I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2176
To establish the Professional Boxing Corporation, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 16, 1997
Mr. MORAN of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the
Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish the Professional Boxing Corporation, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Professional Boxing
Corporation Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) professional boxing is beset with wide-rang-
ing problems which are beyond the scope of the cur-
rent system of State regulation to protect against;
(2) the rules governing professional boxing and
the enforcement of such rules vary widely among
States;
(3) boxing, unlike other professional sports,
does not have an entity by which the sport can be
successfully regulated, nor is there a prospect of
meaningful self-regulation;
(4) the problems currently facing professional
boxing can be characterized as exploitation of box-
ers, conflicts of interest, questionable judging, and
corruption, including organized crime influence; and
(5) such problems endanger the health, safety
and welfare of boxers and undermine the sport’s
credibility with the public.
SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a national or-
ganization which shall work with State boxing authorities
to establish and enforce uniform rules and regulations for
professional boxing in order to protect the health and safe-
ty of boxers and to ensure fairness in the sport.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act the term—
(1) ‘‘Board’’ means the Professional Boxing
Advisory Board established under section 7;
(2) ‘‘boxing match’’ means a professional box-
ing match, or any part thereof, which is held within
the United States and does not include an amateur
boxing match;
(3) ‘‘Corporation’’ means the Professional Box-
ing Corporation established under section 5;
(4) ‘‘Executive Director’’ means the Executive
Director of the Corporation;
(5) ‘‘Fund’’ means the Professional Boxing
Corporation Trust Fund established under section
13;
(6) ‘‘promoter’’ means any person or business
organization licensed under this Act to hold, give, or
otherwise conduct any boxing match, program, or
exhibition;
(7) ‘‘sanctioning organization’’ means any en-
tity that authorizes or sanctions a championship
boxing match;
(8) ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the
Treasury;
(9) ‘‘State’’ means any State of the United
States and the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
American Samoa, and any other territory or posses-
sion of the United States; and
(10) ‘‘State boxing authority’’ means a State
agency with authority to regulate professional box-
ing.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROFESSIONAL BOXING COR-
PORATION.
There is established the Professional Boxing Cor-
poration which shall be a Government corporation as de-
fined under section 103 of title 5, United States Code.
The Corporation shall maintain its principal office in
Washington, District of Columbia.
SEC. 6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CORPORATION.
(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Corporation shall
be administered by an Executive Director who shall be ap-
pointed by the President by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate.
(b) EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE LEVEL III POSITION.—
Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end thereof the following:
‘‘Executive Director of the Professional Boxing
Corporation.’’.
SEC. 7. PROFESSIONAL BOXING ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Profes-
sional Boxing Advisory Board. The members of the Board
shall be appointed by the Executive Director. The Board
shall consist of 7 members, of whom—
(1) three shall be acting State athletic or box-
ing commissioners;
(2) one shall be a physician certified in neuro-
surgery;
(3) one shall be a representative of the United
States Amateur Boxing Association; and
(4) two shall be persons with an interest in and
knowledge of the sport of boxing.
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—(1) Each member of the
Board shall be a citizen of the United States and shall
not, during service as a member of the Board, be engaged
as a professional boxer, boxing promoter, agent, fight
manager, matchmaker, referee, judge, or in any other ca-
pacity in the conduct of the business of professional boxing
or have any pecuniary interest in the earnings of any boxer
or the proceeds or outcome of any boxing match.
(2) Each member of the Board shall be an individual
who, by reason of such individual’s business, professional,
or other background, training, experience, or activities
outside the business of professional boxing and its related
activities, has a broad understanding of the relationship
between professional boxing, both as a sport and as a busi-
ness, and the public interest.
(c) CHAIRMAN.—The Executive Director shall ap-
point one of the members to serve as Chairman of the
Board.
(d) PURPOSE
AND FUNCTION.—The Board shall
make recommendations to the Corporation to most effec-
tively and efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act.
