This past week, Irish boxing legend Mick Conlan couldn’t help himself when he saw a clip of Uncrowned's recent interview with Matchroom's Eddie Hearn circulating online.

Hearn was giving his two cents on what the proposed circumvention of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act could mean for the sport. Enacted in 2000, the Ali Act aimed to promote fairness and transparency within the sport, ensuring boxers are not exploited by their promoters or managers.

In July, a bill was introduced to Congress by U.S. Reps. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) with the intention of altering federal regulations around the sport.

The bill — known as the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act — has been backed by TKO, the ownership group of the UFC and WWE that recently crossed over into boxing. The company’s formal entry to the sport occurred earlier this month with UFC CEO Dana White promoting Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Terrence Crawford alongside Saudi Arabian fight financier Turki Alalshikh.

When first introducing the bill, Davids — a former MMA fighter — claimed it is “about giving professional boxers the protections, opportunities and freedom of choice they deserve.”

A core principle of the legislation focuses on the introduction of Unified Boxing Organizations to the sport. It is believed TKO’s Zuffa Boxing will look to be categorized as a UBO should the bill be passed. As explained in a recent examination into the bill and its potential effects on boxing by Uncrowned's Alan Dawson, UBOs would be able to skirt regulations that currently apply to promoters:

“By existing under a prospective ‘UBO’ category, a promoter could run a fully sanctioned boxing league without having to comply with the Ali Act’s rules — no requirement to disclose fight purses, ticket sales or broadcast revenue to athletes, and no firewall between promoter, sanctioning body and rankings."

The clip that earned Conlan’s attention shows Hearn pondering why TKO would back amendments to the Ali Act.

“The strange thing about that act is that on every show, you have to declare to the fighters on the card the revenue of the event, which is quite unique,” Hearn told Uncrowned.

“There isn't really a problem with that in the boxing world because a significant proportion of the revenue is paid to the athlete. … I think [TKO] will think that fighters are overpaid, because they are in relation to the UFC and MMA talent.”

In response to the clip, Conlan wrote:

“Removing the Ali Act is a huge red flag. UFC fighters are massively under paid [sic], combat fighters risk their lives every time they step into a ring or cage. The Muhammad Ali Act must to be kept. [sic]”

Speaking to Uncrowned, Conlan doubled down on his sentiment, claiming boxers should look no further than UFC’s revenue split with athletes when determining whether to go into business with TKO’s Zuffa Boxing.

“It’s a massive red flag,” Conlan said.

“The Ali Act means transparency for everyone involved in the show, especially the fighters. It allows you to see how much money is being made for a show, and you don’t get that kind of transparency or revenue share with the UFC model.

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“We know how little the UFC fighters earn in terms of the revenue split, and I don’t agree with that at all. The fighters are the ones putting their lives on the line. Sure, a lot of people might put down money to make these shows happen, but it can be life or death for the athletes in combat sports.”

In 2015, Conlan became the first Irishman to win gold at the amateur world championships. He claimed a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2012 and has won gold and silver medals at the European championships. He has challenged for two world titles as a professional and is looking to make a third bid at a world title on the back of his knockout of Jack Bateson earlier this month.

Conlan used Francis Ngannou as an example when criticizing UFC’s payment of fighters.

“Even looking at my own career, when I was challenging for world titles, I wasn’t even a world champion and I was earning more than the [UFC] heavyweight champion of the world at the time, Francis Ngannou,” he said.

“The most dangerous man on the planet was getting less money than me and it’s disgusting. Heavyweight boxers earn so much money — and rightfully so, because they bring so many eyeballs and so much entertainment. But Ngannou was getting buttons compared to them.”

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Conlan is particularly concerned Zuffa Boxing will not be obliged to disclose revenues if the organization is categorized as a UBO.

“When you know your value and you know how much a show can make, it helps you get what you deserve," he said. "When you bring a lot of value and they won’t show what the show is earning or what it could potentially earn, how are you supposed to negotiate? Boxing is not the cleanest sport in the world, we all know that, but boxers generally get paid what their worth is if they bring value to a show. If these guys aren’t willing to give that kind of transparency, something seems off."

Ahead of Canelo vs. Crawford, White told Vegas PBS that between 60 and 70 fighters had already signed with Zuffa Boxing. Although Conlan has no doubt fighters are signing on the dotted line with the potential new league, he is confident the biggest names in the sport will not even consider it.

“I can’t see any of the big names going for it," he said. "It might appeal to the mediocre guys, the guys of a lower level probably. The thing about boxers is, once they reach a certain level they become very clued in on their finances. Anyone who likes combat sports will understand how it works and they’ll know what [UFC fighters] are getting paid. There are too many big promoters in boxing and there is a lot of money in boxing … more than ever now with the Saudis getting involved.

“I don’t think [Zuffa Boxing will] be getting the top guys. [White's] not going to have the likes of [Terence] Crawford, even though he fought on that recent show. It was a Saudi show with Dana being the frontman. I honestly don’t think most of the top boxers will even consider it.”

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