U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

89–010 

" ! SENATE 

111TH CONGRESS

2d Session 

REPORT

2010

111–157 

Calendar No. 307 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING AMENDMENTS ACT 

OF 2009 

R E P O R T 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND 

TRANSPORTATION 

ON

S. 38 

MARCH 4, 2010.—Ordered to be printed 


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(II) 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia, Chairman 

DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii 

JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts 

BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota 

BARBARA BOXER, California 

BILL NELSON, Florida 

MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey 

MARK PRYOR, Arkansas 

CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri 

AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

MARK WARNER, Virginia 

MARK BEGICH, Alaska 

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas 

OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine 

JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada 

JIM DeMINT, South Carolina 

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota 

ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi 

GEORGE S. LeMIEUX, Florida 

JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia 

DAVID VITTER, Louisiana 

SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas 

MIKE JOHANNS, Nebraska 

ELLEN DONESKI, Staff Director 

JAMES REID, Deputy Staff Director 

BRUCE ANDREWS, General Counsel 

ANN BEGEMAN, Acting Republican Staff Director 

BRIAN HENDRICKS, Republican General Counsel 

TODD BERTOSON, Republican Senior Counsel 


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1See Senator John S. McCain, ‘‘A Fighting Chance for Professional Boxing,’’ 15 STANFORD LAW

AND POLICY REVIEW 7-34 (2004). The article details the history of the sport of boxing, and explains the bases for the efforts of Senator McCain and the actions of the Senate Commerce Committee in reforming the sport. 

Calendar No. 307 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 111–157 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2009 

MARCH 4, 2010.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. ROCKEFELLER, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 38] 

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 

which was referred the bill (S. 38) to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

S. 38 would amend the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 

(15 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), as amended by the Muhammad Ali Boxing 

Reform Act of 2000 (P.L. 106–210), to strengthen existing Federal 

boxing laws by standardizing certain health and safety requirements, establishing a centralized medical registry to be used by 

local boxing commissions to protect boxers, reducing arbitrary practices of sanctioning organizations, and providing uniformity in 

ranking criteria and contractual guidelines. The bill would also establish a Federal entity, the United States Boxing Commission 

(USBC), to promulgate minimum uniform standards for professional boxing and enforce Federal boxing laws. The purpose of the 

USBC would not be to micro-manage boxing by interfering with the 

daily operations of local boxing commissions. Instead, the USBC 

would work in consultation with local commissions, and only exercise its authority should reasonable grounds exist for intervention. 1


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BACKGROUND AND NEEDS

Professional boxing is the only major sport in the United States 

that does not have a strong, centralized association or league to establish and enforce uniform rules and practices. There is no widelyestablished union of boxers, no collective body of promoters or managers, and no consistent level of State regulation among State athletic commissions. This vacuum of effective public or private oversight has contributed to decades of scandals, controversies, and unethical practices in professional boxing. 

The professional boxing industry is regulated on a State-by-State 

basis, which results in varying degrees of oversight, depending on 

the will and resources of each State’s athletic commission or boxing 

regulatory office. Due to the lack of uniform business practices or 

ethical standards, the sport of boxing has suffered from the physical and financial exploitation of its athletes. 

To truly understand professional boxing, one must grasp the reality that the boxing industry in the United States is bifurcated. 

There is the premier side of the sport, comprised of well-known 

boxers and promoters who share in purses that can reach levels 

above tens of millions of dollars. The premier side, however, has little in common with the vast majority of professional boxing events 

that are held in States and on tribal lands across the country. Most 

boxing matches feature unknown journeymen and women who 

apply their trade for small crowds in exchange for nominal purse 

amounts. Most of these athletes come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and often boxing is the only way that they 

know to make a living. 

But these athletes are too often exploited physically and financially by chosen representatives who do not share their best interests, and often fall victim to the misconduct of promoters, sanctioning organizations, and others. Specific examples of business 

misconduct in boxing include: promoters deducting large percentages of a boxer’s purse for their own use; promoters coercing boxers 

into signing long-term, onerous contracts as a condition for competing; promoters forcing boxers to hire an associate or relative of 

the promoter; and illegitimate ratings systems wherein sanctioning 

organizations rank boxers and award ‘‘championship titles’’ based 

upon with whom boxers are connected rather than their athletic 

merit. Under the current system, business relationships between 

promoters and sanctioning organizations take precedence over the 

abilities of fighters. 

Federal and State Boxing Law 

In 1996, the Professional Boxing Safety Act (PBSA) was signed 

into law. The Act was a bipartisan measure that sought to establish a minimum level of health and safety requirements to protect 

the welfare of the athletes who sustain the sport of professional 

boxing. Prior to the Act, while many States had boxing laws on the 

books, others did not require any public oversight of boxing. The 

absence of enforced regulations resulted in fraudulent bouts, the 

exploitation of boxers, and a lack of adequate medical services at 

many events. The PBSA was enacted to help address these problems. Among other things, the PBSA requires State athletic commissions to oversee all professional boxing events; prohibits medically-suspended fighters from participating; assures that States are 


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2 U.S. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, GAO-03-699, Professional Boxing: Issues Related to the 

Protection of Boxers’ Health, Safety, and Economic Interests, (2003), 4-6. 3 Id. at 7. 4 Id. 

5 Id. at 5. 6 Id. 

aware that a fighter may be suspended in another State; requires 

adequate medical services to be available at ringside; and requires 

all boxers to be given an identification card issued by their State 

commission. Also included in the PBSA was a conflict of interest 

provision that prohibits State commissioners from receiving compensation from business interests in the industry. 

In 1998, Congress sought further reform of the professional boxing industry. The Senate passed a bipartisan measure, the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000 (Muhammad Ali Act), but the 

House did not act on the bill. The legislation was reintroduced during the 106th Congress, approved by the House and Senate, and 

signed into law in May 2000. The Muhammad Ali Act protects the 

rights and welfare of professional boxers by preventing exploitive, 

oppressive, and unethical business practices; assists State boxing 

commissions to provide more effective public oversight of the sport; 

and promotes honorable competition to enhance the overall integrity of the boxing industry. 

Unfortunately, both the PBSA (as amended by the Muhammad 

Ali Act) and State laws have not been adequately enforced by Federal and State law enforcement officials. The primary reasons for 

this lack of enforcement have been either a lack of resources in 

Federal and State budgets or simply a lack of interest. 

The U.S. General Accounting Office, now the U.S. Government 

Accountability Office, (GAO) confirmed the inconsistency of State 

and Federal enforcement in its July 2003 report on professional 

boxing regulation, in which it concluded that, because professional 

boxing is regulated predominantly on a State-by-State basis, there 

is a varying degree of oversight depending on the resources and 

priorities of each State or tribal commission. 2 The report also indicated that the lack of consistency in compliance with Federal boxing law among State and tribal commissions ‘‘does not provide adequate assurance that professional boxers are receiving the minimum protections established in Federal law.’’ 3 In sum, State and 

tribal commissions are not upholding minimum contractual and 

safety standards to provide boxers with adequate protection in 

their workplace, the ring. 4

The report also concluded that Federal action under the PBSA, 

as amended by the Ali Act, has been ‘‘limited,’’ and, per the U.S. 

Department of Justice (DOJ), that ‘‘there were no records of cases 

brought by the U.S. Attorneys’ offices under the Federal boxing legislation during fiscal years 1996 through 2002 and . . . no referrals 

from law enforcement agencies were made.’’ 5 The explanation provided the DOJ when questioned about the lack of prosecutions 

under Federal boxing law is that violations of these laws are misdemeanors, which do not receive significant resources from the 

DOJ. 6


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SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

S. 38 would amend the PBSA to: (1) establish and maintain a 

confidential (except for the use by boxing commissions) medical registry that would contain comprehensive medical records and medical suspension information for every licensed professional boxer, 

(2) make uniform certain ‘‘safety standards’’ for all boxing commissions, including a requirement that emergency medical personnel 

and an ambulance be continually present at all professional boxing 

matches, (3) require testing for infectious diseases (e.g., hepatitis), 

(4) require promoters to post some form of security (e.g., performance bond, cashiers check, etc.) prior to a match with the appropriate boxing commission to ensure payment of purse monies to 

boxers who participate and are contractually entitled to receive it, 

(5) make several changes to definitions, including the term ‘‘boxing 

commission’’ to include tribal organizations, (6) authorize tribal organizations to establish boxing commissions as long as a certain 

level of safety standards and other requirements are established, 

(7) mandate that sanctioning organizations adopt and follow ratings guidelines/criteria, (8) require that judges and referees be assigned for each match by the appropriate boxing commission without interference from sanctioning organizations, (9) require a 

newly-created regulatory entity, in consultation with the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), to develop guidelines for minimal contractual provisions that should be included in all bout 

agreements and boxer/manager contracts, and (10) require more 

stringent financial disclosures (within a specified period) by promoters and sanctioning organizations. 

S. 38 also would create the USBC, a Federal entity located within the Department of Commerce, to promulgate minimum uniform 

standards for professional boxing and enforce Federal boxing laws. 

The USBC would be comprised of three members, each of whom 

would be required to be a U.S. citizen with extensive experience in 

professional boxing activities or a field directly related to professional sports. Each member would be required to have outstanding 

character and integrity, and selected without regard to political affiliation. At least one member would be a former local boxing member, and, if practicable, one member would be a physician. Members would be precluded from any dealings in the boxing industry, 

and not more than two members would be from the same political 

party or reside in the same geographical region (split by the Mississippi River). The USBC would be authorized to employ an executive director to implement the policies of the USBC, a general counsel, and any additional staff as needed to carry out the Commission’s statutory mandate. 

The USBC’s primary functions would be to protect the health, 

safety, and general interests of boxers. The USBC, among other 

things, would oversee and administer Federal boxing laws, and 

work with those who participate in professional boxing to improve 

the sport. The USBC would promulgate minimum uniform standards for boxing (in consultation with the ABC and sanctioning organizations). The USBC would also ensure, through the U.S. Attorney General and the chief law enforcement officer of a State, that 

Federal and State boxing laws are vigorously, effectively and fairly 

enforced. The USBC would require all boxers to be licensed every 


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4 years, as is currently required under the Federal identification 

system, but would also require all promoters, managers, and sanctioning organizations to be licensed by the USBC every 2 years. 

The USBC would be authorized to charge reasonable fees for licensing and all fees and fines collected by the USBC would be deposited in a revolving fund to be used to offset the USBC’s appropriation. After notice and opportunity for a hearing, the USBC 

would be permitted to suspend or revoke any license issued under 

the PBSA if it finds that action is necessary to protect the health 

or safety of a boxer, or there are reasonable grounds to believe that 

a USBC standard is not being met or another unlawful act has occurred. The USBC also would be granted authority to conduct investigations, subpoena, administer oaths and affirmations, require 

the production of information, and seek injunctions to further the 

purposes of the PBSA. 

The USBC would maintain a unified national computerized registry for collecting, storing, and retrieving information related to 

professional boxing. The USBC would be required to consult with 

local boxing commissions before establishing any regulation or 

standard under the PBSA. The USBC would be required to submit 

to Congress an annual report containing a detailed description of 

its activities, including, within 12 months of enactment, the results 

of a USBC study to determine the appropriate definition of the 

term ‘‘promoter.’’ 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

For more than a decade, the Senate Commerce Committee has 

taken action to address the problems that plague the sport of professional boxing. As mentioned, the Committee developed two Federal boxing laws that have been enacted, the PBSA and the Muhammad Ali Act. While these laws have had a positive impact on 

professional boxing, the sport remains beset by a variety of problems, some beyond the scope of State and local regulation. 

On May 22, 2002, Senator McCain introduced the Professional 

Boxing Amendments Act in an effort to enhance existing boxing 

law and create a Federal regulatory entity—the U.S. Boxing Administration—to oversee the interstate aspects of the sport. The 

Commerce Committee reported the bill unanimously on October 17, 

2002, but no further action was taken on the measure. Senator 

McCain reintroduced a nearly identical bill in the 108th Congress, 

S. 275, which again was reported by the Committee unanimously 

to the Senate. This time the bill passed the Senate unanimously on 

March 31, 2004, but the House of Representatives did not act on 

the bill. 

