Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, has emerged as one of the strongest opponents of the TKO-backed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. The proposed legislation would amend the Ali Reform Act of 2000 to allow promoters to create a Unified Boxing Organization that would operate outside the sport's current four-belt system.

Under the current Ali Reform Act, boxing promoters must provide fighters with financial transparency, including revenue from television rights fees and gate receipts. Under the proposed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, Unified Boxing Organizations would not be subject to those financial transparency obligations.

Ali Walsh invoked his grandfather's legacy in opposing the measure. "I never want to put words in someone else's mouth, but I think it's apparent what [Ali] would think about the revival act because it's taking away the act that he put in place. He would not be for it — why would he be for something that is not [beneficial] for the fighters? My grandfather was the people's champion." he said.

He also contrasted fighter pay between the two combat sports. "In the UFC, the fighters make around 16%, up to 20% of the revenue that's made in the UFC gets distributed amongst the fighters. In boxing, it's the exact opposite. Fighters make up to 80% of the revenue that is made in these boxing events." Ali Walsh said.

The UFC settled a $375 million lawsuit brought by its fighters that included over a thousand claims of fighters complaining about pay. TKO's Zuffa Boxing is helmed by UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh. Zuffa Boxing has signed fighters Conor Benn, Jai Opetaia and Richardson Hitchins, and is in talks to sign Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said he believes that fighting against the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act is a losing battle because it is inevitable to pass.