DAR File No. 37672

Governor, Economic Development, Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission

Rule R359-1

Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission Act Rule

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 37672
Filed: 05/30/2013 10:32:14 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to remove the standing eight-count from professional boxing rules.

Summary of the rule or change:

The standing eight-count rule in professional boxing that has been used in professional boxing in Utah is not consistent with the Unified Rules of Professional Boxing adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC).

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Title 63C, Chapter 11

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This administrative rule change removes the standing eight-count provision within the sport of professional boxing. Removing this provision will have no cost or savings impact to the state budget.

local governments:

This administrative rule change removes the standing eight-count provision within the sport of professional boxing. Removing this provision will have no cost or savings impact to the local government.

small businesses:

This administrative rule change removes the standing eight-count provision within the sport of professional boxing. Removing this provision will have no cost or savings impact to the small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

This administrative rule change removes the standing eight-count provision within the sport of professional boxing. Removing this provision will have no cost or savings impact to the persons other than small businesses or local governments. Professional boxing referees will have to be informed of the rule change after it is incorporated prior to officiating any professional boxing events.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Removing the standing eight-count will not have any impact on compliance costs for anyone involved with the sport of professional boxing.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The standing eight-count is no longer used in professional boxing in other jurisdictions. It is still used in amateur boxing which is not regulated by the Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission.

Richard Montanez, Commission Chair

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Governor
Economic Development, Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission
60 E SOUTH TEMPLE 3RD FLR
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Bill Colbert at the above address, by phone at 801-538-8876, by FAX at 801-538-8888, or by Internet E-mail at bcolbert@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/15/2013

This rule may become effective on:

07/23/2013

Authorized by:

Bill Colbert, Director

R359. Governor, Economic Development, Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission.

R359-1. Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission Act Rule.

R359-1-611. Boxing - Injuries and Cuts.

(1) When an injury or cut is produced by a fair blow and because of the severity of the blow the contest cannot continue, the injured boxing contestant shall be declared the loser by technical knockout.

(2) If a contestant intentionally fouls his opponent and an injury or cut is produced, and due to the severity of the injury the contestant cannot continue, the contestant who commits the foul shall be declared the loser by disqualification.

(3) If a contestant receives an intentional butt or foul and the contest can continue, the referee shall penalize the contestant who commits the foul by deducting two points. The referee shall notify the judges that the injury or cut has been produced by an intentional unfair blow so that if in the subsequent rounds the same injury or cut becomes so severe that the contest has to be suspended, the decision will be awarded as follows:

(a) a technical draw if the injured contestant is behind on points or even on a majority of scorecards; and

(b) a technical decision to the injured contestant if the injured contestant is ahead on points on a majority of the scorecards.

(4) If a contestant injures himself trying to foul his opponent, the referee shall not take any action in his favor, and the injury shall be considered as produced by a fair blow from his opponent.

(5) If a contestant is fouled accidentally during a contest and can continue, the referee shall stop the action to inform the judges and acknowledge the accidental foul. If in subsequent rounds, as a result of legal blows, the accidental foul injury worsens and the contestant cannot continue, the referee shall stop the contest and declare a technical decision with the winner being the contestant who is ahead on points on a majority of the scorecards. The judges shall score partial rounds. If a contestant is accidentally fouled in a contest and due to the severity of the injury the contestant cannot continue, the referee shall rule as follows:

(a) if the injury occurs before the completion of four rounds, declare the contest a technical draw; or

(b) if the injury occurs after the completion of four rounds, declare that the winner is the contestant who has a lead in points on a majority of the scorecards before the round of injury. The judges shall score partial rounds.

(6) If in the opinion of the referee, a contestant has suffered a dangerous cut or injury, or other physical or mental condition, the referee may stop the bout temporarily to summon the physician. If the physician recommends that the contest should not continue, the referee shall order the contest to be terminated.

(7) A fight shall not be terminated because of a low blow. The referee may give a contestant not more than five minutes if the referee believes a foul has been committed. Each contestant shall be instructed to return to his or her respective corner by the referee. The contestants may sit in their respective corners with their mouthpiece removed. After removing their contestant's mouthpiece, the seconds must return to their seats. The seconds may not coach, administer water, or in any other way attend to their contestant, except to replace the mouthpiece when the round is ready to resume.

[(8) If a contestant is knocked down or given a standing mandatory count of eight or a combination of either occurs three times in one round, the contest shall be stopped and a technical knockout shall be awarded to the opponent. The physician shall immediately enter the ring and examine the losing contestant.

](8[9]) A physician shall immediately examine and administer aid to a contestant who is knocked out or injured.

(9[10]) When a contestant is knocked out or rendered incapacitated, the referee or second shall not handle the contestant, except for the removal of a mouthpiece, unless directed by the physician to do so.

(10[11]) A contestant shall not refuse to be examined by a physician.

(11[12]) A contestant who has been knocked out shall not leave the site of the contest until one hour has elapsed from the time of the examination or until released by the physician.

(12[13]) A physician shall file a written report with the Commission on each contestant who has been knocked out or injured.

 

R359-1-612. Boxing - Knockouts.

(1) A boxing contestant who is knocked down shall take a minimum mandatory count of eight.

(2)[ If a boxing contestant is dazed by a blow and, in the referee's opinion, is unable to defend himself, the referee shall give a standing mandatory count of eight or stop the contest. If on the count of eight the boxing contestant, in the referee's opinion, is unable to continue, the referee may count him out on his feet or stop the contest on the count of eight.

(3)] In the event of a knockdown, the timekeeper shall immediately start the count loud enough to be heard by the referee, who, after waving the opponent to the farthest neutral corner, shall pick up the count from the timekeeper and proceed from there. The referee shall stop the count if the opponent fails to remain in the corner. The count shall be resumed when the opponent has returned to the corner.

([4]3) The timekeeper shall signal the count to the referee.

([5]4) If the boxing contestant taking the count is still down when the referee calls the count of ten, the referee shall wave both arms to indicate that the boxing contestant has been knocked out. The referee shall summon the physician and shall then raise the opponent's hand as the winner. The referee's count is the official count.

([6]5) If at the end of a round a boxing contestant is down and the referee is in the process of counting, the gong indicating the end of the round shall not be sounded. The gong shall only be sounded when the referee gives the command to box indicating the continuation of the bout.

([7]6) In the final round, the timekeeper's gong shall terminate the fight.

([8]7) A technical knockout decision shall be awarded to the opponent if a boxing contestant is unable or refuses to continue when the gong sounds to begin the next round. The decision shall be awarded in the round started by the gong.

([9]8) The referee and timekeeper shall resume their count at the point it was suspended if a boxing contestant arises before the count of ten is reached and falls down again immediately without being struck.

([10]9) If both boxing contestants go down at the same time, counting will be continued as long as one of them is still down or until the referee or the ringside physician determines that one or both of the boxing contestants needs immediate medical attention. If both boxing contestants remain down until the count of ten, the bout will be stopped and the decision will be scored as a double knockout.

 

KEY: licensing, boxing, unarmed combat, white-collar contests

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [June 30, 2012]2013

Notice of Continuation: March 30, 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 63C-11-101 et seq.