Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 04 - SECRETARY OF STATE › Sub-Agency 030 - OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION › Chapter 040 - BOXING CONTROL BOARD RULES › Section 04 030 040 - BOXING CONTROL BOARD RULES

Current through June, 2024
Part 1 GENERAL INFORMATION
Part 2 INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Section 1.1 NEED FOR A LICENSE
You are not allowed to hold or conduct or participate in a
				boxing contest or training exhibition in Vermont unless you are currently
				licensed by the Board. You will need a license to participate as a contestant,
				second, manager of professional contestant, matchmaker, promoter, referee, or
				judge in any boxing contest or training exhibition.
Section 1.2 WHERE TO GET AN APPLICATION
If you would like an application for a license or more
				information about the application process, call or write the
				Division.
Section 1.3 HOW TO
			 GET A LICENSE
(1) Complete your application
			 and send it with the correct fee.
Call or write the Division for an application. When you receive
				the application, complete it fully and accurately. Then look at the fee
				schedule included with your application and set out below to find the amount of
				the fee. The Board is authorized to issue licenses and renewals according to
				the following fee schedule:
For professional contestants and seconds, $ 5.00 per
				year;
For managers of professional contestants, $ 15.00 per
				year;
For promoters of amateur or professional bouts, $ 25.00 per
				year; and in addition, for out-of-state promoters, $ 10.00 for each
				show;
For professional referees, $ 10.00 per year; and for such other
				occupations as the Board may by regulation prescribe, $ 10.00 per year;
No fee shall be required for licenses for judges; they shall be
				appointed by the Board as capable of judging boxing bouts;
No fee is charged for participants in amateur boxing contests
				other than promoters, although an annual license is required.
Make out a check for the correct amount to the "Vermont Boxing
				Control Board". Mail the application and your check to: Vermont Boxing Control
				Board, Office of the Secretary of State, Division of Licensing and
				Registration, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602.
(2) File a Bond.
If you are an out-of-state promoter, you must file a surety
				bond with the Vermont Secretary of State. The principal sum of the bond is $
				500.00. You must submit a proof to the Board that you have filed the bond. The
				Board may accept in lieu thereof cash or certified check in equal amount,
				conditioned on the faithful performance by the promoter of the provisions of 31
				V.S.A. Chapter 3, and these rules, the fulfillment of contracts with
				contestants and their managers, and the payment of license and permit fees and
				taxes on gross receipts.
(3) Receive notification.
Once you submit an application, you should receive
				notification, within 30 days, of our decision on your application. We shall
				issue you a license if you meet all the requirements. You must have a copy of
				this license with you at times during a boxing contest or training
				exhibition.
Section
			 1.4 TAX ON CONTESTS
According to 31 V.S.A. § 108, any person or corporation
				holding or conducting any boxing contest, for which an admission fee is charged
				or received, shall notify the Board not less than five days in advance of the
				holding of such contest, and after the holding of such contest shall pay
				forthwith to the Board a sum, designated as a "gate tax", which shall be an
				amount equal to five percent of the gross receipts, exclusive of any federal
				tax thereon. Payments of money required by this section shall be accompanied by
				reports in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. All tickets of
				admission to any such boxing contest shall bear clearly on the face thereof the
				purchase price.
Section 1.5
			 RULES FOR PROFESSIONAL BOXING CONTESTS
(1)
			 The Board has the power to supervise and regulate boxing contests and training
			 exhibitions under Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 31, Chapter 3. For the
			 safety and welfare of participants in boxing contests, the Board has
			 promulgated these rules and regulations pursuant to 31 V.S.A. § 103 in
			 order to carry out its statutory mandate.
(2) No boxing contest shall be conducted
			 except in the city, town, or village specified on the license issued and in
			 such places in the city, town, or village as the Board approves.
No boxing "exhibitions" shall be allowed without special
				permission from the Board.
(3) All applications for licenses shall be
			 made on forms furnished by the Board. Associations or persons holding licenses
			 issued by the Board shall not lend out the license nor conduct a contest under
			 any name other than that stated in the license.
(4) The following shall be the age limits for
			 boxers:
(a) Minimum Age. The minimum age for
			 an individual to qualify as a professional boxer is eighteen years.
