WBO President Gustavo Olivieri Presses to Preserve Ali Act

In a preemptive strike aimed at anyone plotting tweaks of the Muhammad Ali Act, World Boxing Organization President Gustavo Olivieri distributed a statement this week backing the federal rights protecting boxers.

“This legislation remains a cornerstone in protecting boxers from conflicts of interest, unfair contracts and non-transparent practices,” Olivieri wrote. “It promotes ethical standards, independent rankings and safeguards fighters’ rights at a time when there are renewed calls to weaken or repeal the Act, we must remain vigilant.

“The WBO stands firmly in support of preserving and strengthening this critical law for the integrity of the sport and the protection of those who compete in it.”

Make no mistake that this stance is in direct response to the stated plans of the newly proposed TKO Boxing promotion that will sign fighters and stage bouts in traditional weight classes, with the intention of awarding its own belts as TKO head and UFC CEO Dana White has done for years in his mixed martial arts organization.

Although the strength of TKO’s association with Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh is less certain than it was earlier this month following the decision to separate for the promotion of the planned September 13 superfight between four-division champions Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford, White has met with Association of Boxing Commissions head Mike Mazzulli about “amending” the Ali Act stipulation that forbids promoters from awarding belts.

“The problem is not awarding a belt. The problem is you controlling the fighters, you controlling the ratings, you controlling the path,” Olivieri told BoxingScene in elaborating on his statement.

“There’s no independence. It’s an absolute control of the whole structure. It’s not good. There should be an equal balance. It’s why there’s a balance of power in our republic – the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The purpose of the separation of powers is that none will override the others and have absolute power. If you control the ratings, the fighters and the title, you have absolute power, absolute control.”

In a social media post from a combat-sports attorney, boxers are warned that promoters acting as managers and matchmakers is “a major conflict of interest,” reminding that the Ali Act protects them from “long-term contracts you can’t escape” and “hidden financial deals that rob you of your fair cut.”

Olivieri said he is “absolutely concerned” that the TKO model will begin watering down the Ali Act.

And while White and former UFC Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta embraced the principle of “running to regulation” while gaining MMA acceptance from state commissions across the nation during the organization’s formative years, White’s close friendship with President Donald Trump likely empowers him to pursue whatever adjustments he may want for the Act, which has existed since 2000.

White and a UFC spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions about TKO’s position on the Ali Act.

“The act serves a purpose. That’s why it was enacted – to protect the fighters,” Olivieri said. “At the negotiating table, the fighters are in an adverse bargaining situation. They don’t have the leverage in most situations. So, the act – although it’s not perfect – if it’s properly and consistently enforced, the fighters have some sort of protections. You’d rather have an act in place and not need it than to not have it and need it.”

After having taken over for Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel in December, Olivieri will address the situation with fighters as part of the formation of his new “WBO Gives Back” program, which launches with an educational conference in June.

“The Ali Act is part of that. It is of critical importance and should be defended and supported. The fighters should know their rights, from a ratings perspective, for financial disclosures and all the other provisions that help them, to avoid exploitation of contracts – all the pockets the act covers,” Olivieri said.

“We’ll also address financial literacy, legal advice, investments, first-property acquisitions, knowing minimum contractual guidelines – critical financial information the fighter should be aware of. Through our new program, the WBO will at least provide the fighters some guidance through seminars, publications, educational social media, videos and tutorials.”

The WBO also has a self-serving interest in this position – to continue existing as one of four major separate ratings organizations empowered to award belts and charge sanctioning fees.

“There should be some kind of independent rating system,” Olivieri said. “The current structure is not perfect, but it’s proper and, if consistently enforced, we should have no problem. The ratings structure is not perfect, the sanctioning bodies are not perfect, but if we act with transparency and honesty, we shouldn’t have a problem.”

There may be a way to address all of it through a restructured Ali Act, as long as the changes improve the fighters’ position, Olivieri said.

“I have no objection to sitting and revising the provisions that can be enhanced from the fighters’ perspective,” Olivieri said. “I know we are here for the fighters.”

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.