In the 109th Congress, Senators McCain, Stevens and Dorgan reintroduced the measure as S. 148, which was reported by the Committee and passed by the Senate, unanimously. House Energy and 

Commerce Committee Chairman Barton offered a boxing bill similar to title II of S. 148 (the title to create the U.S. Boxing Commission). On the House floor, the bill passed by voice vote, but failed 

in a recorded vote. 

In the 110th Congress, S. 84 was unanimously reported out of 

the Commerce Committee, but the full Senate did not take action 

on the measure. 


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This bill (S. 38) as ordered reported by the Commerce Committee 

was introduced by Senator McCain on January 6, 2009, and cosponsored by Senator Dorgan. The bill is identical to measures that 

were reported by the Commerce Committee the previous three Congresses and passed the Senate in both the 108th and 109th Congresses. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974, the Committee provides the following cost estimate, 

prepared by the Congressional Budget Office: 

JUNE 10, 2009. 

Hon. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, 

Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 38, the Professional Boxing 

Amendments Act of 2009. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Susan Willie. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

S. 38—Professional Boxing Amendments Act of 2009 

Summary: S. 38 would establish the United States Boxing Commission (USBC) within the Department of Commerce (DOC). The 

commission would protect the safety and interests of boxers and 

would govern the business of professional boxing by regulating boxing contracts, licensing and registering boxing participants, and 

issuing guidelines for rating boxers. 

Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 38 would cost $7 million in 2010 and 

$34 million over the 2010–2014 period. 

S. 38 also would make violations of certain provisions of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 federal crimes. CBO estimates 

that this provision would not have a significant effect on direct 

spending or revenues. 

S. 38 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), 

on the state and tribal boxing commissions and the boxing industry. Based on information from industry sources, CBO estimates 

that the aggregate cost of complying with the mandates would fall 

below the annual thresholds established in UMRA ($69 million for 

intergovernmental mandates and $139 million for private-sector 

mandates in 2009, adjusted annually for inflation). 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 38 is shown in the following table. The costs of 

this legislation fall within budget function 370 (commerce and 

housing credit). 


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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2010– 

2014 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 1

Estimated Authorization Level .......................................... 8 8 7 6 6 35 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................ 7 8 7 6 6 34 

1 S. 38 also could increase direct spending and revenues, but CBO estimates that any such changes would not be significant. 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the bill 

will be enacted before the start of fiscal year 2010 and that the 

necessary amounts will be appropriated at the beginning of each 

year. 

Spending subject to appropriation 

S. 38 would authorize the appropriation of whatever amounts are 

necessary to establish a boxing commission to regulate professional 

boxing. Based on information from the DOC, CBO estimates that 

implementing S. 38 would cost $7 million in 2010 and $34 million 

over the 2010–2014 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. 

Currently, tribal and state boxing commissions act as governing 

bodies—issuing licenses, ensuring boxing safety, and monitoring 

boxing contracts and fights within their jurisdictions. S. 38 would 

create the USBC, a separate federal entity to govern the sport of 

boxing with national, minimal standards and requirements for the 

business of professional boxing. The USBC would not replace state 

or tribal entities or the activities they undertake; however, the bill 

would specify minimum safety standards and licensing requirements that those entities must maintain. 

United States Boxing Commission. S. 38 would establish the 

USBC within DOC, headed by a three-person panel and supported 

by additional staff as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the 

bill. The USBC would monitor compliance with provisions of the 

bill that would establish minimum safety standards for matches 

and would require disclosure of certain medical information. The 

commission also would issue regulations to establish criteria that 

sanctioning agencies must use to rate boxers and provisions that 

must be included in contracts between boxers and mangers. Finally, the commission would review contracts for boxing matches 

and approve certain types of matches before they occur. 

CBO estimates that the USBC would employ about 30 people to 

write regulations, oversee boxing matches, and establish and maintain certain registries We estimate that hiring and compensating 

those employees would cost $4 million in 2010 and $20 million over 

the 2010–2014 period. In addition, we estimate that startup and 

administrative costs of the commission would total $1 million in 

2010 and $4 million over the 2010–2014 period. 

Licensing and Registration. S. 38 would require the USBC to 

license boxers, managers, and promoters every two to four years. 

CBO assumes that license fees would be similar to those currently 

charged by state boxing commissions. The bill would require the 

USBC to maintain a registry with the names of boxers, managers, 

promoters, boxing judges, and referees. Based on spending for similar registries, CBO estimates that the cost of developing the boxing 

registry would be about $3 million over the 2010–2014 period. We 

estimate that the licensing fees (considered offsetting collections) 


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would offset the cost of maintaining the registry by about fiscal 

year 2013. 

Medical Registry. S. 38 also would establish a medical registry 

that would contain information about the health of each boxer, including medical records and incidents of medical suspensions. CBO 

estimates that developing and maintaining a medical registry 

would cost about $2 million in 2010 and about $7 million over the 

2010–2014 period. 

Direct spending and revenues 

S. 38 would place new reporting and administrative requirements on the boxing industry, including state boxing commissions, 

boxing promoters, sanctioning organizations, and broadcasters. Violations of these new requirements could be prosecuted as criminal 

acts, for which criminal fines would be assessed. Under current 

law, collections of such fines are recorded in the budget as revenues, deposited in the Crime Victims’ Fund, and later spent. CBO 

expects that any additional receipts and spending that result from 

violations of the new requirements would not be significant. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 38 contains 

intergovernmental and private-sector mandates, as defined in 

UMRA, because it would require the state and tribal boxing commissions and the boxing industry to comply with health and safety 

standards, reporting requirements, and any subpoenas issued by 

the USBC. The bill also would require the boxing industry to obtain licenses and abide by certain contracting and rating standards. 

Based on information from industry sources, CBO estimates that 

the aggregate cost of complying with the mandates would fall below 

the annual thresholds established in UMRA ($69 million for intergovernmental mandates and $139 million for private-sector mandates in 2009, adjusted annually for inflation). 

Mandates that apply to both public and private entities 

Health and Safety Standards. The bill would require boxing 

commissions and the boxing industry to meet additional health and 

safety standards. It would require boxers to pass medical exams, 

require commissions to make health and safety disclosures to boxers when they are registered, and expand safety requirements for 

boxing matches. Information from the Department of Labor and 

representatives of the boxing industry indicates that state and tribal boxing commissions already regulate boxing matches using 

standards similar to those required in the bill, and a majority of 

the boxing industry must already comply with those requirements. 

CBO therefore expects that any costs associated with additional 

health and safety measures would be small relative to the annual 

thresholds. 

Reporting Requirements. The bill would require state and 

tribal boxing commissions, promoters, broadcasters, judges, referees, and sanctioning organizations to report certain information 

about boxing matches to the USBC. Such disclosures would include 

information about boxing registries, fees assessed, and other financial information related to boxing matches. Based on information 

from industry sources, CBO estimates that the cost of reporting 

such information would be minimal. 


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Subpoena Authority. The bill would require entities in the 

public and private sector, if subpoenaed, to attend and provide testimony, evidence, or materials related to any investigations the 

USBC may conduct. Such a requirement would be an intergovernmental and private-sector mandate as defined by UMRA. CBO expects that the commission would exercise its subpoena power sparingly and that the costs to comply with a subpoena would not be 

significant. 

Mandates that apply to private entities only 

S. 38 would also impose mandates that only affect the boxing industry. Those mandates include licensing requirements, contract 

standards, and rating guidelines. Based on information from the 

Department of Labor and representatives of the boxing industry, 

CBO estimates that the cost to comply with those mandates would 

be small relative to the annual threshold for private-sector mandates. 

Licensing Requirements. The bill would require boxers, managers, promoters, referees, judges, and sanctioning organizations to 

be licensed by the USBC. According to representatives of the boxing industry, license fees would most likely cost the industry less 

than $1 million per year. 

Contract Standards and Rating Guidelines. The bill also 

would require the boxing industry to include standard clauses in 

contracts and to adopt rating guidelines for boxers. The bill would 

require that each bout agreement, boxer-manager contract, and 

promotional agreement contain standard provisions developed by 

the commission and that each agreement be filed with the USBC. 

In addition, sanctioning organizations would be required to adopt 

guidelines to be established by the USBC for the rating of professional boxers. Because the industry now complies with similar requirements under state regulations, the incremental costs to comply with the mandates would likely be small. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Susan Willie; Impact on 

state, local, and tribal governments: Elizabeth Cove Delisle; Impact 

on the private sector: Jacob Kuipers. 

Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the legislation, as reported: 

NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED

The legislation would apply to professional boxers, local boxing 

commissions, boxing promoters, boxing managers, boxing judges 

and referees, ringside physicians, boxing registries, sanctioning organizations, as well as premium or other cable or satellite program 

service providers, casinos, hotels, resorts, and other commercial establishments that may act as promoters. The legislation would not 

apply to amateur boxing. 


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ECONOMIC IMPACT

The economic impact of this legislation would be minimal. 

PRIVACY

The impact on the personal privacy of the persons covered by 

this legislation is expected to be minimal. The USBC, in establishing and maintaining a medical registry for all licensed professional boxers, is expected to take appropriate action to ensure the 

confidentiality of such records. 

PAPERWORK

The impact on paperwork is difficult to determine prior to the 

formation of the USBC. Local boxing commissions may be required 

by the USBC to perform minimal processing of licensing and boxing data. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Section 1 would provide that this Act may be cited as the Professional Boxing Amendments Act of 2009. This section would also 

provide a table of contents for this Act. 

Section 2. Amendment of Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996. 

Section 2 would provide that all references to amendments to, or 

repeal of, certain sections, are to be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the PBSA (15 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.). 

Section 3. Definitions. 

Subsection (a) would amend section 2 of the PBSA by providing 

several changes to definitions. Most notable, the term ‘‘boxing commission’’ would be revised to include entities authorized under tribal law to regulate professional boxing. Only State commissions are 

considered ‘‘boxing commissions’’ under current law. In addition, 

the terms ‘‘bout agreement’’ and ‘‘promotional agreement’’ would be 

modified to provide a distinction between them. 

Subsection (b) would amend section 21 of the PBSA with respect 

to professional boxing matches conducted on Indian lands. This 

provision would provide authority to a tribal organization to establish a boxing commission to regulate professional boxing held on 

tribal land. Should a tribal organization establish a boxing commission, the standards adopted by the tribal organization should be at 

least as restrictive as the requirements of the State in which the 

tribal organization is located, or the guidelines established by the 

United States Boxing Commission (USBC). 

Section 4. Purpose. 

Section 4 would amend section 3(2) of the PBSA by striking 

‘‘State’’ in ‘‘State boxing commissions’’ to allow tribal organizations 

to be included as boxing commissions. 


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Section 5. United States Boxing Commission approval, or ABC or 

commission sanction, required for matches. 

Section 5 would amend section 4 of the PBSA to provide that no 

person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a professional boxing match in the United States without approval by 

the USBC and held in a State or by a tribal commission that regulates professional boxing matches in accordance with standards established by the USBC. Approval by the USBC is presumed unless 

the USBC has been informed of a violation of the PBSA and has 

notified the supervising boxing commission that it does not approve, the match is advertised as a championship match, the match 

is scheduled for 10 rounds or more, or a boxer in the match has 

suffered 10 consecutive defeats or has been knocked out five consecutive times. This section would authorize the USBC to delegate 

its approval authority to a local commission. 

Section 6. Safety standards. 

Section 6 would amend section 5 of the PBSA to require that the 

physical examination currently required by the PBSA include testing for infectious diseases in accordance with standards established 

by the USBC. This section also would require that an ambulance 

and medical personnel with appropriate resuscitation equipment be 

continuously present on the site of professional boxing matches. 

Current law requires either an ambulance or medical personnel 

with appropriate resuscitation equipment to be on site. 

Section 7. Registration. 

Section 7 would amend section 6 of the PBSA to require that 

State and tribal boxing commissions provide professional boxers 

with a health and safety disclosure when issuing a boxer a Federal 

identification card currently required under the PBSA. This disclosure is a ‘‘Sense of the Congress’’ in the PBSA. This section also 

would require that boxing commissions furnish to the USBC a copy 

of each professional boxer’s registration, as well as the registrations 

of boxing promoters, managers, and sanctioning organizations. 

Section 8. Review. 

Section 8 would amend section 7 of the PBSA to clarify the appeal procedure should a boxing commission impose a summary suspension on a professional boxer. Current law creates an inference 

that, not only must a boxing commission establish appeal procedures regarding the suspension of a boxer, but it must also establish procedures to enable a boxer to have a second hearing regarding the revocation of the suspension. This section would clarify the 

intent of the current law and require that a boxing commission establish procedures to provide a hearing in the event a boxer seeks 

to contest the imposition of a summary suspension. 

