Florida Administrative Code › 61 - DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION › 61K1 - Florida Athletic Commission › Chapter 61K1-3 - HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL BOXING, KICKBOXING, AND MIXED MARTIAL ARTS › Section 61K1-3.019 - Arena Equipment; Ring Requirements; Floor Plan and Apron Seating

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Boxing, Kickboxing, and Mixed Martial
				Arts Ring Requirements.
(a) The ring shall be
				not less than 18' feet nor more than 22' feet square inside the
				ropes.
(b) The ring floor or apron
				shall extend beyond the ropes not less than 18 inches.
(c) The ring shall be formed of four posts
				and at least four ropes for boxing and kickboxing. For MMA, the lowest rope
				shall not exceed more than 12'' inches from the next rope. The ropes shall
				extend in parallel lines 18, 30, 42, and 54 inches in height above the ring
				floor. The top three ropes shall be not less than 1 inch in diameter. The
				lowest rope must be no higher than six (6'') inches from the ring floor. All
				ropes shall be wrapped in velvet or other similarly soft material. Ropes shall
				be properly adjusted and sufficiently taut to inhibit the participant from
				falling between the ropes. An additional tie rope shall be centered on all four
				sides of the ring surrounding the ring ropes to prevent excessive separation of
				the ring ropes.
(d) Ring posts
				shall be not less than 3'' inches in diameter and shall extend from the floor
				of the ring to a height of no more than 58'' inches.
(e) The ring platform shall not be more than
				4' feet above the surrounding floor and shall be provided with steps for use of
				the participant in each participant's corner. Steps shall also be provided in a
				neutral corner for use by the announcer, referee, round card carrier and
				physicians.
(f) The ring platform
				shall not be less than twelve (12') feet below the ceiling.
(g) The ring floor, both inside and outside
				the ropes, shall be padded to a thickness of at least 1'' inch and the padding
				shall consist of a soft material such as "Ensolite Ring Pad" or similar
				closed-cell foam material applied over a 1''-inch base of "Celotex building
				board No 2, " or a material which has similar impact absorbing characteristics.
				There shall be a top covering of canvas, duck, or equivalent material tightly
				stretched and laced to the ring platform.
(h) If the match or program of matches is
				being held outdoors, the ring, apron and seating for all officials shall be
				protected from inclement weather by use of a heavy duty weatherproof tarpaulin
				or cover of similar material. The covering shall be erected in such a manner as
				to ensure that the ring, apron and seating do not become wet. Under no
				circumstances will the referee or the executive director's designee allow a
				match to continue if the condition of the ring floor deteriorates such that its
				condition poses a hazard to the participants or the referee.
(i) Ring posts must be properly padded in a
				manner approved by the commission.
(j) The ropes of the rings shall be no less
				than six (6') feet from the nearest row of the audience.