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235.11.1-8. Elimination Tournaments

AR ADC 235.11.1-8Arkansas 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 235.11.1-8
Formerly cited as AR ADC 022.00.1-7
235.11.1-8. Elimination Tournaments
Currentness
8.1 All Rules in this Chapter, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2 apply to Elimination Tournaments; provided however, in the event of a conflict between this Chapter, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2, the Rules in this Chapter prevail.
8.2 Licensure. Persons under the age of 18 will not be issued a license.
8.3 Promoters. Promoters of Elimination Tournaments shall:
8.3.1 Provide at least six (6) pairs of sixteen (16) ounce gloves; and
8.3.2 Provide at least six (6) U.S.A. Boxing approved headgears.
8.4 Contestants. All Contestants in an Elimination Tournament shall:
8.4.1 Wear sixteen (16) ounce gloves;
8.4.2 Wear U.S.A. Boxing approved headgear, which is provided by the Promoter;
8.4.3 At least eighteen (18) years of age;
8.4.4 Not be currently nor have at any other time been licensed in Arkansas or any other jurisdiction as a Professional;
8.4.5 Not participate in more than one (1) bout during the first day of a two (2) day Event;
8.4.6 Not participate in more than twelve (12) minutes the second night of a two (2) night Event, nor the day of a one (1) day Event; and
8.4.7 Not participate if Contestant has been a winner of more than three (3) in the past twelve (12) months or five (5) in the past five (5) years of any combination of Amateur Combative Sports or Elimination Contest, unless the event is restricted only to winners of previous such Events.
8.5 Not Professional. Competing for or winning a prize in an elimination tournament shall not deem the Contestant a Professional under these Rules.
8.6 Licensing. Contestant Licenses issued to Contestants in Elimination Tournaments shall be designated and marked with an Elimination Contest Only restriction.
8.7 Weight Classes. The Rules in Chapter 1 regarding maximum weight differences between Contestants shall not be applicable to Elimination Tournaments Contestants competing in Elimination Contests shall use the following weight classes:
8.7.1 Lightweight -- 140 up to 160 lbs.
8.7.2 Middleweight -- over 160 up to 185 lbs.
8.7.3 Heavyweight -- over 185 up to 265 lbs.
8.7.4 Super Heavyweight -- over 265 lbs.
8.8 Rounds & Duration. Each bout shall be scheduled for three (3) rounds of one (1) minute in duration with a one (1) minute rest period between each round. Elimination Tournaments may be a one (1) or two (2) day Event.
8.9 Standing Eight Count. Referees may, in the Referee's sole discretion, issue a Standing Eight Count to a Contestant.
8.10 Three Knockdown Rule. A Contestant who is Down three (3) times in the same round shall lose the bout by Technical Knockout.
8.11 No Draws. If at the end of the scheduled number of rounds, a bout is scored a Draw, the Judges shall reevaluate their scorecards and with the input of the Referee select a winner.
8.12 Single Elimination. Elimination Tournaments shall be single elimination Events whereby a Contestant who has lost a bout during the Event may not thereafter participate in another bout during the Event; provided however, if the Contestant's loss was not by Knockout or Technical Knockout, then Promoter may, but is not required, allow the Contestant to participate again in the same Event.
8.13 Matchmaking. At the start of each day of the Elimination Tournament the Promoter shall match Contestants closely in their weight class; however, the Commission must approve all bouts and matches.
8.14 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. 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 below listed allowance(s). 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 and develop a catchweight.
8.14.1 112 lbs. or under -- 3 lbs.
8.14.2 113-118 lbs. -- 4 lbs.
8.14.3 119-126 lbs. -- 5 lbs.
8.14.4 127-135 lbs. -- 6 lbs.
8.14.5 136-147 lbs. -- 8 lbs.
8.14.6 148-160 lbs. -- 10 lbs.
8.14.7 161-175 lbs. -- 12 lbs.
8.14.8 176-200 lbs. -- 15 lbs.
8.14.9 201 lbs. or over -- No limit
8.15 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:
8.15.1 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;
8.15.2 By the Designated employee(s) or an Inspector with weights recorded by the same;
8.15.3 In the presence of other Contestants to the extent practicable with only approved Contestants permitted to weigh in;
8.15.4 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 five (5) hours before fight start and
8.15.5 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.
8.16 Gloves. Gloves shall:
8.16.1 Be examined and approved by the Commission, Referee and Inspector before each contest;
8.16.2 Be clean, properly constructed and consisting of evenly distributed, uniform padding;
8.16.3 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;
8.16.4 Not expose any part of the hand or fingers below the wrist, nor allow for individual outlines or individual insertion of Contestant's fingers;
8.16.5 Have the thumb attached;
8.16.6 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
8.16.7 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.
8.17 Hand wraps. Contestant's hand wraps shall:
8.17.1 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.
8.17.2 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;
8.17.3 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;
8.17.4 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;
8.17.5 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;
8.17.6 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;
8.17.7 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
8.17.8 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.

Credits

Amended April 30, 2014; Sept. 5, 2022.
Current with amendments received through February 15, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credit for details.
Ark. Admin. Code 235.11.1-8, AR ADC 235.11.1-8
End of Document