(b) Maximum Age. No contestant who has
			 reached his thirty-fifth birthday shall be permitted to engage in any boxing or
			 sparring match or exhibition, unless given specific approval by the Board,
			 except that this age requirement shall not apply to a boxing champion of the
			 world who is still active as a professional boxer, or to a former boxing
			 champion of the world who has not been inactive as a professional boxer for
			 more than two years from the date of his last boxing contest. The foregoing
			 shall not apply to courses of instruction in boxing, boxing or sparring
			 matches, or exhibitions, sponsored and conducted by recognized boys' clubs,
			 schools, or colleges, or by municipal or state parks or recreational
			 departments, under the supervision of qualified instructors or directors.
The Board may, at any time, demand such information concerning
				an applicant's or a licensed boxer's mental or physical condition as it shall
				deem necessary. Such information may be in addition to that required in
				physical examinations under other rules of this Board. At the boxer's expense,
				the Board may demand a complete physical examination consisting of EKG, Stress
				Test, CAT scan, X-ray, blood, and urine tests. Each boxer must complete a
				medical information history, physical and mental.
(5) Boxing contests shall not exceed ten
			 rounds in length, but if such contests are to determine championships, they
			 may, at the discretion of the Board, exceed ten rounds in length but not
			 fifteen. No contest to determine a State championship shall be scheduled for
			 less than ten rounds. No round in any contest shall exceed three minutes. All
			 main bouts or feature bouts shall consist of three-minute rounds.
(6) The boxing ring shall be not less than 16
			 feet nor more than 24 feet square within the ropes, and shall be formed of
			 posts and ropes, the latter extending in triple lines 18 inches, 25 inches, and
			 52 inches from the flooring of the ring. The floor of the ring shall extend
			 beyond the lower rope a distance of not less than 2 feet on all sides. The
			 posts shall be properly padded, ropes wrapped in soft material, and be not less
			 than 1 inch in diameter. The floor padding shall extend to and around the
			 outside edge of the flooring or apron of the ring, and shall be not less than 1
			 1/2 inches in thickness of ensolite or foam rubber or 2 inches of dura-foam or
			 an equivalent to 2-inch thickness. Padding should be canvas covering to protect
			 boxers against accident or injury. When the floor of the boxing ring is not
			 elevated at least 3 feet above the floor of the building, there shall be a
			 clear space of 4 feet from the posts on all sides of the ring. Within the
			 limits stated, the size and condition of the ring to be used in specific
			 places, or on specific occasions, shall be subject to the approval of the
			 Board.
(7) All contests shall be
			 conducted under the Marquis of Queensberry rules, except where changed or
			 modified by rules or orders of the Board.
RULES FOR CONTESTANTS
(8) To participate as CONTESTANT in a
			 professional boxing contest in Vermont you must be licensed by the Vermont
			 Boxing Control Board. To obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board, write to the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the
			 Secretary of State, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. The fee for
			 contestant in a professional boxing contest is $ 5.00 per year.
(9) No contestant under the same management
			 as his opponent shall be permitted to engage in any contest.
(10) No collection shall be made at any
			 contest unless permission in writing has previously been obtained from the
			 Board.
STANDARD OF WEIGHTS
(11) The following is the Vermont Boxing
			 Control Board standard of weights:
Pounds
Flyweight
112
Bantamweight
118
Featherweight
126
Jr. Lightweight
130
Lightweight
135
Jr. Welterweight
140
Welterweight
147
Jr. Middleweight
154
Middleweight
160
Light Heavyweight
175
Cruiserweight
190
Heavyweight
All over 190
No contest shall be permitted when there is a difference in
				weight of more than the following:
Pounds
Flyweight
3
Bantamweight
4
Featherweight
5
Light Heavyweight
7
Welterweight
10
Middleweight
12
Light Heavyweight
15<1>
Heavyweight
No restriction
(12)
			 The commissioner, a person appointed by the commissioner, or his assigned
			 delegate in attendance, shall weigh cach contestant using suitable scales to be
			 furnished by the promoter. He shall see that the weights of opposing
			 contestants comply with Rule 1.5(11) of these rules. If the weights do not
			 comply with Rule 1.5(11), the commissioner shall notify the promoter.
(13) The Board shall consider it cause for
			 suspension if a manager does not notify a promoter, at least 48 hours before a
			 contest, if a boxer managed by him cannot for some valid reason participate in
			 a contest for which he had made oral agreement or written contract; and any
			 boxer who manages himself may be suspended if he does not fulfill his agreement
			 or contract to box, or notify the promoter at least 48 hours in advance of the
			 contest that he cannot, for some valid reason, participate.
(14) No contestant shall participate in more
			 than one contest during any period of 48 hours.