Section 9. Reporting. 

Section 9 would amend section 8 of the PBSA by requiring that 

supervising boxing commissions report the results of a professional 

boxing match to the USBC within 2 business days. Under current 

law, supervising boxing commissions must report results to each 

boxer registry not later than 48 business hours. 


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Section 10. Contract requirements. 

Section 10 would amend section 9 of the PBSA. 

Subsection (a) would authorize the USBC, in consultation with 

the ABC, to develop minimum contractual provisions to be included 

in all bout agreements, boxer-manager contracts, and promotional 

agreements. Boxing commissions would be required to ensure that 

the minimum provisions are included in such agreements or contracts. 

Subsection (b) would require managers or promoters to submit a 

copy of each boxer-manager contract and each promotional agreement between the manager or promoter and the boxer to the 

USBC. This subsection also would prohibit a boxing commission 

from approving a professional boxing match unless a copy of the 

bout agreement related to the match is filed with and approved by 

the Commission. 

Subsection (c) would prohibit a boxing commission from approving a professional boxing match unless the promoter of that match 

posts a surety bond, cashier’s check, letter of credit, cash, or other 

security acceptable to the boxing commission. This is intended to 

ensure that the boxer is paid at the conclusion of each match. 

Section 11. Coercive contracts. 

This section would amend section 10 of the PBSA to establish 

minimum guidelines for bout agreements, boxer-manager contracts, 

and promotional agreements. 

Section 12. Sanctioning organizations. 

This section would amend section 11 of the PBSA. 

Subsection (a) would require within 1 year after the date of enactment that the USBC develop guidelines for written criteria for 

rating professional boxers based on their athletic merits. Within 90 

days of the promulgation of the guidelines, each sanctioning organization would be required to adopt the guidelines and follow them. 

Subsection (b) would require sanctioning organizations, when 

making ratings changes, to post, within 7 days and for a period of 

not less than 30 days, a copy of the new ratings on its Internet 

website or homepage with an explanation of the change posted for 

a period not less than 30 days, provide a copy of the rating change 

and an explanation to the boxer and the USBC, provide the boxer 

an opportunity to appeal the ratings change, and apply the ratings 

guidelines required under subsection (a) of this section. 

Subsection (c) would require sanctioning organizations that receive inquiries from boxers challenging ratings decisions to provide 

to the boxer, within 7 days, a written explanation of the sanctioning organizations rating criteria, its rating of the boxer, and its 

rationale or basis for its rating, and submit a copy of its explanation to the ABC and the USBC. 

Section 13. Required disclosures by sanctioning organizations. 

Section 13 would amend section 12 of the PBSA, which bars a 

sanctioning organization from receiving compensation from a boxing match until it provides the supervising boxing commission with 

a statement of fees assessed to the fighter or received for the fight. 

This section would be modified to require sanctioning organizations 

to provide, within 7 days after a professional boxing match of 10 


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rounds or more, a statement of all fees that a sanctioning organization ‘‘has assessed, or will assess’’ to any boxer in the match, a 

written statement of fees that a sanctioning organization ‘‘has received, or will receive’’ from all sources affiliated with a boxing 

event, and any other information that the supervising boxing commission may require. 

Section 14. Required disclosures by promoters and broadcasters. 

Section 14 would amend section 13 of the PBSA, which bars a 

promoter from receiving compensation from a boxing match until 

it provides the supervising boxing commission with certain financial information regarding the match. This section would require 

promoters to provide to the supervising boxing commission, within 

7 days after a professional boxing match of 10 rounds or more, that 

same financial information. This section also would require promoters to make similar financial disclosures to each boxer in the 

match within 7 days after a professional boxing match of 10 rounds 

or more, including what the promoter has paid, or agreed to pay, 

to any other person in connection with the match. 

This section also would require a broadcaster that owns television broadcast rights to a professional boxing match of 10 rounds 

or more to provide to the USBC within 7 days subsequent to the 

match a statement of any fee owed to a promoter in connection 

with the match, a copy of any contract the broadcaster has with a 

boxer in the match, and a list identifying sources of income received from the broadcast of the match. This section would require 

that the information disclosed by the broadcaster would be held as 

confidential by the USBC or local commission. 

Section 15. Judges and referees. 

Section 15 would amend section 16 of the PBSA. 

Subsection (a) would require that no person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a professional match unless the 

referees and judges participating in the match have been ‘‘selected’’ 

by the supervising boxing commission. Current law requires that 

all referees and judges participating in the match are ‘‘certified and 

approved’’ by the supervising boxing commission. 

Subsection (b) would require, in addition to subsection (a), that 

no person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a 

professional match advertised to the public as a championship 

match or in a match scheduled for 10 rounds or more unless the 

referees and judges participating in the match have been licensed 

by the USBC. 

Subsection (c) would prohibit sanctioning organizations from influencing, directly or indirectly, the selection of judges and referees, 

but would allow the organizations to provide a list of judges or referees that the sanctioning organization deems qualified. 

Subsection (d) would permit a boxing commission to assign 

judges and referees who reside outside a commission’s jurisdiction. 

Subsection (e) would require that a judge or referee provide to a 

supervising boxing commission a statement of all consideration, including reimbursement for expenses, that the judge or referee has 

received, or will receive, from any source for participation in the 

match. This statement also would be provided to the USBC if the 

match is scheduled for 10 rounds or more. 


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Section 16. Medical registry. 

Section 16 would create a new section 14 in the PBSA. 

Subsection (a) would require that the USBC establish and maintain, or certify a third party to establish and maintain, a medical 

registry to contain the comprehensive medical records and medical 

denials or suspensions for every licensed boxer in the United 

States. 

Subsection (b) would direct the USBC to determine the nature of 

the medical records to be forwarded to the USBC and the time 

within which they are to be submitted to the registry. 

Subsection (c) would require the USBC to establish confidentiality standards for the disclosure of personally-identifiable information to boxing commissions to ensure that the information is 

used for the intended purpose, which is to protect the health and 

safety of professional boxers, and that it is not publicly disclosed. 

Section 17. Conflicts of interest. 

Section 17 would amend section 17(a) of the PBSA by including 

officers and employees of the USBC in the current list of persons 

who may not hold office, contract with, or receive any compensation 

from, any person who sanctions, arranges, or promotes professional 

boxing matches or who otherwise has a financial interest in an active boxer currently registered with a boxer registry. This section 

also would preclude a boxer from owning or controlling an entity 

that promotes the boxer’s bouts in certain instances. 

Section 18. Enforcement. 

Section 18 would amend section 18 of the PBSA. Under the 

PBSA, the United States Attorney General has the authority to 

bring a civil action in the appropriate district court to prevent or 

punish a violation of the PBSA. This section would expand that authority to include criminal actions. This section also would make officers and employees of the USBC subject to civil or criminal action 

for violation of the PBSA. This section would allow the chief law 

enforcement officer of a State to bring an action if that officer has 

reason to believe that a person ‘‘has engaged in, or is engaging’’ in 

conduct that violates the PBSA. Current law only allows the chief 

law enforcement officer of a State to act while the violator is engaging in, but not after, the unlawful conduct. 

Section 19. Repeal of deadwood. 

Section 19 would repeal section 20 of the PBSA, which required 

the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study on the feasibility and cost 

of a national pension system for professional boxers and report the 

results to Congress. Section 20 of the PBSA also required the Secretary of Health and Human Services ‘‘to conduct a study to develop recommendations for health, safety, and equipment standards for boxers and for professional boxing matches.’’ The expiration of these deadlines makes this language no longer necessary in 

the PBSA. 

Section 20. Recognition of tribal law. 

Section 20 would amend section 22 of the PBSA by allowing tribal organizations, not just States, to adopt or enforce supplemental 

or more stringent laws or regulations not inconsistent with the 


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PBSA, or criminal, civil, or administrative fines for violations of 

such laws or regulations. 

Section 21. Establishment of United States Boxing Commission. 

Subsection (a) would amend the PBSA by adding a new title II 

establishing the USBC, as follows: 

Section 201. Purpose. 

This section would state that the purpose of the USBC is to 

protect the health, safety, and welfare of boxers and to ensure 

fairness in the sport of professional boxing. 

Section 202. Establishment of United States Boxing Commission. 

Subsection (a) would establish the USBC as a commission 

within the Department of Commerce. 

Subsection (b) would provide that the USBC would consist of 

three members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each member would be required to be a U.S. citizen with extensive experience in professional boxing activities or a field directly related to professional sports. Each member would be required to have outstanding character and integrity, and selected without regard 

to political affiliation. At least one member would be a former 

local boxing member, and, if practicable, one member would be 

a physician. Members would be precluded from any dealings in 

the boxing industry, and not more than two members would be 

from the same political party or reside in the same geographical region (split by the Mississippi River). Members 

would serve three-year terms, with the possibility of reappointment. 

Subsection (b) would require the USBC to employ an executive director to perform the administrative functions of the 

Commission. In addition, the Commission would be required to 

hire a general counsel and any additional staff as needed to 

carry out the functions of the Commission. 

Section 203. Functions. 

Subsection (a) would provide the primary functions of the 

USBC. 

Subsection (b) lists the specific functions of the USBC. 

Subsection (c) would provide that the USBC may not promote boxing events or rank professional boxers, or provide 

technical assistance to, or authorize the use of the name of the 

USBC by, boxing commissions that do not comply with the requirements of the USBC. 

Subsection (d) would provide that the USBC shall have the 

exclusive right to the name ‘‘United States Boxing Commission.’’ This subsection also provides that any person who uses 

the name, USBC, without permission is subject to a civil action 

by the Commission under the Trademark Act of 1946. 


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Section 204. Licensing and registration of boxing personnel. 

Subsection (a) would require that boxers, managers, promoters, and sanctioning organizations be licensed by the USBC 

to participate in a professional boxing match. The USBC shall 

establish procedures and fees for applying for, granting, and 

issuing licenses. Licenses issued by the USBC are for 4-year 

terms for professional boxers and 2-year terms for any other 

person. The USBC may issue licenses through boxing commissions. 

Subsection (b) would authorize the USBC to prescribe and 

charge reasonable licensing fees. In setting fees, this subsection cautions that, to the maximum extent possible, the 

USBC should ensure that club boxing is not adversely affected, 

sanctioning organizations and promoters pay the largest portion of the fees, and boxers pay as small a portion as possible. 

The USBC may collect fees through boxing commissions. 

Section 205. National registry of boxing personnel. 

Subsection (a) would require the USBC to establish (or certify a third party to establish) a national registry of boxing personnel. This registry is to include relevant information about 

boxers, as well as information on promoters, matchmakers, 

managers, trainers, cut men, referees, judges, physicians, and 

any other professional boxing personnel deemed appropriate by 

the USBC. 

Section 206. Consultation requirements. 

This section would require the USBC to consult with the 

ABC before prescribing any regulation or establishing any 

standard, and not less than once each year regarding matters 

related to professional boxing. 

Section 207. Misconduct. 

Subsection (a) would authorize the USBC, after notice and 

opportunity for a hearing, to suspend or revoke any license 

issued under this title if the USBC finds that such action is 

necessary to protect health and safety or is otherwise in the 

public interest; there are reasonable grounds to believe that a 

USBC standard is not being met or that certain criminal acts 

have occurred; or the licensee has violated a provision of the 

PBSA. The USBC would determine the period of suspension. In 

the case of a revocation of the license of a boxer, the revocation 

would be for a period of not less than one year. 

Subsection (b) would authorize the USBC to conduct investigations and seek injunctions to further the purposes of the 

PBSA. This subsection also would authorize the USBC to subpoena, administer oaths and affirmations, and require the production of information. 

Subsection (c) would authorize the USBC to intervene or file 

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tion relating to professional boxing filed in a United States district court. 

Subsection (d) would require that hearings conducted by the 

USBC be public and may be held before any officer of the 

USBC or before a boxing commission that is a member of the 

ABC. 

Section 208. Noninterference with local boxing commissions. 

Subsection (a) would provide that nothing in this title shall 

prohibit any boxing commission from exercising its powers, duties, or functions with respect to the regulation or supervision 

of professional boxing to the extent such exercises is not inconsistent with this title. 

