CHAPTER 444
REGULATION OF BOXING
444.02 Boxing licenses, permits.
444.03 Application for license; fee.
444.05 Amateur matches regulated; fee.
444.09 Conduct of exhibitions regulated.
444.10 Physician to examine contestants.
444.11 Licenses to matchmakers, referees, boxers, etc.
444.12 Referee to stop contest.
444.13 Sham matches, license revoked.
444.14 Sham matches; contestants penalized; forfeitures; hearing.
444.15 Reports; examination of books and officers.
444.16 Violation, when a misdemeanor.
444.17 Organizations exempted.
444.18 Insurance on boxers.
Ch. 444 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See definitions in s.
440.01.
Ch. 444 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
RL 100,
102,
103,
104,
105,
110,
111,
112,
113, and
114, Wis. adm. code.
444.02
444.02
Boxing licenses, permits. The department shall have the sole direction, management and control of, and jurisdiction over, all boxing and sparring exhibitions conducted within the state by any club. No boxing or sparring exhibitions may be conducted within the state except under authority granted by the department and in accordance with this chapter and the rules of the department. The department may issue, and for cause limit, suspend or revoke, a license to conduct boxing and sparring exhibitions to any incorporated club formed as provided in this chapter. The department may limit the number of sparring or boxing exhibitions given by any club in any city, village or town. No boxing or sparring exhibition may be conducted by any licensed club without a permit from the department. Every license shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the department prescribes. The department may reprimand clubs for violating this chapter or any rules of the department.
444.02 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
RL 100,
102,
103,
104,
105,
110,
111,
112,
113, and
114, Wis. adm. code.
444.03
444.03
Application for license; fee. No boxing or sparring exhibition may be conducted by any club except by license granted to it by the department, and no club may be licensed unless it is incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin and its membership limited to persons who have been continuous residents in the state for at least one year. An application for a license shall be in writing, addressed to the department and verified by an officer of the club. An application shall be accompanied by an annual fee of $25 in cities, villages and towns of not more than 50,000 inhabitants, $50 in cities of over 50,000 and not more than 150,000 inhabitants, and $300 in cities of over 150,000 inhabitants when the admission is over $1 and $50 when the admission charge is $1 or less. The application must show that the club has entered into a valid agreement for the use of the building, amphitheater or stadium in which contests are to be held.
444.03 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
RL 100 and
110, Wis. adm. code.
444.04
444.04
Club reports. Within 24 hours after a club holds an exhibition, the club shall furnish to the department a written report, verified by one of its officers, showing the number of tickets sold for the exhibition, the amount of gross proceeds and all other information the department requires by rule to be included in the report.
444.05
444.05
Amateur matches regulated; fee. Any club may conduct strictly amateur boxing and sparring exhibitions, on payment of an annual license fee of $10, upon compliance and in accordance with this chapter with respect to obtaining a license and sanction from the department and subject to all the rules and regulations of the department. Amateur exhibitions within the meaning of this section include only exhibitions in which the participants are bona fide amateurs and receive no money, compensation or reward for their participation in the exhibition, other than watches, medals, articles of jewelry, silverware, trophies or ornaments suitably inscribed to show that they are given for participation in an amateur boxing exhibition, but the value of any such article given to any contestant shall not exceed the sum of $35. No other prize or reward may be given or awarded to or accepted by any boxer unless authorized in writing by the department. No bout or match in any such exhibition may exceed 3 3-minute rounds with a one-minute intermission between each round or 5 2-minute rounds with a one-minute intermission between each round subject to the approval of the department. The department shall require membership in a recognized amateur athletic association as evidence of the amateur standing of any contestant, or club, and in case of dispute, may determine upon competent evidence the amateur status of any contestant or club.
444.05 History
History: 1979 c. 162;
1979 c. 221 s.
2200 (45).
444.05 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
RL 103 and
104, Wis. adm. code.
