO wants to gut those protections so they can pay boxers pennies on the dollar while boosting their stock price.”
Drawing Parallels with UFC Pay Disputes
De La Hoya referenced former UFC fighter Ben Askren, who reportedly needed a double lung transplant and couldn’t afford it. He claims the new boxing model under TKO will lead fighters down a similar path—“broken bodies and empty bank accounts.”
According to De La Hoya, Dana White’s UFC strategy is now the blueprint for boxing under TKO. He believes that altering the Ali Act would allow companies like TKO and their partners at Sela to exploit fighters while dodging oversight.
Is This the Future of Boxing?
The TKO-led movement has undeniably brought more global attention to boxing, especially through partnerships with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season. But De La Hoya urges caution, calling it a “short-term money grab” that puts athletes last.
“If they cared about fighters, they’d keep the Ali Act intact. Changing it only proves they care about profits,” he said passionately.
As the business of boxing evolves, De La Hoya’s warnings raise questions about how fighters will be treated in this new era—and whether legacy and fairness will survive in the pursuit of spectacle.
Source: Big Fight Weekend