Subsection (b) would provide that nothing in this title prohibits any boxing commission from enforcing local standards or 

requirements that exceed those promulgated by the USBC. 

Section 209. Assistance from other agencies. 

This section would authorize the USBC to request that any 

employee of an entity be detailed to the USBC on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis with the employees’ consent. 

Section 210. Reports. 

Subsection (a) would require the USBC to submit an annual 

report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy 

and Commerce. The report shall include a detailed discussion 

of the activities of the USBC and an overview of the licensing 

and enforcement activities of boxing commissions. 

Subsection (b) would require the USBC to publish and publicize an annual report regarding the progress made by the 

Commission to reform professional boxing at the Federal and 

State levels, including on Indian lands, and comment on continuing concerns of the USBC. 

Subsection (c) would require that the first annual report be 

submitted not later than 2 years after the effective date of this 

title. 

Section 211. Initial implementation. 

Subsection (a) would provide that the licensing requirements 

of this title do not apply to boxers, judges or referees, or any 

other activity in relation to professional boxing, if the person 

is licensed by a boxing commission to perform that activity as 

of the effective date of this title. 

Subsection (b) would provide that the exemption in subsection (a) expires on the earlier of the date on which the license expires, or the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this legislation. 

Section 212. Authorization of appropriations. 


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Subsection (a) would authorize to be appropriated for the 

USBC for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to 

perform its functions for that fiscal year. 

Subsection (b) would provide that any fee collected under 

this title be credited as offsetting collections to the account 

that finances the USBC. 

Section 21(b) of the bill would provide several conforming amendments. 

Section 22. Study and report on definition of promoter. 

This section would create a new section of the PBSA to require 

the USBC to conduct a study of how the term ‘‘promoter’’ should 

be defined for the purposes of the PBSA and report back to the 

House and Senate committees of jurisdiction within 12 months of 

the enactment of this legislation. 

Section 23. Effective date. 

This section would create a new section of the PBSA to provide 

that the amendments made by this legislation would take effect on 

the date of enactment of this legislation, except for the provisions 

creating the USBC, which will take effect one year after the date 

of enactment of this legislation. 


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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, as 

reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets, new material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING SAFETY ACT OF 1996 

[15 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.] 

øSECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. [15 U.S.C. 6301 note] 

øThis Act may be cited as the ‘‘Professional Boxing Safety Act of 

1996’’.¿ 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘Professional Boxing Safety Act’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is as 

follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—PROFESSIONAL BOXING SAFETY 

Sec. 101. Purposes. 

Sec. 102. Approval or sanction requirement. 

Sec. 103. Safety standards. 

Sec. 104. Registration. 

Sec. 105. Review. 

Sec. 106. Reporting. 

Sec. 107. Contract requirements. 

Sec. 108. Protection from coercive contracts. 

Sec. 109. Sanctioning organizations. 

Sec. 110. Required disclosures to State boxing commissions by sanctioning organizations. 

Sec. 111. Required disclosures by promoters and broadcasters. 

Sec. 112. Medical registry. 

Sec. 113. Confidentiality. 

Sec. 114. Judges and referees. 

Sec. 115. Conflicts of interest. 

Sec. 116. Enforcement. 

Sec. 117. Professional boxing matches conducted on Indian lands. 

Sec. 118. Relationship with State or Tribal law. 

TITLE II—UNITED STATES BOXING COMMISSION 

Sec. 201. Purpose. 

Sec. 202. United States Boxing Commission. 

Sec. 203. Functions. 

Sec. 204. Licensing and registration of boxing personnel. 

Sec. 205. National registry of boxing personnel. 

Sec. 206. Consultation requirements. 

Sec. 207. Misconduct. 

Sec. 208. Noninterference with boxing commissions. 

Sec. 209. Assistance from other agencies. 

Sec. 210. Reports. 


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Sec. 211. Initial implementation. 

Sec. 212. Authorization of appropriations. 

øSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. [15 U.S.C. 6301] 

øFor purposes of this Act: 

ø(1) BOXER.—The term ‘‘boxer’’ means an individual who 

fights in a professional boxing match. 

ø(2) BOXING COMMISSION.—(A) The term ‘‘boxing commission’’ means an entity authorized under State law to regulate 

professional boxing matches. 

ø(3) BOXER REGISTRY.—The term ‘‘boxer registry’’ means any 

entity certified by the Association of Boxing Commissions for 

the purposes of maintaining records and identification of boxers. 

ø(4) LICENSEE.—The term ‘‘licensee’’ means an individual 

who serves as a trainer, second, or cut man for a boxer. 

ø(5) MANAGER.—The term ‘‘manager’’ means a person who 

receives compensation for service as an agent or representative 

of a boxer. 

ø(6) MATCHMAKER.—The term ‘‘matchmaker’’ means a person 

that proposes, selects, and arranges the boxers to participate 

in a professional boxing match. 

ø(7) PHYSICIAN.—The term ‘‘physician’’ means a doctor of 

medicine legally authorized to practice medicine by the State 

in which the physician performs such function or action. 

ø(8) PROFESSIONAL BOXING MATCH.—The term ‘‘professional 

boxing match’’ means a boxing contest held in the United 

States between individuals for financial compensation. Such 

term does not include a boxing contest that is regulated by an 

amateur sports organization. 

ø(9) PROMOTER.—The term ‘‘promoter’’ means the person primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing a 

professional boxing match. The term ‘‘promoter’’ does not include a hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial establishment 

hosting or sponsoring a professional boxing match unless— 

ø(A) the hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial establishment is primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing the match; and 

ø(B) there is no other person primarily responsible for 

organizing, promoting, and producing the match. 

ø(10) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the 50 States, 

Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States, including the Virgin Islands. 

ø(11) EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTRACT.—The term ‘‘effective date of the contract’’ means the day upon which a boxer 

becomes legally bound by the contract. 

ø(12) BOXING SERVICE PROVIDER.—The term ‘‘boxing service 

provider’’ means a promoter, manager, sanctioning body, licensee, or matchmaker. 

ø(13) CONTRACT PROVISION.—The term ‘‘contract provision’’ 

means any legal obligation between a boxer and a boxing service provider. 

ø(14) SANCTIONING ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘sanctioning 

organization’’ means an organization that sanctions professional boxing matches in the United States— 


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ø(A) between boxers who are residents of different 

States; or 

ø(B) that are advertised, otherwise promoted, or broadcast (including closed circuit television) in interstate commerce. 

ø(15) SUSPENSION.—The term ‘‘suspension’’ includes within 

its meaning the revocation of a boxing license.¿ 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the United 

States Boxing Commission. 

(2) BOUT AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘bout agreement’’ means a 

contract between a promoter and a boxer that requires the boxer 

to participate in a professional boxing match for a particular 

date. 

(3) BOXER.—The term ‘‘boxer’’ means an individual who 

fights in a professional boxing match. 

(4) BOXING COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘boxing commission’’ 

means an entity authorized under State or tribal law to regulate professional boxing matches. 

(5) BOXER REGISTRY.—The term ‘‘boxer registry’’ means any 

entity certified by the Commission for the purposes of maintaining records and identification of boxers. 

(6) BOXING SERVICE PROVIDER.—The term ‘‘boxing service provider’’ means a promoter, manager, sanctioning body, licensee, 

or matchmaker. 

(7) CONTRACT PROVISION.—The term ‘‘contract provision’’ 

means any legal obligation between a boxer and a boxing service provider. 

(8) INDIAN LANDS; INDIAN TRIBE.—The terms ‘‘Indian lands’’ 

and ‘‘Indian tribe’’ have the meanings given those terms by 

paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, of section 4 of the Indian 

Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703). 

(9) LICENSEE.—The term ‘‘licensee’’ means an individual who 

serves as a trainer, corner man, second, or cut man for a boxer. 

(10) MANAGER.—The term ‘‘manager’’ means a person other 

than a promoter who, under contract, agreement, or other arrangement with a boxer, undertakes to control or administer, 

directly or indirectly, a boxing-related matter on behalf of that 

boxer, including a person who is a booking agent for a boxer. 

(11) MATCHMAKER.—The term ‘‘matchmaker’’ means a person 

that proposes, selects, and arranges for boxers to participate in 

a professional boxing match. 

(12) PHYSICIAN.—The term ‘‘physician’’ means a doctor of 

medicine legally authorized to practice medicine by the State in 

which the physician performs such function or action and who 

has training and experience in dealing with sports injuries, 

particularly head trauma. 

(13) PROFESSIONAL BOXING MATCH.—The term ‘‘professional 

boxing match’’ means a boxing contest held in the United States 

between individuals for financial compensation. The term ‘‘professional boxing match’’ does not include a boxing contest that 

is regulated by a duly recognized amateur sports organization, 

as approved by the Commission. 


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(14) PROMOTER.—The term ‘‘promoter’’— 

(A) means the person primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing a professional boxing 

match; but 

(B) does not include a hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial establishment hosting or sponsoring a professional 

boxing match unless— 

(i) the hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial establishment is primarily responsible for organizing, 

promoting, and producing the match; and 

(ii) there is no other person primarily responsible for 

organizing, promoting, and producing the match. 

(15) PROMOTIONAL AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘promotional 

agreement’’ means a contract, for the acquisition of rights relating to a boxer’s participation in a professional boxing match or 

series of boxing matches (including the right to sell, distribute, 

exhibit, or license the match or matches), with— 

(A) the boxer who is to participate in the match or 

matches; or 

(B) the nominee of a boxer who is to participate in the 

match or matches, or the nominee is an entity that is 

owned, controlled or held in trust for the boxer unless that 

nominee or entity is a licensed promoter who is conveying 

a portion of the rights previously acquired. 

(16) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the 50 States, 

Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States, including the Virgin Islands. 

(17) SANCTIONING ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘sanctioning organization’’ means an organization, other than a boxing commission, that sanctions professional boxing matches, ranks professional boxers, or charges a sanctioning fee for professional 

boxing matches in the United States— 

(A) between boxers who are residents of different States; 

or 

(B) that are advertised, otherwise promoted, or broadcast 

(including closed circuit television) in interstate commerce. 

(18) SUSPENSION.—The term ‘‘suspension’’ includes within its 

meaning the temporary revocation of a boxing license. 

(19) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘tribal organization’’ 

has the same meaning as in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(l)). 

TITLE I—PROFESSIONAL BOXING 

SAFETY 

SEC. ø3.¿ 101. PURPOSES. [15 U.S.C. 6302] 

The purposes øof this Act¿ of this title are— 

(1) to improve and expand the system of safety precautions 

that protects the welfare of professional boxers; and 

(2) to assist øState¿ boxing commissions to provide proper 

oversight for the professional boxing industry in the United 

States. 


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øSEC. 4. BOXING MATCHES IN STATES WITHOUT BOXING COMMISSIONS. [15 U.S.C. 6303] 

ø(a) No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight 

in a professional boxing match held in a State that does not have 

a boxing commission unless the match is supervised by a boxing 

commission from another State and subject to the most recent 

version of the recommended regulatory guidelines certified and 

published by the Association of Boxing Commissions as well as any 

additional relevant professional boxing regulations and requirements of such other State. 

ø(b) For the purpose øof this Act,¿ of this title, if no State commission is available to supervise a boxing match according to subsection (a), then— 

ø(1) the match may not be held unless it is supervised by an 

association of boxing commissions to which at least a majority 

of the States belong; and 

ø(2) any reporting or other requirement relating to a supervising commission allowed under this section.¿ 

SEC. 102. APPROVAL OR SANCTION REQUIREMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—No person may arrange, promote, organize, 

produce, or fight in a professional boxing match within the United 

States unless the match— 

(1) is approved by the Commission; and 

(2) is held in a State, or on tribal land of a tribal organization, that regulates professional boxing matches in accordance 

with standards and criteria established by the Commission. 

(b) APPROVAL PRESUMED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subsection (a), the Commission shall be presumed to have approved any match other 

than— 

(A) a match with respect to which the Commission has 

been informed of an alleged violation of this title and with 

respect to which it has notified the supervising boxing commission that it does not approve; 

(B) a match advertised to the public as a championship 

match; 

(C) a match scheduled for 10 rounds or more; or 

(D) a match in which 1 of the boxers has— 

(i) suffered 10 consecutive defeats in professional boxing matches; or 

(ii) has been knocked out 5 consecutive times in professional boxing matches. 

