"There has to be an organisation that’s above everything"
Amir Khan is leading a new fighters’ union calling for better standards for boxers and mixed martial artists.
He is the co-founder of the Global Fighters’ Union (GFU), which will launch in January 2025.
Boxing and MMA remain two of the only sports without proper union representation, something the GFU aims to tackle.
Amir Khan said: “There has to be an organisation that’s above everything, that we all have to report to if there’s an issue in any situation.
“We’ve all had issues: in training, before fights, after fights, at weigh-ins, on contracts, in retirement.
“We can’t turn to promoters or boards of controls for so many issues, so to be able to turn to the GFU for help – and get it from people who have been there and done it, not just between the ropes but in trade unions, in politics, in law, in the media and in education – will be a massive, positive change for everyone in our sport.”
Paul Smith, another co-founder of the GFU, said:
“We’ve spent 2024 laying the groundwork for the GFU to become a recognised trade union, and we will launch it officially one year after we announced our plans to build it.
“Through 2024, our team, structure and targets have all been established, and we will start the process of change in combat sports with a list of year-one actions to be published shortly.
“It’s the right time for a new organisation dedicated to improving the business of combat sports at all levels to emerge, and we are grateful for all the support which has got us to this point.”
Paul Maloney, former Leader of the GMB Union South and co-founder of the GFU, added:
“The GFU will prioritise achieving parity for its members with regard to funding packages provided by other sporting rights owners to the trade unions representing their athletes.
“There is no place in modern sport for a landscape where workplace rights enjoyed by footballers and other sports people are denied to combat sports participants.”
The GFU aims to follow in the footsteps of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
It said:
“[We are] urging broadcasters to emulate the model established between the PFA and football leagues.”
“This deal sees revenue from broadcast agreements fund player welfare, grass-roots development, education, and community initiatives.
“The collaborations pioneered by the PFA have proven vital to improving conditions across football.
“The GFU believes – with the same level of support – it can have a dramatic impact on improving the world of combat sports at all levels and across all disciplines.”
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