Oscar De La Hoya seems to see through the matrix — and he’s not the least bit worried. The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) discussed the Muhammad Ali Revival Act on September 8. While the matter was initially tabled until December 8, an unannounced emergency meeting was called last week to revisit it. During the two-hour session, CSAC members voted unanimously, 6–0, in favor of supporting the bipartisan bill that seeks to modify the original Ali Act.

Roughly 90 members of the public attended, with 32 individuals speaking during the open forum. Out of them, 20 opposed the bill, while 12 showed support. Interestingly, most of the speakers came from the MMA or UFC world, including WWE President and TKO board member Nick Khan, while boxing figures were notably negligibly represented. Now, Oscar De La Hoya has weighed in, tying the issue to Conor McGregor’s prolonged absence from the UFC and pointing the finger squarely at UFC CEO Dana White.

Oscar De La Hoya knows the Muhammad Ali Revival Act will pass

Speaking to Golden Boy Promotions head, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani pressed him about the apparent lack of representation from the boxing community during the recent CSAC meeting. “I believe the boxing community hasn’t really done [its] homework,” the 52-year-old said. “I found out about the hearing by somebody telling me, [as it was happening]. I didn’t know at all. I was shocked.”

The former world champion-turned-promoter was stunned that the CSAC decided to call the meeting without notice. “So, I’m thinking to myself, ‘Wow, okay.’ And the person who calls in is the CEO of TKO to defend it. I mean, come on, this is shiesty,” De La Hoya said. Helwani then asked if he believed the bipartisan bill would successfully pass through Congress. “Of course,” Oscar said with a grin.

Was he worried about it? “I’m actually not,” he added. Why? Well, because he doesn’t view it as traditional boxing. “I’m actually not because they’re a league, because it is a league, it is not traditional boxing, and it’s okay. I mean, they’re gonna have a lot of media around it,” Oscar continued, referencing Zuffa Boxing’s recent deal with Paramount+, which followed UFC’s own $7.7 billion partnership with the company.

“What I tell fighters [is] if you’re a kid from East LA, if you’re a kid from Brooklyn, if you’re a kid from wherever… the neighborhoods where champions are discovered. If you’re that kid and you want to become a world champion… a star… a household name and … make a lot of money, the American dream, it’s not gonna be with them. It’s just not,” De La Hoya said. When asked why, he pointed to the inactivity of UFC’s biggest stars.

“Because have you seen their pay scale? Have you seen what they’ve done to the UFC fighters? How they suppress them?” De La Hoya asked. “I mean, look at Conor McGregor, look at Jon Jones. Why aren’t they fighting? I don’t understand it. The biggest stars in the UFC are not fighting. Why is that?” Claiming to know the reason personally, De La Hoya suggested that Zuffa Boxing will prioritize volume over value.

“TKO is gonna wanna sign quantity, not quality, but just quantity and the hope that they get great fights to convince the public that this is real boxing,” De La Hoya said during the interview. At this point, it’s clear the rivalry between boxing and TKO Group is heating up, and Oscar De La Hoya isn’t the only one fighting for boxing.

The simmering feud between Dana White and Eddie Hearn 

Disagreements about boxing’s future have become the reason behind the simmering feud between UFC CEO Dana White and Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn. As White prepares to launch Zuffa Boxing in 2026, Hearn has criticized his plans, arguing they could weaken the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a law designed to protect fighters’ rights and ensure transparency.

White, however, moved quickly to dismiss Hearn’s stance, saying his proposal would strengthen the sport’s structure. “Eddie Hearn is acting like a lunatic. He sounds like he’s reading a WWE script every time he talks,” White said. “It reminds me of a career politician—you’re not going to do anything.” Hearn quickly fired back, defending boxing’s current system. “We’re real boxing. We don’t want to change the Muhammad Ali Act…” 

“Fighters deserve to know what they’re earning — and the stars deserve to be paid properly.” 

Having said that, it appears the Muhammad Ali Revival Act is destined to pass, but Dana White and TKO Group have earned new enemies in the process. Will they be able to compete with the pre-existing giants in boxing?