444.06
444.06
Inspectors. The department shall appoint official "inspectors", each of whom shall receive a card authorizing the inspector to act wherever the department designates. The department may be, and at least one inspector shall be present at all exhibitions and see that the rules are strictly observed. An inspector shall also be present at the counting up of the gross receipts and shall immediately mail to the department the official box-office statement received from the club. Inspectors shall be paid a per diem to be set by the department, not to exceed $25 for each day on which they are actually and necessarily engaged in the performance of their duties, and shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
444.06 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
RL 100,
101 and
104, Wis. adm. code.
444.09
444.09
Conduct of exhibitions regulated. 444.09(1)
(1) No boxing or sparring exhibition shall be for more than 10 rounds except that where a championship is to be determined, the exhibition shall not be for more than 15 rounds, and no round shall last more than 3 minutes.
444.09(2)
(2) There shall be one minute intermission between rounds.
444.09(3)
(3) Gloves weighing not less than 5 ounces shall be worn by contestants under 140 pounds, and not less than 6 ounces by other contestants.
444.09(4)
(4) No person under the age of 18 years shall participate in any professional boxing or sparring exhibition. Amateur contestants between 14 and 18 years of age may participate in amateur boxing or sparring exhibitions with the consent of their parents or guardians.
444.09(5)
(5) No betting at any boxing or sparring exhibitions shall be permitted before, after, or during any such contest, in the building where the contest is held.
444.09(6)
(6) Contestants shall break clean, and must not hold and hit. Butting with head or shoulders, wrestling or illegal use of elbows shall not be allowed. There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of the contestants. This includes the use of abusive or insulting language.
444.09(7)
(7) The department may allow or provide for decisions upon exhibitions held under this chapter to be made by the referee or by the referee and 2 judges appointed by the department under regulations prescribed by the department.
444.09(8)
(8) The department may permit a total of 40 rounds of professional boxing or sparring at one time when requested by any licensed club.
444.10
444.10
Physician to examine contestants. Prior to entering the ring, each contestant must be examined by a physician who has been licensed to practice in Wisconsin not less than 5 years and who is appointed by the department and certifies in writing, over his or her signature, as to the contestant's physical and mental fitness to engage in such contest.
444.10 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
RL 103 and
113, Wis. adm. code.
444.11
444.11
Licenses to matchmakers, referees, boxers, etc. The department may grant licenses upon application and the payment of the prescribed fees to matchmakers, managers, referees, examining physicians, boxers and seconds and trainers. The fees to be paid per year shall be: Matchmakers in cities with a population of over 150,000, $25; matchmakers in other cities and in villages and towns, $10; managers, $10; referees, $15; examining physicians, $10; boxers, $5; seconds and trainers, $5. The department may limit, suspend or revoke any such license or reprimand the holder thereof upon such cause as it deems sufficient.
444.12
444.12
Referee to stop contest. The referee must stop the contest when either of the contestants shows a marked superiority or is apparently outclassed.
444.12 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
RL 104 and
114, Wis. adm. code.
444.13
444.13
Sham matches, license revoked. Any club which conducts, holds or gives or participates in any sham or fake boxing or sparring match shall thereby forfeit its license which license shall thereupon be revoked by the department; and it shall not thereafter be entitled to another license; nor shall any license be issued to any club, which has a member who belonged to a club which had its license revoked.
444.13 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
RL 105, Wis. adm. code.
444.14
444.14
Sham matches; contestants penalized; forfeitures; hearing. Any contestant who participates in any sham or fake boxing or sparring exhibition or violates any rule or regulation of the department shall be penalized as follows: For the first offense the contestant shall be restrained by order of the department for not less than 2 months nor more than one year, the period to begin immediately after the occurrence of the offense, from participation in the exhibition to be held or given by any licensed club; for a 2nd offense, the contestant shall be permanently disqualified from further admission or participation in any such exhibition held or given by any licensed club and in addition, for each such offense, shall forfeit such amount, out of the share or purse agreed to be paid the contestant for the exhibition as the department determines, the forfeit to be paid into the general fund of the state. The department, upon determining the amount of the forfeit, may pay the same out of any guarantee deposited with it for delivery to the contestant or may order it paid to the department by the club employing the contestant out of the purse or share agreed by it to be paid to the contestant. The department shall not determine the forfeit until after due hearing held upon reasonable notice duly served upon the contestant or the contestant's manager and upon the club by whom the contestant is employed. Any member of the department or the secretary or any inspector of the department may order the club to hold the share or purse of the contestant in its possession pending the hearing and determination of the department. For failure to obey any order of the department or the secretary of the department or any inspector of the department given under this section, the license of the club may be limited, suspended, canceled or revoked and the club may be reprimanded.