(2) DELEGATION OF APPROVAL AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding 

paragraph (1), the Commission shall be presumed to have approved a match described in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) of 

paragraph (1) if— 

(A) the Commission has delegated its approval authority 

with respect to that match to a boxing commission; and 

(B) the boxing commission has approved the match. 

(3) KNOCKED-OUT DEFINED.—Except as may be otherwise provided by the Commission by rule, in paragraph (1)(D)(ii), the 

term ‘‘knocked out’’ means knocked down and unable to continue after a count of 10 by the referee or stopped from continuing because of a technical knockout. 


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SEC. ø5.¿ 103. SAFETY STANDARDS. [15 U.S.C. 6304] 

No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in 

a professional boxing match without meeting each of the following 

ørequirements or an alternative requirement in effect under regulations of a boxing commission that provides equivalent protection 

of the health and safety of boxers:¿ requirements: 

(1) A physical examination of each boxer by a physician certifying whether or not the boxer is physically fit to safely compete, copies of which must be provided to the boxing commission. The examination shall include testing for infectious diseases in accordance with standards established by the Commission. 

ø(2) Except as otherwise expressly provided under regulation 

of a boxing commission promulgated subsequent to the enactment of this Act, an ambulance or medical personnel with appropriate resuscitation equipment continuously present on 

site.¿ 

(2) An ambulance continuously present on site. 

(3) Emergency medical personnel with appropriate resuscitation equipment continuously present on site. 

ø(3)¿ (4) A physician continuously present at ringside. 

ø(4)¿ (5) Health insurance for each boxer to provide medical 

coverage for any injuries sustained in the ømatch.¿ match in 

an amount prescribed by the Commission. 

SEC. ø6.¿ 104. REGISTRATION. [15 U.S.C. 6305] 

(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Each boxer shall register with— 

(1) the boxing commission of the State in which such boxer 

resides; or 

(2) in the case of a boxer who is a resident of a foreign country, or a State in which there is no boxing commission, the boxing commission of any State or Indian tribe that has such a 

commission. 

(b) IDENTIFICATION CARD.— (1) ISSUANCE.—A boxing commission shall issue to each professional boxer who registers in accordance with subsection (a), 

an identification card that contains each of the following: 

(A) A recent photograph of the boxer. 

(B) The social security number of the boxer (or, in the 

case of a foreign boxer, any similar citizen identification 

number or professional boxer number from the country of 

residence of the boxer). 

(C) A personal identification number assigned to the 

boxer by a boxing registry. 

(2) RENEWAL.—Each professional boxer shall renew his or 

her identification card at least once every 4 years. 

(3) PRESENTATION.—Each professional boxer shall present 

his or her identification card to the appropriate boxing commission not later than the time of the weigh-in for a professional 

boxing match. 

(c) HEALTH AND SAFETY DISCLOSURES.—øIt is the sense of the 

Congress that a boxing commission should, upon issuing an identification card to a boxer under subsection (b)(1), make a health and 

safety disclosure to that boxer as that commission considers appropriate.¿ A boxing commission shall, in accordance with requireVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:15 Mar 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\SR157.XXX SR157

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ments established by the Commission, make a health and safety disclosure to a boxer when issuing an identification card to that boxer. 

The health and safety disclosure øshould¿ shall, at a minimum, include the health and safety risks associated with boxing, and, in 

particular, the risk and frequency of brain injury and the advisability that a boxer periodically undergo medical procedures designed to detect brain injury. 

(d) COPY OF REGISTRATION AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO BE

SENT TO COMMISSION.—A boxing commission shall furnish a copy 

of each registration received under subsection (a), and each identification card issued under subsection (b), to the Commission. 

SEC. ø7.¿ 105. REVIEW. [15 U.S.C. 6306] 

ø(a) PROCEDURES.—¿Each boxing commission shall establish 

each of the following procedures: 

(1) Procedures to evaluate the professional records and physician’s certification of each boxer participating in a professional boxing match in the State, and to deny authorization for 

a boxer to fight where appropriate. 

(2) Procedures to ensure øthat, except as provided in subsection (b), no¿ that no boxer is permitted to box while under 

suspension from any boxing commission due to— 

(A) a recent knockout or series of consecutive losses; 

(B) an injury, requirement for a medical procedure, or 

physician 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; or 

(E) unsportsmanlike conduct or other inappropriate behavior inconsistent with generally accepted methods of 

competition in a professional boxing match. 

ø(3) Procedures to review a suspension where appealed by a 

boxer, licensee, manager, matchmaker, promoter, or other boxing service provider, including an opportunity for a boxer, licensee, manager, matchmaker, promoter, or other boxing service provider to present contradictory evidence. 

ø(4) Procedures to revoke a suspension where a boxer— 

ø(A) was suspended under subparagraph (A) or (B) of 

paragraph (2) of this subsection, and has furnished further 

proof of a sufficiently improved medical or physical condition; or 

ø(B) furnishes proof under subparagraph (C) or (D) of 

paragraph (2) that a suspension was not, or is no longer, 

merited by the facts.¿ 

(3) Procedures to review a summary suspension when a hearing before the boxing commission is requested by a boxer, licensee, manager, matchmaker, promoter, or other boxing service 

provider which provides an opportunity for that person to 

present evidence. 

ø(b) SUSPENSION IN ANOTHER STATE.—A boxing commission may 

allow a boxer who is under suspension in any State to participate 

in a professional boxing match— 

ø(1) for any reason other than those listed in subsection (a) 

if such commission notifies in writing and consults with the 

designated official of the suspending State’s boxing commission 


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prior to the grant of approval for such individual to participate 

in that professional boxing match; or 

ø(2) if the boxer appeals to the Association of Boxing Commissions, and the Association of Boxing Commissions determines that the suspension of such boxer was without sufficient 

grounds, for an improper purpose, or not related to the health 

and safety of the boxer or the purposes of this Act.¿ 

SEC. ø8.¿ 106. REPORTING. [15 U.S.C. 6307] 

Not later than ø48 business hours¿ 2 business days after the conclusion of a professional boxing match, the supervising boxing commission shall report the results of such øbxoing¿ boxing match and 

any related suspensions to øeach boxer registry.¿ the Commission. 

øSEC. 9. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS. [15 U.S.C. 6307a] 

øWithin 2 years after the date of the enactment of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, the Association of Boxing Commissions 

(ABC) shall develop and shall approve by a vote of no less than a 

majority of its member State boxing commissioners, guidelines for 

minimum contractual provisions that should be included in bout 

agreements and boxing contracts. It is the sense of the Congress 

that State boxing commissions should follow these ABC guidelines.¿ 

SEC. 107. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, in consultation with the Association of Boxing Commissions, shall develop guidelines for minimum contractual provisions that shall be included in each bout 

agreement, boxer-manager contract, and promotional agreement. 

Each boxing commission shall ensure that these minimal contractual provisions are present in any such agreement or contract submitted to it. 

(b) FILING AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) COMMISSION.—A manager or promoter shall submit a 

copy of each boxer-manager contract and each promotional 

agreement between that manager or promoter and a boxer to the 

Commission, and, if requested, to the boxing commission with 

jurisdiction over the bout. 

(2) BOXING COMMISSION.—A boxing commission may not approve a professional boxing match unless a copy of the bout 

agreement related to that match has been filed with it and approved by it. 

(c) BOND OR OTHER SURETY.—A boxing commission may not approve a professional boxing match unless the promoter of that 

match has posted a surety bond, cashier’s check, letter of credit, 

cash, or other security with the boxing commission in an amount acceptable to the boxing commission. 

SEC. ø10.¿ 108. PROTECTION FROM COERCIVE CONTRACTS. [15 U.S.C. 

6307b] 

(a) GENERAL RULE.— 

(1)(A) A contract provision shall be considered to be in restraint of trade, contrary to public policy, and unenforceable 

against any boxer to the extent that it— 

(i) is a coercive provision described in subparagraph (B) 

and is for a period greater than 12 months; or 


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(ii) is a coercive provision described in subparagraph (B) 

and the other boxer under contract to the promoter came 

under that contract pursuant to a coercive provision described in subparagraph (B). 

(B) A coercive provision described in this subparagraph is a 

contract provision that grants any rights between a boxer and 

a promoter, or between promoters with respect to a boxer, if 

the boxer is required to grant such rights, or a boxer’s promoter is required to grant such rights with respect to a boxer 

to another promoter, as a condition precedent to the boxer’s 

participation in a professional boxing match against another 

boxer who is under contract to the promoter. 

(2) This subsection shall only apply to contracts entered into 

after the date of the enactment of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. 

ø(3) No subsequent contract provision extending any rights or 

compensation covered in paragraph (1) shall be enforceable against 

a boxer if the effective date of the contract containing such provision is earlier than 3 months before the expiration of the relevant 

time period set forth in paragraph (1).¿ 

(b) PROMOTIONAL RIGHTS UNDER MANDATORY OR ELIMINATION

BOUT CONTRACTS.—No boxing service provider may require a boxer 

to grant any future promotional rights as a requirement of competing in a professional boxing match that is a mandatory or elimination bout under the rules of a sanctioning organization. 

(c) PROTECTION FROM COERCIVE CONTRACTS WITH BROAD- CASTERS.—Subsection (a) of this section applies to any contract between a commercial broadcaster and a boxer, or granting any 

rights with respect to that boxer, involving a broadcast in or affecting interstate commerce, regardless of the broadcast medium. For 

the purpose of this subsection, any reference in subsection (a)(1)(B) 

to ‘‘promoter’’ shall be considered a reference to ‘‘commercial broadcaster’’. 

øSEC. 11. SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONS. [15 U.S.C. 6307c] 

ø(a) OBJECTIVE CRITERIA.—Within 2 years after the date of the 

enactment of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, the Association of Boxing Commissions shall develop and shall approve by a 

vote of no less than a majority of its member State boxing commissioners, guidelines for objective and consistent written criteria for 

the ratings of professional boxers. It is the sense of the Congress 

that sanctioning bodies and State boxing commissions should follow 

these ABC guidelines. 

ø(b) APPEALS PROCESS.—A sanctioning organization shall not be 

entitled to receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with a boxing match, until it provides the boxers with notice that the sanctioning organization shall, within 7 days after receiving a request from a boxer questioning that organization’s rating of the boxer— 

ø(1) provide to the boxer a written explanation of the organization’s criteria, its rating of the boxer, and the rationale or 

basis for its rating (including a response to any specific questions submitted by the boxer); and 

ø(2) submit a copy of its explanation to the Association of 

Boxing Commissions. 


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ø(c) NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE IN RATING.—A sanctioning organization shall not be entitled to receive any compensation, directly or 

indirectly, in connection with a boxing match, until, with respect 

to a change in the rating of a boxer previously rated by such organization in the top 10 boxers, the organization— 

ø(1) posts a copy, within 7 days of such change, on its Internet website or home page, if any, including an explanation of 

such change, for a period of not less than 30 days; and 

ø(2) provides a copy of the rating change and explanation to 

an association to which at least a majority of the State boxing 

commissions belong. 

ø(d) PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.— ø(1) FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FILING.—A sanctioning organization shall not be entitled to receive any compensation directly or indirectly in connection with a boxing match unless, 

not later than January 31 of each year, it submits to the Federal Trade Commission and to the ABC— 

ø(A) a complete description of the organization’s ratings 

criteria, policies, and general sanctioning fee schedule; 

ø(B) the bylaws of the organization; 

ø(C) the appeals procedure of the organization for a boxer’s rating; and 

ø(D) a list and business address of the organization’s officials who vote on the ratings of boxers. 

ø(2) FORMAT; UPDATES.—A sanctioning organization shall— 

ø(A) provide the information required under paragraph 

(1) in writing, and, for any document greater than 2 pages 

in length, also in electronic form; and 

ø(B) promptly notify the Federal Trade Commission of 

any material change in the information submitted. 

ø(3) FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO MAKE INFORMATION

AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC.—The Federal Trade Commission shall 

make information received under this subsection available to 

the public. The Commission may assess sanctioning organizations a fee to offset the costs it incurs in processing the information and making it available to the public. 