(15) All bouts shall be decided by the round
			 system. A boxer shall be credited either with a win, a loss, or a draw at the
			 end of each round. At the end of the bout the boxer winning the greatest number
			 of rounds shall be declared the winner; or if judged by points, ten points
			 shall be the maximum number to be scored in any round. The contestant winning
			 the round shall receive five points and his opponent proportionately less. If
			 the round is even, each contestant shall receive five points.
In accordance with the rules, the awarding of any round, or the
				contest, in the case of a draw, shall be based on four factors to be scored in
				the following order:
(a) Clean
			 hits;
(b) Effective
			 aggressiveness;
(c) Defense;
			 and
(d) Ring generalship.
Sportsmanship should be taken into consideration by the
				officials, as well as the condition of the boxer at the end of the bout.
The items listed do not have the same scoring value. Clearly, a
				man who hits his opponent and is aggressive throughout the contest is entitled
				to more credit than one who is merely defensive and shows ring
				generalship.
If the referee or the Board should decide, at any time, that
				either contestant did not enter into a contest in good faith, or if the Board
				or referee discovers, at any time, that either or both contestants are not
				performing their part in good faith, or are guilty of any foul tactic, or of
				faking, or of violating any rule of the Board, the referee or Board may stop
				the contest.
The referee or the Board may stop the contest when either
				contestant shows marked superiority or is apparently outclassed.
If a contestant is knocked down, or falls through weakness, he
				must get up unassisted within ten seconds. The referee shall count off the
				seconds. If the contestant attempts to get up and goes back down, the count
				shall be continued by the referee where he left off. During the count, the
				opponent shall go to the farthest neutral corner and remain there. Should the
				opponent refuse to do so, or leave the farthest corner, the referee may stop
				counting. After compliance by the opponent, however, the referee shall continue
				counting where he left off.
If a contestant who has fallen out of the ring during a contest
				fails to return by the count of "10", the referee shall count him out as if he
				were "down".
In every round but the last round of a bout, should a boxer be
				down at the time the bell rings ending the round, the count shall continue
				until the boxer gets up or is counted out.
Three knockdowns in the same round shall constitute an
				automatic knockout. The termination of the bout is at the discretion of the
				referee or the Board.
Should a contestant leave the ring during the one-minute period
				between rounds, and fail to be in the ring when the gong rings to resume
				boxing, the referee shall declare his opponent the winner.
A contestant shall be deemed "down" when:
a. Any part of his body, other than his feet,
			 is on the floor; or
b. He is
			 hanging helplessly over the ropes; or
c. He is rising from a "down" position.
Should a contestant finish any one round of a contest and fail
				to answer the bell for the succeeding round for any one of numerous reasons,
				such as cuts, injuries, or admission of overwhelming superiority, the proper
				termination of the bout is by a technical knockout in the round for which he
				fails to answer the bell.
For instance, both contestants have finished round 6. One of
				them fails to answer the bell for round 7, or indicates to the referee that he
				will not answer the bell. It is a "TKO-7". Indeed, the man should be regarded
				as technically counted out while seated in his corner just as though the bell
				sounded for the seventh round. Certainly he completed round 6 and cannot,
				therefore, be charged with a loss in the sixth.
A boxer suffering a knockout shall automatically be suspended
				for a period of 30 days and shall have a physician's medical examination, a
				neurosurgical examination, and a scan of the head within 24 hours. The boxer
				shall immediately surrender his license to the Board. The attending physician
				shall determine whether the boxer was knocked out.
(16) The referee shall collect the
			 judges' cards and present them to the commissioner in attendance to be checked.
			 The referee shall then announce, or shall cause to be announced, to the public,
			 the name of the winning contestant, according to the majority vote, and unless
			 the decision be unanimous, the individual score of each official for each
			 contestant shall be announced. In the event there is no majority vote, the
			 decision shall be a "Draw".
(17)
			 All division titles must be defended, at least every six months, when a
			 suitable opponent is willing and available.
(18) Wagering on contests is prohibited in
			 any arena under the jurisdiction of the Board.
(19) Only beverages served in paper or
			 plastic foam cups may be sold in the hall where boxing contests or exhibitions
			 are conducted.
(20) Contestants
			 shall box in proper athletic costume, including a foul protection cup of a type
			 satisfactory to the Board and the contestant. The cup shall be firmly strapped
			 to the body before leaving the dressing room.
Each contestant shall supply himself with a pair of trunks,
				loose fitting and made of light cloth, similar to athlete's "running pants".
