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235.11.1-3. Boxing

AR ADC 235.11.1-3Arkansas Administrative CodeEffective: September 5, 2022

West's Arkansas Administrative Code
Title 235. Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing
Division 11. State Athletic Commission
Rule 1. Rules of the State Athletic Commission
Effective: September 5, 2022
Ark. Admin. Code 235.11.1-3
Formerly cited as AR ADC 022.00.1-2
235.11.1-3. Boxing
Currentness
3.1 All Rules in this Chapter, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2 of these Rules apply to the combative sport of Boxing; provided however, in the event of a conflict between this Chapter, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2, the Rules in this Chapter prevail.
3.2 Uniform Rules of Boxing. Unless otherwise approved or exempted by the Commission in writing prior to an Event, every Boxing Event shall be conducted under the Uniform Rules of Boxing as adopted and amended and appended thereto by the ABC on July 3, 2008.
3.3 Federal ID Cards, Results & Suspensions. The Commission hereby adopts by reference the rules and guidelines in effect on the effective date of these Rules for the ABC with respect to issuance of identification cards, suspension of licenses, and Event results reporting required by the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
3.4 Licensure. Each applicant for a Contestant's professional boxing license shall simultaneously apply for or currently possess a valid Federal Boxing ID.
3.5 Promoters. A Promoter shall as a condition of licensure or continued licensure:
3.5.1 At all times comply with the Act, these Rules, and the instructions and directives of the Commission, Committee, Designated employee(s) and Inspector(s) assigned to the Event.
3.5.2 If for professional boxing or any other Event permitted to be placed on the national Boxing ID Registry recognized by the ABC or other recognized and Commission approved source within the industry, then the Commission shall place the Event and all pertinent Event information in such registry. The Commission will charge the Promoter for the expenses associated with the Commission's action.
3.6 Referees. Before the Commission issues a Referee's license, the applicant for a Referee's license must certify as to having read the Act and being familiar with these Rules. The Commission may require the applicant for a Referee's license to take and pass a written test, to be conducted by the Commission covering the Act, these Rules and any other rules of the combative sport for which the Referee intends to referee a bout. The Referee shall:
3.6.1 Instruct the non-Down Contestant to go to the nearest neutral corner immediately after a Knock-down and remain in such neutral corner until the Referee issues instructions for the continuation of the bout;
3.6.2 Immediately after a Contestant is Down, issue an audible Count to the Down Contestant until completion of either an Eight Count or Ten Count, as warranted by the circumstances, regardless of whether the bell sounds during the Count; provided, if each Contestant is Down at the same time, the Count shall continue for so long as one (1) Contestant remains Down or until, in the Referee's discretion, a Contestant requires immediate medical attention;
3.6.3 Immediately after a Contestant has, as a result of actions which do not violate these Rules or the rules of the contest, been knocked through or has otherwise fallen through the ropes during a contest, issue an audible Twenty Count to such Contestant, and continue such Twenty Count until the Contestant returns unassisted and unhindered to a non-Down position inside the ring; provided, if the Contestant is assisted by a Second, the Contestant shall be disqualified and if the Contestant fails to enter the ring before completion of the Twenty Count, the Contestant shall lose by Knock Out.
3.7 Headgear. During a bout, Amateur Contestants shall wear U.S.A. Boxing approved headgear and gloves weighing at least twelve (12) ounces.
3.8 Gloves. Contestants weighing up to and including 147 lbs. shall wear gloves weighing eight (8) ounces, while Contestants weighing more than 147 lbs. shall wear gloves weighing ten (10) ounces; provided however, if agreed to in a writing signed by a Contestant and Contestant's opponent prior to the weigh-ins and the weight of the gloves is the same for both the Contestant and Contestant's opponent, Contestants may wear gloves weighing more than the weight required by this subsection. Gloves shall:
3.8.1 Be examined and approved by the Commission, Referee and Inspector before each contest;
3.8.2 Be clean, properly constructed and consisting of evenly distributed, uniform padding;
3.8.3 Have manufacturer's tag or otherwise have the weight of the glove proven to the Commission's and Inspector's satisfaction prior to each bout;
3.8.4 Boxing -- Not expose any part of the hand or fingers below the wrist, nor allow for individual outlines or individual insertion of Contestant's fingers;
3.8.5 If equipped or secured by laces, have the laces tied on the outside of the back of the wrist of the gloves and have any plastic or other covering removed from the tips of the laces, and
