NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to authority vested in the Department of Regulation and Licensing in ss. 227.11 (2), 444.02 and 444.05, Stats., and interpreting ss. 444.02, 444.03, 444.06, 444.09, 444.10, 444.11 and 444.12, the Department of Regulation and Licensing will hold a public hearing at the time and place indicated below to consider an order to revise chs. RL 110 to 114, relating to the regulation of professional boxing.
Hearing Date, Time and Location
Date: February 14, 2001
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 1400 East Washington Avenue
Room 133
Madison, Wisconsin
Appearances at the hearing:
Interested persons are invited to present information at the hearing. Persons appearing may make an oral presentation but are urged to submit facts, opinions and argument in writing as well. Facts, opinions and argument may also be submitted in writing without a personal appearance by mail addressed to the Department of Regulation and Licensing, Office of Administrative Rules, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708. Written comments must be received by March 2, 2001 to be included in the record of rule-making proceedings.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Regulation and Licensing
Statutes authorizing promulgation: ss. 227.11 (2), 444.02 and 444.05.
Statutes interpreted: ss. 444.02, 444.03, 444.06, 444.09, 444.10, 444.11 and 444.12.
SECTION 1 defines “technical knock-out" to include situations when a boxer discontinues boxing or a referee terminates the bout because the boxer is incapable of continuing. SECTION 1 also defines “10-point must scoring," a scoring system used by the judges at a professional boxing show.
SECTION 2 requires licensed boxing officials to comply with the federal Professional Safety Act which was enacted several years ago and amended in 2000. The Act grants authority and responsibilities to the entity authorized in each state to regulate professional boxing in that state.
SECTION 2 also creates a note that provides a citation for the Professional Boxing Safety Act.
SECTION 3 amends a section title to more appropriately identify the contents of that section.
SECTION 4 requires promoters to include in an application for a permit to conduct a professional boxing show information about the number of rounds for which each bout is scheduled.
SECTIONS 5 and 6 expand the reasons for which an application for a permit to conduct a professional boxing show may be denied. The additional reasons include having a license suspended or revoked in another state, having certain medical problems and falsifying information provided to the department. The changes correspond with causes for denial stated in the Professional Boxing Safety Act.
SECTION 7 requires that professional bouts be judged by 3 judges whose names must be submitted to the department by a promoter. SECTION 7 also permits the department to allow a professional boxing club to assign the judges and it authorizes the department to refuse to approve certain persons to act as a judge for lack of competence, a conflict of interest or disciplinary action against the person in Wisconsin or another state.
SECTION 8 requires judges to use the 10-point must scoring system.
SECTION 9 Removes the prohibition against ropes made of metal. The rule does require that the ropes be wrapped with soft material.
SECTION 10 distinguishes between male boxers and female boxers, as well as heavier and lighter boxers, relating to the weight of gloves to be used in a bout.
SECTION 11 replaces the current provision concerning hand bandages with language suggested by the Association of Boxing Commissions, which is identified in the Note at SECTION 28.
SECTION 12 requires hand bandages to be put on under the supervision of a representative of the department. A representative of the opposing boxer may also be present.
SECTION 13 prohibits boxers to use cosmetics or an excessive amount of Vaseline.
SECTION 15 requires boxers to wear a form-fitted mouthpiece during a bout. A referee may deduct points from a boxer who fails to comply.
SECTION 16 requires a boxer at a professional show who participate in a sparring bout to wear headgear.
SECTION 17 describes the medications that a boxer's seconds may use when the boxer has sustained a cut.
SECTION 18 prohibits a male and a female boxer to compete against each other in a boxing show.
SECTION 19 states that the same weight differences between boxers apply for both male and female boxers.
SECTION 20 states that female boxers may be scheduled for no more than ten 2-minute rounds with a one-minute rest between rounds. Male boxers may be scheduled for no more than twelve 3-minute rounds with a one-minute rest between rounds. These differences were recommended by the Association of Boxing Commissions.
SECTION 21 prohibits a second from attempting to stop a bout by throwing a towel or anything else into the ring.