				The belt of the trunks shall not extend above the waist line. Each contestant
				shall wear an abdominal guard of standard type approved by the Board which
				provides sufficient protection to withstand any so-called low or illegal blow
				that might temporarily incapacitate a contestant.
Shoes of soft material must be worn and must not be fitted with
				spikes, cleats, hard soles, or hard heels. Shoelaces shall be held in place by
				a strip of adhesive tape around the shoe tops.
While performing, boxers must wear mouthpieces for the
				protection of tongue and teeth. This regulation shall be enforced by the
				referee.
The hands of a contestant shall be covered by layers of soft
				bandage. Bandages shall be restricted to soft cloth not more than 10 yards in
				length and 1 1/2 inches in width, held in place by not more than 5 yards of
				surgeon's tape 1 inch in width, for each hand, in all classes. These bandages
				shall be adjusted in the dressing room in the presence of a Board official and
				both contestants. The use of a pad of either soft or hard tape over the
				knuckles shall constitute a violation of this rule.
In all contests the gloves used must weigh not less than 8
				ounces each.
(21) All
			 licenses issued by the Board must be shown to officials when
			 requested.
(22) All boxers must be
			 certified as physically fit by a licensed physician.
(23) In a championship match, if the champion
			 is overweight and the challenger meets the weight requirements, the titleholder
			 loses his crown at weighing-in time. The bout then goes on as an overweight
			 match and if the challenger wins, he is recognized as the new champion. When
			 both challenger and champion are overweight, the title is vacant. If the title
			 is vacant and one challenger is overweight while the other meets the weight
			 requirements, the title remains vacant.
(24) No drug, alcohol in any form, stimulant,
			 injection, depressant, or analgesic of any kind shall be applied, administered,
			 or given to any contestant before or during a boxing contest. Use of standard
			 agents or compounds for the control of excessive bleeding are exempt from this
			 rule. Stimulants in the form of liquids that have a food value may be given
			 internally, provided that these have been presented to the commissioner in
			 charge. Any and all substances or liquids used, or samples thereof, may be
			 taken for analysis by the commissioner in charge.
(25) The Board may bar, for up to a lifetime
			 period, any participant who conspires to break these rules and regulations.
RULES FOR PROMOTERS
(26) To participate as PROMOTER in a
			 professional boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont
			 Boxing Control Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board. Write to the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the
			 Secretary of State, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. The fee for
			 promoter of a professional contest is $ 25.00 per year.
(27) A promoter must study, and become
			 thoroughly familiar with, the contents of this booklet.
(28) A promoter must notify the Board about
			 the main bout at least 48 hours beforehand.
(29) All bouts must first be approved by the
			 Board. Before the commencement of any bout, the promoter shall furnish the
			 Board with a contract, or a signed copy of a contract, between the promoter and
			 the boxing contestants.
Before acting on any application for a license the Board may,
				in its discretion, examine, under oath, the applicant and other witnesses. At
				the time of submitting a match for approval, promoters of professional boxing
				matches shall submit to the Board a record of the proposed boxers in the match,
				including the last six contests in which each proposed boxer participated,
				together with location of bout, date, and results. Matches shall not be
				approved unless this is done.
(30) Send check or money order to cover the
			 5% gate tax on your gross receipts, to the Office of the Secretary of State,
			 exclusive of any federal tax thereon. Payments of money required by this
			 section shall be accompanied by reports in such form as prescribed by the
			 Board. All tickets of admission to any such boxing contest shall bear clearly
			 on the face thereof the purchase price.
(31) Promoters must determine that all
			 contestants, seconds, managers, and officials are duly licensed before
			 permitting them to participate in any capacity at any boxing contest. Promoters
			 shall be held liable for all unpaid fees.
(32) No person connected with the promotion
			 of professional boxing may have anything to do with the management of boxers;
			 and no persons involved in professional boxing as managers, boxers, trainers,
			 or seconds, shall have anything to do with the promotion of such
			 bouts.
(33) A promoter must keep a
			 sufficient quantity of all types of application blanks and forms on hand. Apply
			 to the Board for more when your supply runs low.
(34) No return bout guarantee clause shall be
			 written into any championship fight contract without special permission of the
			 Board.
(35) No promoter shall
			 advertise or declare for publication that any match is to be held to determine
			 a State Championship until he has secured the approval of the Board.
(36) All requests for championship matches
			 must be in writing and must be received by the Board at least one full week
			 before the scheduled date of the bout.