(e) UNANIMOUS VOTE OF DISAPPROVAL.—(1) If the
Board by unanimous vote adopts a resolution of dis-
approval of any action or pending action of the Executive
Director, the Executive Director shall—
(A) stay such action for a period of 30 days be-
ginning on the date of the adoption of such resolu-
tion; or
(B) in the case of a pending action, refrain
from taking such action for a period of 30 days be-
ginning on the date of the adoption of such resolu-
tion.
(2) If the Executive Director determines to take or
resume such action after the adoption of a resolution of
disapproval, the Executive Director shall report to the
Board before the end of the 30-day period referred to
under paragraph (1) on—
(A) such determination; and
(B) the reasons for making such determination.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1),
the Executive Director may take the action disapproved
by resolution during the 30-day period referred to under
paragraph (1) if the Board by unanimous vote rescinds
such resolution of disapproval during such 30-day period.
(f) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Initial appointments
under subsection (a) shall be made within 60 days after
the effective date of this Act.
(g) TERMS.—Members of the Board shall be ap-
pointed to 5-year terms.
(h) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of
the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Federal
Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the
daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed
for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316
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 Board. All members of
the Board who are officers or employees of the United
States shall serve without compensation in addition to that
received for their services as officers or employees of the
United States.
(i) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Board
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agen-
cies 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
Board.
(j) STAFF AND SERVICES.—The Corporation shall
provide all necessary staff and support services for the
Board.
(k) SUCCESSORS.—If any member of the Board is un-
able to serve a full term of office or becomes unqualified
to serve in such position, a new member shall be appointed
to serve the remainder of such term of office in the same
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(l) QUORUM.—Four members of the Board shall con-
stitute a quorum.
(m) INITIAL MEETING.—The initial meeting of the
Board shall be held within 90 days after the effective date
of this Act.
SEC. 8. FUNCTIONS OF THE CORPORATION.
(a) PROTECTION OF GENERAL INTERESTS OF BOX-
ERS.—The primary function of the Corporation shall be
to protect the health, safety, and general interests of box-
ers consistent with the provisions of this Act.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL REGISTRY AND
LICENSING.—(1) The Corporation shall provide a unified
national computer source for the collection, storage, and
retrieval of information, which may include—
(A) a list of professional boxers;
(B) the medical records, won-loss records, size,
weight, and business associates of such boxers; and
(C) information pertinent to the sport of boxing
on boxing promoters, boxing matchmakers, boxing
managers, trainers, cut men, referees, boxing judges,
physicians, and any other personnel determined by
the Corporation to have a professional role in box-
ing.
(2)(A) The Corporation shall issue a license, either
through State boxing authorities or through the manner
determined most appropriate by the Corporation, on an
annual renewable basis, to each boxer, boxing judge, ref-
eree, or other person serving in a professional role in a
boxing match as determined by the Corporation who meets
Corporation minimum standards, and shall issue for li-
censed boxers an accurate record of their medical history,
biographical information, and won-loss boxing record.
(B) During the 2-year period beginning on the effec-
tive date of this Act, each boxer, boxing judge, referee,
or other person serving in a professional role in a boxing
match who is subject to licensing under subparagraph (A)
and holds a valid license issued by a State before the effec-
ful inquiry or to produce books, papers, correspondence,
memorandums, and other records, if in the power of such
person so to do, in obedience to the subpoena of the Cor-
poration, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon con-
viction, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000
or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 1 year,
or both.
(4) No person shall be excused from attending and
testifying or from producing books, papers, contracts,
agreements, and other records and documents before the
Corporation, or in obedience to the subpoena of the Cor-
poration, or in any cause or proceeding instituted by the
Corporation, on the ground that the testimony or evidence,
documentary or otherwise, required of such person may
tend to incriminate such person or subject such person
to a penalty or forfeiture. No individual shall be pros-
ecuted or subject to any penalty or forfeiture for or on
account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning
which such individual is compelled, after having claimed
a privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce
evidence, documentary or otherwise, except that such indi-
vidual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution
and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying.
(5) If the Corporation determines that any person is
engaged or about to engage in any acts or practices which