SECTION 22 amends the language pertaining to injuries sustained by fouls. This SECTION distinguishes between an intentional foul and an accidental foul. This SECTION provides guidance to the referee and judges concerning the action to be taken following a foul and how the bout should be scored. This SECTION also includes requirements relating to the deduction of points from the boxer who caused an intentional foul and it states that the winner will be declared as such by a “technical decision."
SECTION 23 requires a mandatory 8 count when a boxer is down. The referee shall continue to count, even if the bell sounds, indicating the end of the round.
SECTION 24 states that a referee may not stop a bout solely because a boxer has been knocked down 3 times in one round.
SECTION 25 prohibits a boxer who was knocked out from participating in competitive boxing or sparring for a period of at least 60 days. A boxer who sustained a technical knock-out may not participate in competitive boxing or sparring for a period of at least 30 days. Other timelines are specified for boxers who have been knocked out several times within certain time periods.
SECTION 26 requires a boxer who sustained a technical knock-out to undergo a medical procedure or examination, as recommended by the ringside physician and prescribed by the department, before being permitted to box again.
SECTION 27 states that a bout that is terminated by the ringside physician shall be scored as a technical knock-out.
SECTION 28 permits the department to make exceptions to certain rules for a bout that has been designated a championship bout and to substitute the currently-approved “Unified Championship Rules" of the Association of Boxing Commissions. SECTION 28 also creates a note concerning the authority and address of the Association of Boxing Commissions.
SECTION 29 prohibits a second to give a boxer a stimulant during a bout and permits the department to require a boxer to submit to a drug test or HIV exam before a scheduled bout.
Text of Rule
SECTION 1. RL 110.02 (10) and (11) are created to read:
RL 110.02 (10) “Technical knock-out" means that a boxer loses a bout because the boxer discontinues boxing for any reason or because the referee terminates the bout because the boxer is defenseless or incapable of continuing. “Technical knock-out" does not include a situation when a boxer is down for a 10-count by the referee.
(11) “10-point must scoring system" means a system for scoring each round of a bout in such a way that the winner is awarded 10 points and the loser is awarded 9 points or less. Under this system each judge renders his or her score to the official scorekeeper for a round by round tally of points for each boxer. At the end of the bout, the scorekeeper adds the points that each judge gave for each boxer for each round. The winner of the bout is the boxer who receives the higher score from a majority of the judges.
SECTION 2. RL 110.025 and Note are created to read:
RL 110.025 Compliance with federal laws. Professional clubs, promoters, seconds and boxers shall comply with the professional boxing safety act and provide the department with information, copies of documents, identification cards, copies of contracts, disclosures and notifications, as required by the Act.
Note: The Professional Boxing Safety Act may be found in 15 USC 6301 et seq.
SECTION 3. RL 110.03 (title) is amended to read:
RL 110.03 (title) Professional club record license.
SECTION 4. RL 110.04 (1) (em) is created to read:
RL 110.04 (1) (em) The number of rounds for which each bout is scheduled.
SECTION 5. RL 110.04 (2) (intro.) is amended to read:
RL 110.04 (2) (intro.) After receipt of an application for a permit to conduct a professional boxing show, the department may deny the application if the applicant does not provide all the required information, if the department does not have a referee, inspector or ringside physician available on that date or if one or more boxers are not licensed or otherwise eligible to fight, due to failure to comply with conditions in s. RL 114.06. The department may grant a permit for the show, but withhold approval of one or more boxers to fight in the show or due to being under a suspension or revocation order issued by another licensing jurisdiction for one of the following reasons:
SECTION 6. RL 110.04 (2) (a) to (d) are created to read:
RL 110.04 (2) (a) A recent knock-out or series of consecutive losses.
(b) An injury, a requirement for a medical procedure, or a physician's denial of certification.
(c) Failure of a drug test.
(d) The use of false aliases, or falsifying, or attempting to falsify, official identification cards or documents issued pursuant to ch. 444, Stats., or 15 USC s. 6305.
(e) Unprofessional conduct or other inappropriate behavior inconsistent with generally accepted methods of competition in a professional boxing show.