(37) Promoters are required to file with the
			 Board copies of the contracts with both contestants, or their managers, before
			 approval of a State Championship match will be granted. These contracts shall
			 accompany the written request for approval, and must indicate that all parties
			 concerned understand and agree that the bout shall determine a
			 championship.
(38) A promoter shall
			 be required to pay to a boxer a sum not less than 1/3 of his agreed purse in
			 any case where a boxer appears ready and able to fulfill his agreement or
			 contract to box but, through no fault of his own, does not appear on the
			 program. This ruling shall not apply if the boxer received notice from the
			 promoter 24 hours in advance of the contest that, for some valid reason, his
			 services could not be used at the agreed place and time.
All boxers licensed as such by the Board shall be covered by
				accident insurance, provided by the promoter, in the event of injury or death
				while competing in a properly licensed boxing or sparring match or exhibition.
				Such insurance shall be covered by a policy to be issued by a recognized
				insurance company with prior approval of the Board as to form, premium, and
				coverage. Promoters must supply the commissioner with a Certificate of
				Liability Insurance at least 10 days before a match.
(39) Promoters shall provide adequate police
			 protection at all contests.
(40)
			 One or more licensed physicians shall be provided with a ring-side seat, and
			 shall be required to remain at ring-side until the end of the final
			 bout.
(41) The judges will be
			 provided with seats at ring-side, on opposite sides of the ring, preferably on
			 a raised dais or platform commanding a clear view of the entire ring area. They
			 shall be isolated by at least the space of one seat on each side and to the
			 rear.
(42) The names of the referee
			 and judges shall be announced to the public over a public address system or
			 from the center of the ring before the start of the contest. Any change of
			 officials made during the program shall be similarly announced.
(43) Promoters must provide a foolproof
			 protection device of standard make for all contestants. A minimum of four are
			 to be kept on hand at all times.
(44) Promoters shall supply suitable watches
			 for timekeepers.
(45) Promoters
			 shall provide a suitable stretcher at ring-side at all times for emergency use
			 and for ambulance staff members of the rescue squad.
(46) At no time shall a promoter schedule a
			 bout between a professional boxer and an amateur boxer or the amateur will lose
			 his amateur standing.
(47) Any
			 promoter, referee, second, boxer, or manager, who, in the judgment of the
			 Board, is guilty of intentional conniving at or participation in any
			 prearranged or "fake" contest shall forfeit his license and shall not again
			 participate in any capacity in boxing unless a new license is subsequently
			 issued to the offending party.
(48)
			 Gloves for all main events shall be new and furnished by the promoter.
RULES FOR MANAGERS AND SECONDS
(49) To participate as a MANAGER or SECOND in
			 a professional boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont
			 Boxing Control Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board. Write to the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the
			 Secretary of State, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. The fee for a
			 manager of a professional contest is $ 15. 00 per year. The fee for a second is
			 $ 5.00 per year.
(50) Any person
			 who negotiates with a promoter, copromoter, or matchmaker for the services of a
			 boxer shall be considered a manager by the Board, and shall be required to
			 obtain the proper license.
(51) The
			 Board requires copies of all existing bona fide contracts between managers and
			 boxers to be filed in the Office of the Board before a manager's license will
			 be granted. All managers shall have a written contract with all boxers under
			 their control and a copy of the original contract shall be filed with the
			 Board.
If a manager after securing a license should sell all his
				existing contracts, he must surrender his manager's license to the Board until
				such time as he has another Vermont licensed boxer under contract. At that time
				his license will be returned, or if expired he may purchase a new
				license.
(52) A
			 contestant's manager or managers shall not be permitted to participate in more
			 than thirty-three and one third (33 1/3) per cent of the contestant's
			 earnings.
(53) Managers or seconds
			 shall not coach or instruct their boxers by gesture or word of mouth during the
			 progress of the rounds. No more than three seconds to be allowed in one
			 corner.
(54) Managers or seconds
			 are not to throw into the ring a towel, sponge, or any article as an
			 acknowledgment of defeat. A manager or second may, however, ask the referee to
			 stop a bout to protect a contestant from serious injury at the end of the
			 round.
(55) Any profanity or
			 disobedience of the referee's instructions during the progress of a contest
			 shall be deemed sufficient cause for removal of a contestant's manager or
			 second from the corner.
(56) A
			 manager or second of a contestant may be present to examine the application of
			 the bandages and tape to the hands of the opposing boxer and may accompany the
			 boxer to the ring until the referee takes charge.
