Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali and one of the leading voices opposing Zuffa Boxing’s proposed Ali Revival Act, revealed on The Ariel Helwani Show that senators have told him the legislation will not advance in its current state.
The news follows months of ongoing conversations Walsh has held with lawmakers, and a recent two-hour sit-down meeting with TKO and Zuffa head Nick Khan.
Walsh told Helwani that his team has been in steady contact with senators, and the feedback has increasingly favored his side.
“These senators have been agreeing with us. They know that the Revival Act is not going to pass as it stands,” he said.
A call that took place around July 20th proved to be a turning point.
“That call that we had with the senators was amazing and it was that one that we were informed that it was not going to pass as it was, as it is proposed,” Walsh explained.
Walsh posted to social media shortly after that call, writing “Great call today with the senators. Changes are coming,” which he confirmed was a direct reference to learning the proposed Revival Act had been stalled. He believes that momentum is what prompted TKO to request a meeting.
The two-hour sit-down with Khan took place in New York and, according to Walsh, was productive. Four primary areas of concern were raised: financial transparency, free agency, length of contracts, and rankings transparency.
“Financial transparency is absolutely essential. That’s UBO disclosures. That’s fig hter pay. You’ve got to be able to show what money is being made,” Walsh said, adding that Khan was “very inclined to listen.”
Walsh was also invited to appear live on the Zuffa Boxing broadcast that evening, an offer he accepted and later praised.
“They didn’t tell me no talking points. They didn’t hint that you got to say this. I will always tell you like it is. They gave me that platform and even on that platform, I spoke somewhat against Zuffa,” he said.
He credited the meeting with accomplishing more than months of senator calls combined. “That two hours that we had with Nick did more than all these months,” Walsh said. He also recognized his mother, daughter of Muhammad Ali, for separately contacting senators to advocate against the bill in its current form.
On whether the bill was formally stalled, Walsh was direct. “I was told that we stalled the bill. That is a fact.” He added: “The Revival Act would be in place right now. Zuffa Boxing would be a league right now if we had not come into the picture and started speaking our mind.”
The Senate is now expected to produce a revised version of the legislation incorporating input from both sides. “Next, the Senate is going to put together a bill with the comments from both of our sides and they’re going to come out with a revised version,” Walsh said.