ø(4) INTERNET ALTERNATIVE.—In lieu of submitting the information required by paragraph (1) to the Federal Trade Commission, a sanctioning organization may provide the information to the public by maintaining a website on the Internet 

that— 

ø(A) is readily accessible by the general public using 

generally available search engines and does not require a 

password or payment of a fee for full access to all the information; 

ø(B) contains all the information required to be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission by paragraph (1) 

in an easy to search and use format; and 

ø(C) is updated whenever there is a material change in 

the information.¿ 

SEC. 109. SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONS. 

(a) OBJECTIVE CRITERIA.—Within 1 year after the date of enactment of the Professional Boxing Amendments Act of 2009, the Commission shall develop guidelines for objective and consistent written 


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criteria for the rating of professional boxers based on the athletic 

merits and professional record of the boxers. Within 90 days after 

the Commission’s promulgation of the guidelines, each sanctioning 

organization shall adopt the guidelines and follow them. 

(b) NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE IN RATING.—A sanctioning organization shall, with respect to a change in the rating of a boxer previously rated by such organization in the top 10 boxers— 

(1) post a copy, within 7 days after the change, on its Internet 

website or home page, if any, including an explanation of the 

change, for a period of not less than 30 days; 

(2) provide a copy of the rating change and a thorough explanation in writing under penalty of perjury to the boxer and the 

Commission; 

(3) provide the boxer an opportunity to appeal the ratings 

change to the sanctioning organization; and 

(4) apply the objective criteria for ratings required under subsection (a) in considering any such appeal. 

(c) CHALLENGE OF RATING.—If, after disposing with an appeal 

under subsection (b)(3), a sanctioning organization receives a petition from a boxer challenging that organization’s rating of the 

boxer, it shall (except to the extent otherwise required by the Commission), within 7 days after receiving the petition— 

(1) provide to the boxer a written explanation under penalty 

of perjury of the organization’s rating criteria, its rating of the 

boxer, and the rationale or basis for its rating (including a response to any specific questions submitted by the boxer); and 

(2) submit a copy of its explanation to the Association of Boxing Commissions and the Commission for their review. 

SEC. ø12.¿ 110. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES TO STATE BOXING COMMISSIONS BY SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONS. [15 U.S.C. 6307d] 

øA sanctioning organization shall not be entitled to receive any 

compensation directly or indirectly in connection with a boxing 

match until it provides to the boxing commission responsible for 

regulating the match in a State a statement of—¿ 

Within 7 days after a professional boxing match of 10 rounds or 

more, the sanctioning organization, if any, for that match shall provide to the Commission, and, if requested, to the boxing commission 

in the State or on Indian land responsible for regulating the match, 

a written statement of— 

(1) all charges, fees, and costs the organization øwill assess¿ 

has assessed, or will assess, any boxer participating in that 

match; 

(2) all payments, benefits, complimentary benefits, and fees 

the organization øwill receive¿ has received, or will receive, for 

its affiliation with the event, from the promoter, host of the 

event, and all other sources; and 

(3) such additional information as the commission may require. 

SEC. ø13.¿ 111. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES FOR øPROMOTERS.¿ PROMOTERS AND BROADCASTERS. [15 U.S.C. 6307e] 

ø(a) DISCLOSURES TO THE BOXING COMMISSIONS.—A promoter 

shall not be entitled to receive any compensation directly or indirectly in connection with a boxing match until it provides to the 


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boxing commission responsible for regulating the match in a State 

a statement of—¿ 

(a) DISCLOSURES TO BOXING COMMISSIONS AND THE COMMIS- SION.—Within 7 days after a professional boxing match of 10 

rounds or more, the promoter of any boxer participating in that 

match shall provide to the Commission, and, if requested, to the 

boxing commission in the State or on Indian land responsible for 

regulating the match— 

(1) a copy of any agreement in øwriting¿ writing, other than 

a bout agreement previously provided to the commission, to 

which the promoter is a party with any boxer participating in 

the match; 

(2) a statement made under penalty of perjury that there are 

no other agreements, written or oral, between the promoter 

and the boxer with respect to that match; and 

(3)(A) øall fees, charges, and expenses that will be¿ a written 

statement of all fees, charges, and expenses that have been, or 

will be, assessed by or through the promoter on the boxer pertaining to the event, including any portion of the boxer’s purse 

that the promoter will receive, and training expenses; 

(B) a written statement of all payments, gifts, or benefits 

the promoter is providing to any sanctioning organization 

affiliated with the event; and 

(C) a statement of any reduction in a boxer’s purse contrary to a previous agreement between the promoter and 

the boxer or a purse bid held for the event. 

(b) DISCLOSURES TO THE BOXER.—øA promoter shall not be entitled to receive any compensation directly or indirectly in connection 

with a boxing match until it provides to the boxer it promotes—¿ 

Within 7 days after a professional boxing match of 10 rounds or 

more, the promoter of the match shall provide to each boxer participating in the bout or match with whom the promoter has a bout or 

promotional agreement a statement of— 

(1) the amounts of any compensation or consideration that a 

promoter has contracted to receive from such ømatch;¿ match, 

and that the promoter has paid, or agreed to pay, to any other 

person in connection with the match; 

(2) all fees, charges, and expenses that will be assessed by 

or through the promoter on the boxer pertaining to the event, 

including any portion of the boxer’s purse that the promoter 

will receive, and training expenses; and 

(3) any reduction in a boxer’s purse contrary to a previous 

agreement between the promoter and the boxer or a purse bid 

held for the event. 

(c) INFORMATION TO BE AVAILABLE TO STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.—A promoter shall make information required to be disclosed 

under this section available to the chief law enforcement officer of 

the State in which the match is to be held upon request of such 

officer. 

(d) REQUIRED DISCLOSURES BY BROADCASTERS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—A broadcaster that owns the television 

broadcast rights for a professional boxing match of 10 rounds 

or more shall, within 7 days after that match, provide to the 

Commission— 


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(A) a statement of any advance, guarantee, or license fee 

paid or owed by the broadcaster to a promoter in connection with that match; 

(B) a copy of any contract executed by or on behalf of the 

broadcaster with— 

(i) a boxer who participated in that match; or 

(ii) the boxer’s manager, promoter, promotional company, or other representative or the owner or representative of the site of the match; and 

(C) a list identifying sources of income received from the 

broadcast of the match. 

(2) COPY TO BOXING COMMISSION.—Upon request from the 

boxing commission in the State or Indian land responsible for 

regulating a match to which paragraph (1) applies, a broadcaster shall provide the information described in paragraph (1) 

to that boxing commission. 

(3) CONFIDENTIALITY.—The information provided to the Commission or to a boxing commission pursuant to this subsection 

shall be confidential and not revealed by the Commission or a 

boxing commission, except that the Commission may publish an 

analysis of the data in aggregate form or in a manner which 

does not disclose confidential information about identifiable 

broadcasters. 

(4) TELEVISION BROADCAST RIGHTS.—In paragraph (1), the 

term ‘‘television broadcast rights’’ means the right to broadcast 

the match, or any part thereof, via a broadcast station, cable 

service, or multichannel video programming distributor as such 

terms are defined in section 3(5), 602(6), and 602(13) of the 

Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153(5), 602(6), and 

602(13), respectively). 

øSEC. 14. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES FOR JUDGES AND REFEREES. [15 

U.S.C. 6307f] 

øA judge or referee shall not be entitled to receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with a boxing match until 

it provides to the boxing commission responsible for regulating the 

match in a State a statement of all consideration, including reimbursement for expenses, that will be received from any source for 

participation in the match.¿ 

SEC. 112. MEDICAL REGISTRY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall establish and maintain, 

or certify a third party entity to establish and maintain, a medical 

registry that contains comprehensive medical records and medical 

denials or suspensions for every licensed boxer. 

(b) CONTENT; SUBMISSION.—The Commission shall determine— 

(1) the nature of medical records and medical suspensions of 

a boxer that are to be forwarded to the medical registry; and 

(2) the time within which the medical records and medical 

suspensions are to be submitted to the medical registry. 

(c) CONFIDENTIALITY.—The Commission shall establish confidentiality standards for the disclosure of personally identifiable information to boxing commissions that will— 


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(1) protect the health and safety of boxers by making relevant 

information available to the boxing commissions for use but not 

public disclosure; and 

(2) ensure that the privacy of the boxers is protected. 

SEC. ø15.¿ 113. CONFIDENTIALITY. [15 U.S.C. 6307g] 

ø(a) IN GENERAL.—Neither a boxing commission or an Attorney 

General may disclose to the public any matter furnished by a promoter under section 13 except to the extent required in a legal, administrative, or judicial proceeding.¿ 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except to the extent required in a legal, administrative, or judicial proceeding, a boxing commission, an Attorney 

General, or the Commission may not disclose to the public any matter furnished by a promoter under section 111. 

(b) EFFECT OF CONTRARY STATE LAW.—If a State law governing 

a boxing commission requires that information that would be furnished by a promoter under øsection 13¿ section 111 shall be made 

public, then a promoter is not required to file such information 

with such State if the promoter files such information with the 

ABC. 

SEC. ø16.¿ 114. JUDGES AND REFEREES. [15 U.S.C. 6307h] 

(a) LICENSING AND ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENT.—No person may 

arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a professional boxing match unless all referees and judges participating in the match 

have been øcertified and approved¿ selected by the boxing commission responsible for regulating the match in the State or Indian 

lands where the match is held. 

(b) CHAMPIONSHIP AND 10-ROUND BOUTS.—In addition to the requirements of subsection (a), no person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a professional boxing match advertised to 

the public as a championship match or in a professional boxing 

match scheduled for 10 rounds or more unless all referees and 

judges participating in the match have been licensed by the Commission. 

(c) ROLE OF SANCTIONING ORGANIZATION.—A sanctioning organization may provide a list of judges and referees deemed qualified by 

that organization to a boxing commission, but the boxing commission shall select, license, and appoint the judges and referees participating in the match. 

(d) ASSIGNMENT OF NONRESIDENT JUDGES AND REFEREES.—A 

boxing commission may assign judges and referees who reside outside that commission’s State or Indian land. 

(e) REQUIRED DISCLOSURE.—A judge or referee shall provide to 

the boxing commission responsible for regulating a professional boxing match in a State or on Indian land a statement of all consideration, including reimbursement for expenses, that the judge or referee has received, or will receive, from any source for participation 

in the match. If the match is scheduled for 10 rounds or more, the 

judge or referee shall also provide such a statement to the Commission. 

SEC. ø17.¿ 115 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. [15 U.S.C. 6308] 

(a) REGULATORY PERSONNEL.—No member or employee of a boxing commission, no person who administers or øenforces State boxing laws,¿ implements State or tribal boxing laws, no officer or emVerDate Nov 24 2008 05:15 Mar 05, 2010 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\SR157.XXX SR157

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ployee of the Commission, and no member of the Association of Boxing Commissions may øbelong to,¿ hold office in, contract with, or 

receive any compensation from, any person who sanctions, arranges, or promotes professional boxing matches or who otherwise 

has a financial interest in an active boxer currently registered with 

a boxer registry. For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘compensation’’ does not include funds held in escrow for payment to another 

person in connection with a professional boxing match. øThe prohibition set forth in this section shall not apply to any contract entered into, or any reasonable compensation received, by a boxing 

commission to supervise a professional boxing match in another 

State as described in section 4.¿ 

ø(b) FIREWALL BETWEEN PROMOTERS AND MANAGERS.— ø(1) IN GENERAL.—It is unlawful for— 

ø(A) a promoter to have a direct or indirect financial interest in the management of a boxer; or 

ø(B) a manager— 

ø(i) to have a direct or indirect financial interest in 

the promotion of a boxer; or 

ø(ii) to be employed by or receive compensation or 

other benefits from a promoter, except for amounts received as consideration under the manager’s contract 

with the boxer. 

ø(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1)— 

ø(A) does not prohibit a boxer from acting as his own 

promoter or manager; and 

ø(B) only applies to boxers participating in a boxing 

match of 10 rounds or more.¿ 

(b) BOXERS.—A boxer may not own or control, directly or indirectly, an entity that promotes the boxer’s bouts if that entity is responsible for— 

(1) executing a bout agreement or promotional agreement 

with the boxer’s opponent; or 

(2) providing any payment or other compensation to— 

(A) the boxer’s opponent for participation in a bout with 

the boxer; 

(B) the boxing commission that will regulate the bout; or 

(C) ring officials who officiate at the bout. 

(c) SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONS.— (1) PROHIBITION ON RECEIPTS.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), no officer or employee of a sanctioning organization 

may receive any compensation, gift, or benefit, directly or indirectly, from a promoter, boxer, or manager. 

