The Ariel Helwani Show Combat sports gone crazy, UFC 323 preview, Ali Revival Act hearing, more | The Boys in the Back
Dec 4, 2025
The hosts dive into the TKO-backed Ali Revival Act, discussing its implications for boxing governance. They react to outrageous fight announcements, including Joshua versus Jake Paul and Usman versus Islam rumors. UFC 323 takes center stage with in-depth previews of key matchups, like Merab vs. Piotr Jan and the co-main featuring Josh Van against Alexandre Pantoja. The chatter gets lively with a fun segment ranking absurd fights and engaging with listener voicemails, exploring everything from meal plans to rehydration clauses!
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TKO's Boxing League Creates Structural Tension
- TKO's proposed Ali Revival/Expansion Act aims to offer a unified, league-style boxing alternative to existing sanctioning bodies.
- Ariel Helwani and Pizzi note this creates inevitable tension between a single-promotion ranking/belt model and traditional multi-belt boxing structures.
Rankings Vs. Reality: Promotions Favor Business
- The hosts call out the hypocrisy of using the UFC as a model to 'fix' boxing when the UFC itself often ignores ranking meritocracy.
- They argue promotional incentives and popularity frequently override strict contender-order title shots.
Political Power Fuels Boxing Reform Push
- TKO's political capital and ownership ties give the Ali Revival Act momentum despite legitimate regulatory questions.
- The hearing included Congress members and raised concerns about preserving existing boxer protections.