Alabama Administrative Code › Title 165 - ALABAMA ATHLETIC COMMISSION › Chapter 165-X-8 - PROFESSIONAL BARE-KNUCKLE BOXING › Section 165-X-8-.08 - Conduct Of Contest, Match Or Exhibition

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) Professional Bare-Knuckle Boxers.
(a) False Name. No boxer shall enter any
			 agreement or contract with a promoter, compete in any match, contest, or
			 exhibition, or otherwise participate in any capacity in a boxing or MMA program
			 under any name which does not appear on his or her ABC Issued ID
			 card.
(b) Prohibition if Under
			 Suspension. No boxer shall enter any agreement or contract with a promoter,
			 compete, or attempt to compete in any match, contest, or exhibition in this
			 state when the boxer knows that his or her boxing license, issued by this
			 Commission is under suspension.
(c)
			 Pregnancy. No fighter shall enter any agreement or contract with a promoter,
			 compete, or attempt to compete in any match, contest, or exhibition in Alabama
			 when such boxer knows that she is pregnant.
(d) Diuretics Prohibited. The use of any
			 herbal, prescription or non-prescription diuretic by any boxer within twelve
			 hours prior to the weigh-in is strictly prohibited.
(e) Weigh-In.
1. In all contests and exhibitions,
			 contestants shall weigh-in in the presence of the chief official appointed to
			 preside over the contest or exhibition. The weigh-in shall not take place less
			 than six (6) hours nor more than thirty-six (36) hours prior to the contest or
			 exhibition.
(i) All official weigh-ins shall
			 be conducted at a time and place designated by the Commission. Attendance to
			 weigh-ins is strictly limited to Commissioners, licensees, and officials
			 scheduled to participate in the contest or exhibition.
(ii) Ceremonial weigh-ins may be conducted in
			 such manner and at such place as agreed to by all parties involved in the
			 promotion or match, contest, or exhibition.
2. (135/2) No over-contract-weight contestant
			 appearing at the initial weigh-in and weighing 135 pounds or less will be
			 allowed to lose in excess of two (2) pounds in order to make contract weight
			 unless such bare-knuckle boxer is re-examined by the ringside physician and
			 receive clearance from the ringside physician prior to entering the
			 ring.
3. (160/3) No
			 over-contract-weight contestant appearing at the initial weigh-in and weighing
			 135.1 pounds but less than 160 pounds will be allowed to lose in excess of
			 three (3) pounds in order to make contract weight unless such bare-knuckle
			 boxer is reexamined by the ringside physician and receives clearance from the
			 ringside physician prior to entering the ring.
4. (190/4) No over-contract-weight
			 contestants appearing at the initial weigh-in and weighing 160.1 pounds but
			 less than 190 pounds will be allowed to lose in excess of four (4) pounds in
			 order to make contract weight unless such bare-knuckle boxer is reexamined by
			 the ringside physician and receive clearance from the ringside physician prior
			 to entering the ring.
(f)
			 Weight Classes. Weight classes for professional bare-knuckle boxers shall be:
Atomweight
up to and including 105 lbs.
Straw Weight
over 105 to 115 lbs.
Flyweight
over 115 to 125 lbs.
Bantamweight
over 125 to 135 lbs.
Featherweight
over 135 to 145 lbs.
Lightweight
over 145 to 155 lbs.
Super Lightweight
over 155 to 165 lbs.
Welterweight
over 165 to 170 lbs.
Super Welterweight
over 170 to 175 lbs.
Middleweight
over 175 to 185 lbs.
Super Middleweight
over 185 to 195 lbs.
Light Heavyweight
over 195 to 205 lbs.
Cruiserweight
over 205 to 225 lbs.
Heavyweight
over 225 to 265 lbs.
Super Heavyweight
over 265 lbs.
(g)
			 Weight Spread. No bare-knuckle boxing contest or exhibition may be scheduled,
			 and no bare-knuckle boxer may engage in a bare-knuckle boxing contest or
			 exhibition without the approval of the Athletic Commission or the Commission's
			 representative if the difference in weight between the bare-knuckle boxers
			 exceeds the contracted weight class of each contest.
1. Any agreement to proceed with a
			 bare-knuckle boxing contest or exhibition where the weight spread exceeds the
			 limit established in this rule shall be entered on each participant's bout
			 contract and shall be initialed or signed by such participant.
(h) Appearance Time. All
			 contestants must be in the officially designated dressing room at least sixty
			 (60) minutes before the event is scheduled to begin.
(i) Ring Attire. Bare-knuckle boxers shall
			 appear and compete in proper ring attire.
1.