SECTION 7. RL 111.04 is renumbered RL 111.04 (1) and amended to read:
RL 111.04 Judges and judging. (1) Judges are assigned by the The department may permit a professional club conducting a show to assign the judges for a show. Any professional boxing club applying for a permit shall provide the names of the judges, if known, at the time of application and shall describe in the application the procedure to be used for selecting judges and for judging and scoring bouts. The department may refuse to approve a person to act as judge if the department has reasonable proof that the person is not competent to act as a judge, that the person has a conflict of interest or that the person is subject to a disciplinary action taken by the department or another licensing jurisdiction that prohibits the person from acting as a judge.
SECTION 8. RL 111.04 (2) is created to read:
RL 111.04 (2) The 10-point system shall be used to determine the winner of a bout.
SECTION 9. RL 112.01 (2) is amended to read:
RL 112.01 (2) The ring shall be circumscribed with at least 4 ropes. Ropes may not be less than one inch in diameter. Ropes may not be made of metal. shall be wrapped securely with soft material. The lowest rope shall be 18 inches above the ring floor, the second rope 30 inches, the third rope 42 inches, and the fourth rope 54 inches above the ring floor. The ropes shall be secured with 2 spacer ties on each side of the ring. The ring floor shall be padded with a one-inch layer of padding of felt, rubber or other similar material, placed on a one-inch base of building board or similar supporting base. Padding shall be covered with canvas duck, or similar material tightly stretched and laced securely in place, preferably under the apron.
SECTION 10. RL 112.03 (1) is amended to read:
RL 112.03 (1) Boxing gloves
for male boxers may be not less than 5 oz. each in weight when worn by a boxer under 140 pounds, and not less than 6 oz. when worn by other boxers a boxer weighing 140 pounds or more. Boxing gloves for female boxers may be not less than 8 oz. each in weight when worn by a boxer under 154 pounds, and not less than 10 oz. when worn by a boxer weighing 154 pounds or more.
SECTION 11. RL 112.04 (1) is repealed and recreated to read:
RL 112.04 Bandage specifications. (1) Boxers may wear a bandage on each hand that consists of no more than 20 yards of soft gauze that is not more than 2 inches wide and that is held in place by not more than 8 feet of adhesive tape that is not more than 1 ½ inches wide. The tape may not cover any part of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist. Boxers may not use water or any other liquid or material on the tape.
SECTION 12. RL 112.04 (3) is created to read:
RL 112.04 (3) Bandages that cover a boxer's hand shall be put on under the supervision of the department's inspector or a person delegated by the inspector and one representative of any other boxer, if any other boxer so requests.
SECTION 13. RL 112.05 (3) is amended to read:
RL 112.05 (3) Boxers may not use any type of grease
, cosmetics or other substance on the body, except that a non-excessive amount of Vaseline may be used.
SECTION 14. RL 112.05 (4) is created to read:
RL 112.05 (4) Boxers with long hair shall have their hair secured with soft, non-abrasive material.
SECTION 15. RL 112.06 is amended to read:
RL 112.06 Mouthpieces. Boxers shall wear an individually form-fitted mouthpiece during each round. If a boxer loses his or her mouthpiece during a round, the referee shall have it replaced during the first break in the action. The referee may deduct points from a boxer who demonstrates a continued pattern of losing a mouthpiece during a bout.
SECTION 16. RL 112.07 (intro.) is amended to read:
RL 112.07 Headgear. (intro.) Boxers, other than those who are participating in a sparring bout, may wear headgear. Boxers who are participating in a sparring bout shall wear headgear. Headgear shall be approved by the inspector and meet substantially the following specifications:
SECTION 17. RL 112.08 (3) is created to read:
RL 112.08 (3) In case of a cut, a boxer's seconds may only make topical use of the following:
(a) A solution of adrenaline 1/1000.
(b) Avetine.
(c) Thrombin.
SECTION 18. RL 113.01 (4) is created to read:
RL 113.01 (4) A female boxer and a male boxer may not compete against each other in a bout.
SECTION 19. RL 113.04 is amended to read:
RL 113.04 Weight limitations. No boxer may participate in a show where the weigh–in weight difference of the boxers exceeds the allowance shown in the schedule below. When approving pairings between male or female boxers and applying these allowances, the department shall first determine which boxer weighs less than the other. The maximum allowable weight difference shall be that which relates to the category in which the lower weight boxer falls.
Weight Allowance
