Oscar De La Hoya Praised for Supporting Muhammad Ali Act Amid Dana White’s Entry Into Boxing

Boxing veteran Oscar De La Hoya recently attended a Senate hearing regarding the controversial expansion of the Muhammad Ali Act.

Oscar De La Hoya Praised for Supporting Muhammad Ali Act Amid Dana White’s Entry Into Boxing

Oscar De La Hoya praised for his stance on Muhammad Ali Act (via Boxing News, Forbes)

In Short
  • Oscar De La Hoya supports the Muhammad Ali Act, advocating for fighter protections amid proposed boxing reforms.
  • David Benavidez praised De La Hoya's stance against centralized control in boxing, warning it could harm athletes.
  • Dana White's plans for a UFC-style boxing model have sparked ongoing tensions with De La Hoya over fighter pay and promotion.

Oscar De La Hoya remains one of boxing’s most influential figures, built on elite in-ring success and long-term promotional power. An Olympic gold medalist in 1992, he became a multi-division world champion and a major pay-per-view star. While his career has included legal controversies, he remains a major force in boxing. This was evidenced by David Benavidez‘s praise for his stance on the Muhammad Ali Act.

The Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act refers to proposed amendments to the original Muhammad Ali Act, a U.S. law that protects professional boxers from unfair promotional practices. It was designed to improve contract transparency, prevent exploitative deals, and limit promoter control over fighters’ careers. The revival effort focuses on modernizing these protections for today’s boxing industry.

De La Hoya recently spoke at a Senate hearing on boxing reform tied to the Muhammad Ali Act. He warned that the proposed Unified Boxing Organizations could centralize control over rankings, titles, and promotions under a single governing body. He said this could weaken fighter protections and shift the sport’s competitive balance away from athletes, which Benavidez later praised his stance on.

Big shoutout to Oscar De La Hoya. He’s really out there advocating for our fighters. The Muhammad Ali Act is in place for a good reason… Once that is taken away, it’s not going to be fair anymore. This push to change the Muhammad Ali Act is very concerning.

David Benavidez via The Ariel Helwani Show

Zuffa Boxing head Dana White has been pushing plans to modernize boxing through a UFC-style model, linked to discussions on the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act. The proposal supports Unified Boxing Organizations that would centralize rankings, titles, and matchmaking under one system. White has said he is not trying to remove the Ali Act but to introduce a parallel structure within boxing’s legal framework.

De La Hoya and White have remained at odds for years, largely due to their competing visions for combat sports promotion. The boxing veteran has criticized the UFC CEO’s expansion into boxing through Zuffa Boxing and his partnership with Saudi executive Turki Alalshikh. He has also raised concerns about fighter pay under White’s UFC model, arguing that boxers would not accept the same compensation structure.

The Senate hearing on boxing reform featured multiple voices beyond Oscar De La Hoya, including Ali‘s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, who opposed the proposed changes. He believed the original intent of the Muhammad Ali Act should be preserved. In contrast, TKO Group executive Nick Khan supported the new framework and its modernization goals. The hearing reflected a divided stance over boxing’s future.

Oscar De La Hoya reveals the greatest regret of his career

Oscar De La Hoya has long been associated with The Ring Magazine through his influence in modern boxing promotion and ownership. The magazine, founded in 1922, is one of the sport’s most historic publications, known for its rankings and championship lineage. De La Hoya acquired ownership during his time building Golden Boy Promotions, positioning the brand as part of his broader business empire.

Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya (via Boxing News)

De La Hoya later sold The Ring Magazine to Turki Alalshikh for a reported $10 million. The veteran had originally purchased the magazine in 2007 for around $7 million. The sale transferred control to interests linked with Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in global boxing investment and promotion. De La Hoya has since reflected on the decision in recent comments, linking it to his regret over selling the publication.

I never regret anything, but I do [regret selling]. When I had the Ring Magazine I kept its integrity… Turki came along and, I thought I was selling it to a person who really cared for the sport and was going to uphold its integrity, but I guess I was wrong. I really do think that the Ring rankings are out the window. I don’t think there’s any integrity there, whatsoever. The Ring Magazine belt was everything for a 100 years, let’s say, and now it can just be in the trash can.

Oscar De La Hoya via The Ariel Helwani Show

Oscar De La Hoya’s sale of The Ring Magazine has taken on new relevance as Turki Alalshikh’s attention has increasingly shifted toward larger boxing projects, including partnerships tied to Zuffa Boxing and broader Saudi-backed events. With Alalshikh heavily involved in developing major fight cards and promotional structures, the magazine now sits within a wider ecosystem of high-level boxing investments.

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