			 All boxers will be required to wear such protective gear as deemed necessary by
			 the Commission.
(i) Male bare-knuckle boxers
			 shall wear a standard kidney protection belt designed for male boxers, which
			 includes a groin protection cup of such construction as to prevent any claim of
			 injury caused by an unintentional blow.
(I)
			 This gear shall be properly adjusted and tied prior to entering the
			 ring.
(II) During the course of the
			 match, contest, or exhibition the upper belt of this gear may not rise above
			 the trunk waistline so as to protect the bare-knuckle boxer from normal body
			 blows.
(III) The use of a
			 protective belt commonly referred to as a training protective belt, which
			 incorporates an oversized torso protection shield is prohibited.
(ii) Female boxers may wear a
			 standard kidney protection belt designed for female boxers and which provides
			 the necessary pelvic and ovary protection and shall wear a sports bra with an
			 interior pocket which can, at the option of the bare-knuckle boxer, hold an
			 appropriately sized breast protector of a turtle-shell style.
(I) This gear shall be properly adjusted and
			 tied prior to entering the ring.
(II) During the course of the match, contest,
			 or exhibition the upper belt of this gear may not rise above the trunk
			 waistline so as to protect the boxer from normal body blows.
2. The belt-line of the
			 trunks shall not extend above the waistline and the hem may not extend below
			 the knee.
3. Bare-knuckle boxers in
			 the same match, contest, or exhibition shall wear different color
			 trunks.
4. Each bare-knuckle boxer
			 shall use a mouthpiece and no round may start without a bare-knuckle boxer's
			 mouthpiece in place.
(i) If the mouthpiece is
			 dislodged during competition, the referee will call time and have the
			 mouthpiece replaced at the first opportune moment without interfering with
			 immediate action.
(ii) Points may
			 be deducted by the referee, if the referee feels the mouthpiece is purposely
			 spit out.
5. Shoes shall
			 be of soft material and shall not be fitted with spikes, cleats, hard soles, or
			 hard heels. Shoelace knots will be secured with adhesive tape.
6. When deemed necessary by the referee all
			 bare-knuckle boxers shall have their hair secured in a manner that does not
			 interfere with the vision and safety of either contestant.
(i) Provided however that no object can be
			 worn to secure the contestant's hair which may cause injury to either
			 contestant.
7. The
			 wearing of body jewelry will be strictly prohibited during all
			 contests.
8. The wearing of any
			 facial or body cosmetic is strictly prohibited during all contests.
(j) Profanity. Use of profanity by
			 a bare-knuckle boxer, manager or second is prohibited. Any use of profanity
			 after a warning by the referee or chief official may result in disqualification
			 of the contestant, or ejection from the facility and a penalty point may be
			 deducted from the contestant.
(k)
			 Entering Ring. All contestants must be ready to enter the ring immediately upon
			 the conclusion of the preceding contest or exhibition on a scheduled fight
			 card.
1. Failure to enter the ring when
			 requested and, after warning by the inspector or chief official of the program,
			 may result in disciplinary action by the Athletic Commission.
(l) Demeanor During the Round.
			 Each bare-knuckle boxer shall take care to avoid fouling their opponent or
			 illegally striking their opponent.
1.
			 Regulations against fouls, as defined in these rules will be strictly
			 enforced.
2. Wrestling and/or
			 roughhousing in the ring will not be tolerated. Fighting from a clinch is,
			 however, permitted. Any bare-knuckle boxer who intentionally lifts his or her
			 opponent and then drops such opponent on the floor of the fighting surface will
			 be subject to immediate disqualification.
3. Bare-knuckle boxers are at all times to
			 follow the instructions of the referee. Any call for a break should immediately
			 result in a clean break.
(m) Under-Conditioned Fighter. A contestant
			 deemed under-conditioned by the referee, Commission or any designated
			 representative of the Commission, shall be suspended for ninety (90) days.
1. If it should be determined by the referee
			 that a contestant did not give a good faith effort to display their skills they
			 shall be subject to disciplinary action.
(n) Penalty for Disqualification. Any
			 bare-knuckle boxer who is disqualified for any reason by the referee or chief
			 official of the program will be subject to disciplinary action by the Athletic
			 Commission.
1. Any bare-knuckle boxer
			 disciplined by the Athletic Commission because of a loss by disqualification
			 has a right to a hearing and must request a hearing in writing to the Athletic
			 Commission within fifteen days of the disqualification.
(o) Fines. Any bare-knuckle boxer can be
			 fined, have his or her license suspended or have his or her license revoked in
			 the event that a majority of the Commission determines that the boxer did not
			 utilize his or her best efforts in a match, contest, or exhibition.