The Global Fighters’ Association has announced an ambitious £500,000 crowdfunding campaign to fund the biggest health and safety inquiry ever conducted into combat sport, marking a significant move towards establishing a unified voice for fighters across boxing and MMA.
The non-profit organisation, chaired by Simon Bazalgette, is positioning itself as an umbrella body for combat athletes, with former British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith among those driving the initiative. The inquiry will be led by barrister Jonathan Caplan KC, signalling the serious legal and safety-focused nature of the investigation.
Fighting for Change
“Every week, somewhere in this sport, a fighter is hurt, exploited or forgotten, and the only safety net is whatever the boxing community can scrape together after the fact,” Smith said, highlighting the stark reality facing competitors across combat disciplines.
The GFA’s broader mission extends beyond the inquiry. Acting General Secretary Paul Maloney is overseeing efforts to secure improved working conditions for fighters, including better contracts, comprehensive insurance coverage, and pension schemes—protections that have historically been inadequate in combat sports.
Broad Coalition
The movement has attracted support from across the combat sports landscape. British MMA fighter Michael “Venom” Page has joined the campaign, while the initiative represents a grassroots push that contrasts with established governance structures. The organisation is working to build solidarity among athletes who have traditionally operated in fragmented professional environments.
The crowdfunding drive will serve as both a fundraising mechanism and a statement of intent, gathering resources from supporters who believe combat athletes deserve institutional protection and representation. By establishing itself as a central advocacy organisation, the GFA aims to give fighters collective bargaining power and a coordinated platform for addressing systemic issues in health and safety standards across boxing and mixed martial arts.