Roy Jones Jr. rips Zuffa Boxing: 'It's going to ruin boxing, totally'

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. believes the sport will be ruined if the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026 becomes law.

The TKO-backed bill would allow the operation of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), which would change how boxing operates in America today, as under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. UBOs would be able to introduce their own titles instead of sanctioning bodies. Supporters of the bill highlight positive aspects such as minimum pay per round, while opponents, such as Jones Jr., see UBOs creating a monopoly in the sport by skirting around the protections implemented by the original Ali Act.

"First of all, if you made the Muhammad Ali Act to save or look out for the boxers, why would you go change it for a promoter?" Jones Jr. told Fight Hub TV. "You basically change it back saying, 'OK, you put these security bars on the building so no one can break in, but since he lives in the neighborhood now and we know he likes to break in stores, we'll give him the key to it and change it so he can get in. Come on, bro? Really?

"... If it was that good, all the ex-UFC fighters would be talking about it, and they would be saying good things about it. They don't. So, if you didn't do good by your own people, what makes me think you'll do good by mine?"

Jones Jr. recognizes that Zuffa Boxing is attempting to earn favor with their boxers by giving them bigger paydays than what they have received so far in their careers and "spoiling" them by treating them like they are involved in a professional sports league. UFC CEO Dana White has been the face of the brand, pumping up TKO's potential in the boxing space. He's described taking on other boxing promoters as "beating up babies."

Jones Jr. sees what's coming after the ball really gets rolling, given how fighters in the UFC have been treated.

"Look at most of the fighters that retire from the UFC," Jones Jr. said. "Even the ones that come to boxing to make their real payday. They built up a name in UFC, but they couldn't make a payday. So, you want me to bring that same ol' to boxing? Why would I do that? So, I can't accept it. I'm sorry. I'm not the guy that says, 'Oh, you evil.' I'm not gonna say all that, but I can't accept that. My sport gives better payout to your people than your sport did, then why would I want you change my sport? It just don't make sense."

Fellow boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya and Ali's grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, to the U.S. Senate about many of the concerns Jones Jr. expressed. The fighter-promoter revenue split and the reduced transparency of financials were some of their key talking points. Walsh went as far as to say that if the bill is passed, his grandfather's name should be removed.