At Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, reporter Sean Zittel pressed Dana White on the possibility of altering the Muhammad Ali Reform Act. With Saturday’s historic card marking Zuffa Boxing’s debut, White was determined to keep the spotlight fixed on the fighters, not himself. Rather than engage, the UFC president shut the line of questioning down, telling Zittel to “beat it” unless he had something for Canelo Alvarez or Terence Crawford. Zittel ultimately agreed to take the matter up privately, but the tense exchange had already left its mark.

The proposed Ali Act amendments, which call for the creation of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBO), have stirred unease among fans and fighters alike. Unlike in MMA, where the UFC operates both as promoter and sanctioning body, boxing’s structur

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