444.14 History
History: 1977 c. 418;
1979 c. 221 s.
2200 (45).
444.14 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
RL 105, Wis. adm. code.
444.15
444.15
Reports; examination of books and officers. Whenever any club fails to make a report of any contest at the time prescribed or whenever a report is unsatisfactory to the department, the secretary of the department may examine the books and records of the club and may subpoena and examine, under oath, the club's officers and other witnesses to determine the total amount of its gross receipts for any exhibition. The secretary may require the club to pay the expenses of conducting the examination. If a club fails to pay the amount of expenses determined by the secretary to be due within 20 days after receiving notice of the amount, the club shall forfeit its license, be disqualified from receiving any license under this chapter and forfeit to the state the sum of $1,000, which may be recovered by the department of justice in the name of the state.
444.16
444.16
Violation, when a misdemeanor. 444.16(1)
(1) A violation of any provision of this chapter, for which a penalty is not herein expressly prescribed, is a misdemeanor.
444.16(2)
(2) In addition to any other remedies, the several district attorneys or the attorney general are authorized to bring action in the name of the state to enjoin violations of this chapter or the rules of the department.
444.16 History
History: 1973 c. 28;
1979 c. 221 s.
2200 (45).
444.16 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
RL 105, Wis. adm. code.
444.17
444.17
Organizations exempted. 444.17(1)
(1) This chapter does not apply to amateur boxing or sparring exhibitions held under the auspices and upon the premises of any university, college, state university, high school, public school, parochial school or of any church or religious corporation of the state in intramural, interscholastic or intercollegiate or other competition if the participants therein are bona fide members of such church or religious corporation or students of their respective schools. All such boxing or sparring exhibitions shall be by and with the consent of, and under the supervision of the governing body of such university, college, state university, high school, public school, parochial school or church or religious corporation.
444.17(2)
(2) This chapter does not apply to exhibitions conducted by the American Legion, the Young Men's Christian Association, United Spanish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars or the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, for which no admission fee is charged. Any contribution shall be considered an admission fee. No such boxing or sparring exhibitions shall be conducted as a part of any program where an admission fee is charged.
444.17(3)(a)(a) This chapter does not apply to amateur boxing or sparring exhibitions conducted by or held under the auspices of any public recreation department supported by town, village, city, county, state or federal funds, in any intradepartmental or interdepartmental exhibitions if all of the following conditions are met:
444.17(3)(a)1.
1. The exhibitions are between bona fide members of boxing classes conducted by the public recreation departments.
444.17(3)(a)2.
2. The public recreation departments under
subd. 1. are members of a recognized state association of public recreation departments.
444.17(3)(a)3.
3. The amateur boxing or sparring exhibition is sanctioned by the department.
444.17(3)(b)
(b) The application for the sanction under
par. (a) 3. of each exhibition shall be made in writing to the department at least 2 weeks prior to the exhibition. A fee of $5 shall accompany the application to cover the cost of sanction and expenses of an inspector, whose duty it shall be to enforce all rules and regulations and to see that a competent referee, timer, doctor and judges are employed. The department may deny any application for the sanction of an exhibition for cause upon competent evidence.
444.17 History
History: 1979 c. 221 s.
2200 (45);
1999 a. 85.
444.18
444.18
Insurance on boxers. Any licensee authorized to conduct boxing matches or exhibitions shall insure each contestant participating therein for hospital, nursing and medication expenses and physician's and surgeon's services according to an equitable fee schedule, not to exceed in the aggregate $500, to be paid to, or for the use of, any contestant to compensate for injuries sustained in any such contest; and shall insure each contestant for not less than $2,500 to be paid to the contestant's estate in the event of the contestant's death as the result of participation in such boxing match or exhibition.
444.18 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