(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) does not apply to— 

(A) the receipt of payment by a promoter, boxer, or manager of a sanctioning organization’s published fee for sanctioning a professional boxing match or reasonable expenses 

in connection therewith if the payment is reported to the 

responsible boxing commission; or 

(B) the receipt of a gift or benefit of de minimis value. 

SEC. ø18.¿ 116. ENFORCEMENT. [15 U.S.C. 6309] 

ø(a) INJUNCTIONS.—¿ (a) ACTIONS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.— 

Whenever the Attorney General of the United States has reasonable cause to believe that a person is engaged in a violation øof this 


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Act,¿ of this title, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in 

the appropriate district court of the United States requesting such 

relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining 

order, or other order, against the person, as the Attorney General 

determines to be necessary to restrain the person from continuing 

to engage in, sanction, promote, or otherwise participate in a professional boxing match in violation øof this Act.¿ of this title. 

(b) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— 

(1) MANAGERS, PROMOTERS, MATCHMAKERS, AND LICENSEES.— 

Any manager, promoter, matchmaker, and licensee who knowingly violates, or coerces or causes any other person to violate, 

any provision øof this Act,¿ of this title other than section 

ø9(b), 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 16,¿ 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, or 114, 

shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for not more than 1 year 

or fined not more than $20,000, or both. 

(2) VIOLATION OF ANTIEXPLOITATION, SANCTIONING ORGANIZATION, OR DISCLOSURE PROVISIONS.—Any person who knowingly 

violates any provision of section ø9(b), 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 16 

of this Act¿ 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, or 114 of this title shall, 

upon conviction, be imprisoned for not more than 1 year or 

fined not more than— 

(A) $100,000; and 

(B) if a violation occurs in connection with a professional 

boxing match the gross revenues for which exceed 

$2,000,000, an additional amount which bears the same 

ratio to $100,000 as the amount of such revenues compared to $2,000,000, or both. 

(3) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—Any member or employee of a 

boxing commission, any person who administers or enforces 

State boxing laws, any officer or employee of the Commission, 

and any member of the Association of Boxing Commissions 

who knowingly violates øsection 17(a) of this Act¿ section 

115(a) of this title shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for not 

more than 1 year or fined not more than $20,000, or both. 

(4) BOXERS.—Any boxer who knowingly violates any provision øof this Act¿ of this title shall, upon conviction, be fined 

not more than $1,000. 

(c) ACTIONS BY STATES.—Whenever the chief law enforcement officer of any State has reason to believe that a person or organization has engaged in or is engaging in practices which violate any 

requirement øof this Act,¿ of this title, the State, as parens patriae, 

may bring a civil action on behalf of its residents in an appropriate 

district court of the United States— 

(1) to enjoin the holding of any professional boxing match 

which the practice involves; 

(2) to enforce compliance with this Act; 

(3) to obtain the fines provided under øsubsection (b)¿ subsection (b), a civil penalty, or appropriate restitution; or 

(4) to obtain such other relief as the court may deem appropriate. 

(d) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.—Any øboxer¿ person who suffers 

economic injury as a result of a violation of any provision øof this 

Act¿ of this title may bring an action in the appropriate Federal or 


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State court and recover the damages suffered, court costs, and reasonable attorneys fees and expenses. 

(e) ENFORCEMENT AGAINST øFEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION,¿ 

UNITED STATES BOXING COMMISSION, STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL, 

ETC.—Nothing in this Act authorizes the enforcement of— 

(1) any provision øof this Act¿ of this title against the øFederal Trade Commission,¿ United States Boxing Commission, 

the United States Attorney General, or the chief legal officer 

of any State for acting or failing to act in an official capacity; 

(2) subsection (d) of this section against a State or political 

subdivision of a State, or any agency or instrumentality thereof; or 

(3) øsection 10¿ section 108 against a boxer acting in his capacity as a boxer. 

øSEC. 19. NOTIFICATION OF SUPERVISING BOXING COMMISSION. [15 

U.S.C. 6310] 

øEach promoter who intends to hold a professional boxing match 

in a State that does not have a boxing commission shall, not later 

than 14 days before the intended date of that match, provide written notification to the supervising boxing commission designated 

under section 4. Such notification shall contain each of the following: 

ø(1) Assurances that, with respect to that professional boxing 

match, all applicable requirements øof this Act¿ of this title 

will be met. 

ø(2) The name of any person who, at the time of the submission of the notification— 

ø(A) is under suspension from a boxing commission; and 

ø(B) will be involved in organizing or participating in the 

event. 

ø(3) For any individual listed under paragraph (2), the identity of the boxing commission that issued the suspension described in paragraph (2)(A).¿ 

øSEC. 20. STUDIES. [15 U.S.C. 6311] 

ø(a) PENSION.—The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on 

the feasibility and cost of a national pension system for boxers, including potential funding sources. 

ø(b) HEALTH, SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT.—The Secretary of Health 

and Human Services shall conduct a study to develop recommendations for health, safety, and equipment standards for boxers and for 

professional boxing matches. 

ø(c) REPORTS.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall submit a report to 

the Congress on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to 

subsection (a). Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to the Congress on the findings of the study conducted 

pursuant to subsection (b).¿ 

øSEC. 21. PROFESSIONAL BOXING MATCHES CONDUCTED ON INDIAN 

RESERVATIONS. [15 U.S.C. 6312] 

ø(a) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the following 

definitions shall apply: 


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ø(1) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ has the same 

meaning as in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination 

and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). 

ø(2) RESERVATION.—The term ‘‘reservation’’ means the geographically defined area over which a tribal organization exercises governmental jurisdiction. 

ø(3) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘tribal organization’’ 

has the same meaning as in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(l)). 

ø(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 

law, a tribal organization of an Indian tribe may, upon the initiative of the tribal organization— 

ø(A) regulate professional boxing matches held within 

the reservation under the jurisdiction of that tribal organization; and 

ø(B) carry out that regulation or enter into a contract 

with a boxing commission to carry out that regulation. 

ø(2) STANDARDS AND LICENSING.—If a tribal organization regulates professional boxing matches pursuant to paragraph (1), 

the tribal organization shall, by tribal ordinance or resolution, 

establish and provide for the implementation of health and 

safety standards, licensing requirements, and other requirements relating to the conduct of professional boxing matches 

that are at least as restrictive as— 

ø(A) the otherwise applicable standards and requirements of a State in which the reservation is located; or 

ø(B) the most recently published version of the recommended regulatory guidelines certified and publsihed by 

the Association of Boxing Commissions.¿ 

SEC. 117. PROFESSIONAL BOXING MATCHES CONDUCTED ON INDIAN 

LANDS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 

tribal organization may establish a boxing commission to regulate 

professional boxing matches held on Indian land under the jurisdiction of that tribal organization. 

(b) STANDARDS AND LICENSING.—A tribal organization that establishes a boxing commission shall, by tribal ordinance or resolution, 

establish and provide for the implementation of health and safety 

standards, licensing requirements, and other requirements relating 

to the conduct of professional boxing matches that are at least as 

restrictive as— 

(1) the otherwise applicable requirements of the State in 

which the Indian land on which the professional boxing match 

is held is located; or 

(2) the guidelines established by the United States Boxing 

Commission. 

(c) APPLICATION OF ACT TO BOXING MATCHES ON TRIBAL

LANDS.—The provisions of this title apply to professional boxing 

matches held on tribal lands to the same extent and in the same 

way as they apply to professional boxing matches held in any State. 


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SEC. ø22.¿ 118. RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE OR TRIBAL LAW. [15 U.S.C. 

6313] 

Nothing in this Act shall prohibit a State or Indian tribe from 

adopting or enforcing supplemental or more stringent laws or regulations not inconsistent with this Act, or criminal, civil, or administrative fines for violations of such laws or regulations. 

TITLE II—UNITED STATES BOXING 

COMMISSION 

SEC. 201. PURPOSE. 

The purpose of this title is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of boxers and to ensure fairness in the sport of professional boxing. 

SEC. 202. UNITED STATES BOXING COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The United States Boxing Commission is established as a commission within the Department of Commerce. 

(b) MEMBERS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall consist of 3 members 

appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent 

of the Senate. 

(2) QUALIFICATIONS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the Commission shall 

be a citizen of the United States who— 

(i) has extensive experience in professional boxing activities or in a field directly related to professional 

sports; 

(ii) is of outstanding character and recognized integrity; and 

(iii) is selected on the basis of training, experience, 

and qualifications and without regard to political 

party affiliation. 

(B) SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS.— 

At least 1 member of the Commission shall be a former 

member of a local boxing authority. If practicable, at least 

1 member of the Commission shall be a physician or other 

health care professional duly licensed as such. 

(C) DISINTERESTED PERSONS.—No member of the Commission may, while serving as a member of the Commission— 

(i) be engaged as a professional boxer, boxing promoter, agent, fight manager, matchmaker, referee, 

judge, or in any other capacity in the conduct of the 

business of professional boxing; 

(ii) have any pecuniary interest in the earnings of 

any boxer or the proceeds or outcome of any boxing 

match; or 

(iii) serve as a member of a boxing commission. 

(3) BIPARTISAN MEMBERSHIP.—Not more than 2 members of 

the Commission may be members of the same political party. 

(4) GEOGRAPHIC BALANCE.—Not more than 2 members of the 

Commission may be residents of the same geographic region of 

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poses of the preceding sentence, the area of the United States 

east of the Mississippi River is a geographic region, and the 

area of the United States west of the Mississippi River is a geographic region. 

(5) TERMS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The term of a member of the Commission shall be 3 years. 

(B) REAPPOINTMENT.—Members of the Commission may 

be reappointed to the Commission. 

(C) MIDTERM VACANCIES.—A member of the Commission 

appointed to fill a vacancy in the Commission occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder 

of that unexpired term. 

(D) CONTINUATION PENDING REPLACEMENT.—A member 

of the Commission may serve after the expiration of that 

member’s term until a successor has taken office. 

(6) REMOVAL.—A member of the Commission may be removed 

by the President only for cause. 

(c) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall employ an Executive 

Director to perform the administrative functions of the Commission under this Act, and such other functions and duties of the 

Commission as the Commission shall specify. 

(2) DISCHARGE OF FUNCTIONS.—Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Commission the Executive Director 

shall carry out the functions and duties of the Commission 

under this Act. 

(d) GENERAL COUNSEL.—The Commission shall employ a General 

Counsel to provide legal counsel and advice to the Executive Director and the Commission in the performance of its functions under 

this Act, and to carry out such other functions and duties as the 

Commission shall specify. 

(e) STAFF.—The Commission shall employ such additional staff 

as the Commission considers appropriate to assist the Executive Director and the General Counsel in carrying out the functions and 

duties of the Commission under this Act. 

(f) COMPENSATION.— (1) MEMBERS OF COMMISSION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the Commission shall 

be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of 

the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 

Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 

States Code, for each day (including travel time) during 

which such member is engaged in the performance of the 

duties of the Commission. 

(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Commission 

shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 

of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 

under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 

Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 

business in the performance of services for the Commission. 

(2) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.—The Commission shall 

fix the compensation of the Executive Director, the General 


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Counsel, and other personnel of the Commission. The rate of 

pay for the Executive Director, the General Counsel, and other 

personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States 

Code. 

SEC. 203. FUNCTIONS. 

(a) PRIMARY FUNCTIONS.—The primary functions of the Commission are— 

(1) to protect the health, safety, and general interests of boxers 

consistent with the provisions of this Act; and 

(2) to ensure uniformity, fairness, and integrity in professional boxing. 