3.8.6 Have the laces or hook and loop fastening system properly wrapped and covered by tape approved by the Commission and Inspector prior to each contest.
3.9 Hand wraps. Contestant's hand wraps shall:
3.9.1 Consist of dry cotton gauze not more than 20 yards in length and not more than two (2) inches in width per hand; if synthetic, only 10 yards in length if Commission approved synthetic, with tape as below.
3.9.2 Have the cotton gauze held in place by white athletic tape not more than eight (8) feet in length and not more than two (2) inches in width per hand;
3.9.3 Not have any portion of the tape covering any part of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist; however, a single thickness of tape may pass one (1) time between each finger for the purpose of securing the gauze;
3.9.4 Consist of a continuous layer of the same permitted material followed by a continuous layer of the other permitted material without alternating layers of permitted material, except if the gauze is applied first, then a single strip of tape which does not pass both over and under the hand may be used to secure the gauze;
3.9.5 Be applied to each Contestant in the dressing room under the supervision of an Inspector and under the observation of an opponent's Second if the opponent's Second notifies the Inspector of such desire to observe prior to the beginning of the hand wrap application;
3.9.6 Not have any water or any other substance other than the white athletic tape may be applied to the gauze or any other portion of the hand wrap;
3.9.7 Not consist of, contain or have any other material or substance, other than as permitted by this subchapter, placed on, in, under or around the hand wrap; and
3.9.8 Not have any other material or substance, other than as permitted by this subchapter, placed on, in, around or under Contestant's hand prior to wrapping.
3.10 Boxing Weight Classes. The weight classes are as follows:
3.10.1 Flyweight -- up to 112 lbs.
3.10.2 Super Flyweight -- over 112 to 115 lbs.
3.10.3 Bantamweight -- over 115 to 118 lbs.
3.10.4 Super Bantamweight -- over 118 to 122 lbs.
3.10.5 Featherweight -- over 122 to 126 lbs.
3.10.6 Super Featherweight -- over 126 to 130 lbs.
3.10.7 Lightweight -- over 130 to 135 lbs.
3.10.8 Super Lightweight -- over 135 to 140 lbs.
3.10.9 Welterweight -- over 140 to 147 lbs.
3.10.10 Super Welterweight -- over 147 to 154 lbs.
3.10.11 Middleweight -- over 154 to 160 lbs.
3.10.12 Super Middleweight -- over 160 to 168 lbs.
3.10.13 Light Heavyweight -- over 168 to 175 lbs.
3.10.14 Cruiserweight -- over 175 to 200 lbs.
3.10.15 Heavyweight -- over 200 lbs.
3.11 Weight Differences. Contestants shall not fight outside their contracted weight or weight class without approval of the Commission and agreement by the Contestants to compete at the weight differential. For ALL types of events, the weight spread between any two contestants, cannot exceed the table below. If these weights are more lenient than what the promoter desires, the promoter can use his classes or divisions, or if he chooses, he can use the table below nand [FN1] develop a catchweight. Regardless of contracted weights, no Contestant may participate in an Event where the difference between the weights of the Contestant and his or her opponent at the time of weigh-in exceeds the following allowance(s):
3.11.1 112 lbs. or under -- 3 lbs.
3.11.2 113-118 lbs. -- 4 lbs.
3.11.3 119-126 lbs. -- 5 lbs.
3.11.4 127-135 lbs. -- 6lbs.
3.11.5 136-147 lbs. -- 8 lbs.
3.11.6 148-160 lbs. -- 10 lbs.
3.11.7 161-175 lbs. -- 12 lbs.
3.11.8 176-200 lbs. -- 15 lbs.
3.11.9 201 lbs. or over -- no limit
3.12 Weigh-Ins. Contestants failing to meet their contracted weight shall have two (2) hours after their initial weigh-in within which to meet the contracted weight. If in an attempt to make weight, a contestant shows evidence of dehydration, having taken diuretics, or other drugs, or having used any other harsh modality, the Commission shall disqualify the Contestant on the advice of the Doctor. All weigh-ins shall be conducted:
3.12.1 Not more than 36 hours prior to nor less than 5 hours before the start of an Event, or as otherwise determined by the Commission to protect the health, safety and welfare of the Contestants;
3.12.2 By the Designated employee(s) or an Inspector with weights recorded by the same;
3.12.3 In the presence of other Contestants to the extent practicable with only approved Contestants permitted to weigh in;
3.12.4 At a specific time set by the Promoter and approved by the Commission, generally between the hours of 2 p.m. of the day before the Event and 12 noon the day of the Event; or no less than 5 hours before fight start; and
3.12.5 Using “slide weight/balance” scales, digital scales or other scales as approved in advance by the Commission, which Commission may require to be certified by the Arkansas Division of Weights and Measures within the Arkansas Bureau of Standards of the State Plant Board.

Credits

Amended April 30, 2014; Sept. 5, 2022.
[FN1]
So in original.
Current with amendments received through February 15, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credit for details.
Ark. Admin. Code 235.11.1-3, AR ADC 235.11.1-3
End of Document