(b) SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS.—The Commission shall— 

(1) administer title I of this Act; 

(2) promulgate uniform standards for professional boxing in 

consultation with the Association of Boxing Commissions; 

(3) except as otherwise determined by the Commission, oversee all professional boxing matches in the United States; 

(4) work with the boxing commissions of the several States 

and tribal organizations— 

(A) to improve the safety, integrity, and professionalism 

of professional boxing in the United States; 

(B) to enhance physical, medical, financial, and other 

safeguards established for the protection of professional 

boxers; and 

(C) to improve the status and standards of professional 

boxing in the United States; 

(5) ensure, in cooperation with the Attorney General (who 

shall represent the Commission in any judicial proceeding 

under this Act), the chief law enforcement officer of the several 

States, and other appropriate officers and agencies of Federal, 

State, and local government, that Federal and State laws applicable to professional boxing matches in the United States are 

vigorously, effectively, and fairly enforced; 

(6) review boxing commission regulations for professional boxing and provide assistance to such authorities in meeting minimum standards prescribed by the Commission under this title; 

(7) serve as the coordinating body for all efforts in the United 

States to establish and maintain uniform minimum health and 

safety standards for professional boxing; 

(8) if the Commission determines it to be appropriate, publish 

a newspaper, magazine, or other publication and establish and 

maintain a website consistent with the purposes of the Commission; 

(9) procure the temporary and intermittent services of experts 

and consultants to the extent authorized by section 3109(b) of 

title 5, United States Code, at rates the Commission determines 

to be reasonable; and 

(10) promulgate rules, regulations, and guidance, and take 

any other action necessary and proper to accomplish the purposes of, and consistent with, the provisions of this title. 

(c) PROHIBITIONS.—The Commission may not— 

(1) promote boxing events or rank professional boxers; or 


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(2) provide technical assistance to, or authorize the use of the 

name of the Commission by, boxing commissions that do not 

comply with requirements of the Commission. 

(d) USE OF NAME.—The Commission shall have the exclusive 

right to use the name ‘‘United States Boxing Commission’’. Any person who, without the permission of the Commission, uses that name 

or any other exclusive name, trademark, emblem, symbol, or insignia of the Commission for the purpose of inducing the sale or exchange of any goods or services, or to promote any exhibition, performance, or sporting event, shall be subject to suit in a civil action 

by the Commission for the remedies provided in the Act of July 5, 

1946 (commonly known as the ‘‘Trademark Act of 1946’’; 15 U.S.C. 

1051 et seq.). 

SEC. 204. LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF BOXING PERSONNEL. 

(a) LICENSING.— 

(1) REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSE.—No person may compete in 

a professional boxing match or serve as a boxing manager, boxing promoter, or sanctioning organization for a professional 

boxing match except as provided in a license granted to that 

person under this subsection. 

(2) APPLICATION AND TERM.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 

(i) establish application procedures, forms, and fees; 

(ii) establish and publish appropriate standards for 

licenses granted under this section; and 

(iii) issue a license to any person who, as determined 

by the Commission, meets the standards established by 

the Commission under this title. 

(B) DURATION.—A license issued under this section shall 

be for a renewable— 

(i) 4-year term for a boxer; and 

(ii) 2-year term for any other person. 

(C) PROCEDURE.—The Commission may issue a license 

under this paragraph through boxing commissions or in a 

manner determined by the Commission. 

(b) LICENSING FEES.— 

(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commission may prescribe and charge 

reasonable fees for the licensing of persons under this title. The 

Commission may set, charge, and adjust varying fees on the 

basis of classifications of persons, functions, and events determined appropriate by the Commission. 

(2) LIMITATIONS.—In setting and charging fees under paragraph (1), the Commission shall ensure that, to the maximum 

extent practicable— 

(A) club boxing is not adversely effected; 

(B) sanctioning organizations and promoters pay comparatively the largest portion of the fees; and 

(C) boxers pay as small a portion of the fees as is possible. 

(3) COLLECTION.—Fees established under this subsection may 

be collected through boxing commissions or by any other means 

determined appropriate by the Commission. 


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SEC. 205. NATIONAL REGISTRY OF BOXING PERSONNEL. 

(a) REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRY.—The Commission shall establish and maintain (or authorize a third party to establish and 

maintain) a unified national computerized registry for the collection, storage, and retrieval of information related to the performance 

of its duties. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The information in the registry shall include the 

following: 

(1) BOXERS.—A list of professional boxers and data in the 

medical registry established under section 114 of this Act, 

which the Commission shall secure from disclosure in accordance with the confidentiality requirements of section 114(c). 

(2) OTHER PERSONNEL.—Information (pertinent to the sport of 

professional boxing) on boxing promoters, boxing matchmakers, 

boxing managers, trainers, cut men, referees, boxing judges, 

physicians, and any other personnel determined by the Commission as performing a professional activity for professional boxing matches. 

SEC. 206. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS. 

The Commission shall consult with the Association of Boxing 

Commissions— 

(1) before prescribing any regulation or establishing any 

standard under the provisions of this title; and 

(2) not less than once each year regarding matters relating to 

professional boxing. 

SEC. 207. MISCONDUCT. 

(a) SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION OF LICENSE OR REGISTRATION.— 

(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commission may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, suspend or revoke any license issued 

under this title if the Commission finds that— 

(A) the license holder has violated any provision of this 

Act; 

(B) there are reasonable grounds for belief that a standard prescribed by the Commission under this title is not 

being met, or that bribery, collusion, intentional losing, 

racketeering, extortion, or the use of unlawful threats, coercion, or intimidation have occurred in connection with a license; or 

(C) the suspension or revocation is necessary for the protection of health and safety or is otherwise in the public interest. 

(2) PERIOD OF SUSPENSION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—A suspension of a license under this 

section shall be effective for a period determined appropriate by the Commission except as provided in subparagraph (B). 

(B) SUSPENSION FOR MEDICAL REASONS.—In the case of 

a suspension or denial of the license of a boxer for medical 

reasons by the Commission, the Commission may terminate 

the suspension or denial at any time that a physician certifies that the boxer is fit to participate in a professional 

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ards and procedures for accepting certifications under this 

subparagraph. 

(3) PERIOD OF REVOCATION.—In the case of a revocation of the 

license of a boxer, the revocation shall be for a period of not less 

than 1 year. 

(b) INVESTIGATIONS AND INJUNCTIONS.— 

(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commission may— 

(A) conduct any investigation that it considers necessary 

to determine whether any person has violated, or is about 

to violate, any provision of this Act or any regulation prescribed under this Act; 

(B) require or permit any person to file with it a statement in writing, under oath or otherwise as the Commission shall determine, as to all the facts and circumstances 

concerning the matter to be investigated; 

(C) in its discretion, publish information concerning any 

violations; and 

(D) investigate any facts, conditions, practices, or matters 

to aid in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, in 

the prescribing of regulations under this Act, or in securing 

information to serve as a basis for recommending legislation concerning the matters to which this Act relates. 

(2) POWERS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of any investigation 

under paragraph (1) or any other proceeding under this 

title— 

(i) any officer designated by the Commission may administer oaths and affirmations, subpena or otherwise 

compel the attendance of witnesses, take evidence, and 

require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, or other records the Commission considers relevant or material to the inquiry; and 

(ii) the provisions of sections 6002 and 6004 of title 

18, United States Code, shall apply. 

(B) WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE.—The attendance of witnesses and the production of any documents under subparagraph (A) may be required from any place in the 

United States, including Indian land, at any designated 

place of hearing. 

(3) ENFORCEMENT OF SUBPOENAS.— 

(A) CIVIL ACTION.—In case of contumacy by, or refusal to 

obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Commission 

may file an action in any district court of the United States 

within the jurisdiction of which an investigation or proceeding is carried out, or where that person resides or carries on business, to enforce the attendance and testimony of 

witnesses and the production of books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, and other records. The court may 

issue an order requiring the person to appear before the 

Commission to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony concerning the matter under investigation or in 

question. 


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(B) FAILURE TO OBEY.—Any failure to obey an order 

issued by a court under subparagraph (A) may be punished 

as contempt of that court. 

(C) PROCESS.—All process in any contempt case under 

subparagraph (A) may be served in the judicial district in 

which the person is an inhabitant or in which the person 

may be found. 

(4) EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—No person may be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, contracts, agreements, and other records and documents before 

the Commission, in obedience to the subpoena of the Commission, or in any cause or proceeding instituted by the 

Commission, on the ground that the testimony or evidence, 

documentary or otherwise, required of that person may tend 

to incriminate the person or subject the person to a penalty 

or forfeiture. 

(B) LIMITED IMMUNITY.—No individual may be prosecuted or subject to any penalty or forfeiture for, or on account of, any transaction, matter, or thing concerning the 

matter about which that individual is compelled, after having claimed a privilege against self-incrimination, to testify 

or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, except that 

the individual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying. 

(5) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.—If the Commission determines that 

any person is engaged or about to engage in any act or practice 

that constitutes a violation of any provision of this Act, or of 

any regulation prescribed under this Act, the Commission may 

bring an action in the appropriate district court of the United 

States, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, or the United States courts of any territory or other 

place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to enjoin 

the act or practice, and upon a proper showing, the court shall 

grant without bond a permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order. 

(6) MANDAMUS.—Upon application of the Commission, the 

district courts of the United States, the United States District 

Court for the District of Columbia, and the United States courts 

of any territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the 

United States, shall have jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus commanding any person to comply with the provisions 

of this Act or any order of the Commission. 

(c) INTERVENTION IN CIVIL ACTIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, on behalf of the public interest, may intervene of right as provided under rule 24(a) of 

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in any civil action relating 

to professional boxing filed in a district court of the United 

States. 

(2) AMICUS FILING.—The Commission may file a brief in any 

action filed in a court of the United States on behalf of the public interest in any case relating to professional boxing. 


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(d) HEARINGS BY COMMISSION.—Hearings conducted by the Commission under this Act shall be public and may be held before any 

officer of the Commission. The Commission shall keep appropriate 

records of the hearings. 

SEC. 208. NONINTERFERENCE WITH BOXING COMMISSIONS. 

(a) NONINTERFERENCE.—Nothing in this Act prohibits any boxing 

commission from exercising any of its powers, duties, or functions 

with respect to the regulation or supervision of professional boxing 

or professional boxing matches to the extent not inconsistent with 

the provisions of this Act. 

(b) MINIMUM STANDARDS.—Nothing in this Act prohibits any boxing commission from enforcing local standards or requirements that 

exceed the minimum standards or requirements promulgated by the 

Commission under this Act. 

SEC. 209. ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER AGENCIES. 

Any employee of any executive department, agency, bureau, board, 

commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality 

may be detailed to the Commission, upon the request of the Commission, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, with the consent of the appropriate authority having jurisdiction over the employee. While so detailed, an employee shall continue to receive the 

compensation provided pursuant to law for the employee’s regular 

position of employment and shall retain, without interruption, the 

rights and privileges of that employment. 

SEC. 210. REPORTS. 

(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Commission shall submit a report on 

its activities to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on 

Commerce each year. The annual report shall include— 

(1) a detailed discussion of the activities of the Commission 

for the year covered by the report; and 

(2) an overview of the licensing and enforcement activities of 

the State and tribal organization boxing commissions. 

(b) PUBLIC REPORT.—The Commission shall annually issue and 

publicize a report of the Commission on the progress made at Federal and State levels and on Indian lands in the reform of professional boxing, which shall include comments on issues of continuing 

concern to the Commission. 

(c) FIRST ANNUAL REPORT ON THE COMMISSION.—The first annual report under this title shall be submitted not later than 2 years 

after the effective date of this title. 

SEC. 211. INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION. 

(a) TEMPORARY EXEMPTION.—The requirements for licensing 

under this title do not apply to a person for the performance of an 

activity as a boxer, boxing judge, or referee, or the performance of 

any other professional activity in relation to a professional boxing 

match, if the person is licensed by a boxing commission to perform 

that activity as of the effective date of this title. 

(b) EXPIRATION.—The exemption under subsection (a) with respect 

to a license issued by a boxing commission expires on the earlier 

of— 

(1) the date on which the license expires; or 


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(2) the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of 

the Professional Boxing Amendments Act of 2005. 

SEC. 212. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated for the 

Commission for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for 

the Commission to perform its functions for that fiscal year. 

(b) RECEIPTS CREDITED AS OFFSETTING COLLECTIONS.—Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, any fee collected under this title— 

(1) shall be credited as offsetting collections to the account 

that finances the activities and services for which the fee is imposed; 

(2) shall be available for expenditure only to pay the costs of 

activities and services for which the fee is imposed; and 

(3) shall remain available until expended. 

UNITED STATES CODE 

TITLE 5, PART III, SUBPART D 

CHAPTER 53. PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS

§ 5315. Positions at level IV 

Level IV of the Executive Schedule applies to the following positions, for which the annual rate of basic pay shall be the rate determined with respect to such level under chapter 11 of title 2, as 

adjusted by section 5318 of this title: 

* * * * * * * 

Members of the United States Boxing Commission. 

Æ 


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