(57) Managers who sign or orally agree for
			 their boxers to fight when they know they are improperly conditioned or
			 physically inadequate shall be subject to suspension by the Board.
RULES FOR REFEREES
(58) To participate as REFEREE in a
			 professional boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont
			 Boxing Control Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board. Write to the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the
			 Secretary of State, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. The fee for
			 referee of a professional contest is $ 10.00 per year.
(59) Every new applicant for a referee's
			 license, or any applicant who has been inactive for three years, shall furnish
			 the Board with satisfactory proof of physical fitness before the application
			 shall be considered.
(60) At every
			 boxing contest there shall be in attendance a duly licensed referee, who shall
			 direct and control the contest and shall not referee more than twelve
			 consecutive rounds.
(61) The
			 referee shall study, and become thoroughly familiar with, the contents of this
			 booklet. Particular attention should be paid to Rule 15.
(62) No active boxer, manager, promoter, or
			 second shall be allowed to hold a license as a referee.
(63) The referee shall have full power to
			 stop a contest whenever he deems it advisable because of the physical condition
			 of the contestant or contestants, or when one of the contestants is clearly
			 outclassed by his opponent, or for other sufficient reasons.
(64) If, in the referee's opinion, any
			 contestant or contestants are not or were not competing in good faith, that
			 official, after consulting with the commissioner in attendance before reaching
			 such a decision, may by announcement to the public withhold any prize,
			 remuneration, or purse, or any part thereof, belonging to the contestant, or
			 contestants. The referee shall then notify the promoter of such action. The
			 impounded purse or prize shall be held by the Board and the contestant or
			 contestants involved shall be granted a hearing before the Appeals Panel if
			 requested in writing within thirty days.
(65) Hitting below the belt; hitting an
			 opponent who is down or rising after being down; holding an opponent with one
			 hand and hitting with the other; holding or deliberately maintaining a clinch;
			 wrestling or roughing at the ropes; pushing an opponent about the ring or into
			 the ropes, or striking an opponent who is helpless as a result of blows and so
			 supported by the ropes that he does not fall; butting with the head or shoulder
			 or using the knee or elbow; hitting with the open glove, or with the heel of
			 the glove and hitting with the back of the hand; purposely going down without
			 being hit or for the purpose of avoiding a blow; striking deliberately at the
			 part of the body over the kidney; the use of the pivot or rabbit punch; jabbing
			 opponent's eyes with the thumb of the glove; the use of abusive language in the
			 ring; and any unsportsmanlike trick or action causing injury to an opponent are
			 fouls and shall not be tolerated by the referee.
(66) The referee may penalize a boxer one or
			 more points for striking a foul blow. At the conclusion of the round in which
			 the foul blow is delivered, the referee shall inform the judges and the public
			 of the number of points he has taken from the score of the offending
			 boxer.
(67) A contestant who
			 persists in using foul tactics may be disqualified by the referee and his purse
			 forfeited.
(68) In case of a
			 deliberate foul, so designated by the referee, a boxer's license may be
			 suspended for a period of time to be determined by the Board.
(69) In his instructions to the contestants
			 prior to each bout, the referee shall caution both contestants to retire to the
			 farthest neutral corner, at his direction, immediately upon scoring a
			 knockdown, and to remain there until the signal to resume boxing is given, or
			 until the count is completed, or the bell has rung terminating the round. After
			 having so instructed both contestants, the referee is authorized to hold his
			 count in the event any boxer who has scored a knockdown refuses to retire to
			 the proper corner to await the signal, the count, or the bell as the case may
			 be. The knockdown timekeeper shall not start the split-second hand to time the
			 knockdown until the referee so indicated by his first count.
In all bouts except championship bouts, if the contestant who
				is down rises during the count, the referee shall continue to count to "8" and
				assure himself that the contestant is in fit condition to continue. If so
				assured, he shall without loss of time order both contestants to go on with the
				contest. During such intervention by the referee, the striking of a blow by
				either contestant may be ruled "foul". This is the mandatory "8" count.
(70) Referees are instructed to
			 stop any bout in which a boxer has been knocked down three times in one round
			 as the result of a blow. This rule may be waived in championship bouts. The
			 rule does not apply to a boxer who slips or falls down from being off
			 balance.
(71) Should a boxer be
			 knocked down by a blow that, in the opinion of the referee, was a foul blow,
			 the referee may stop the contest at that point. He will award the decision to
			 the boxer suffering the foul blow, other than the so-called "low blow", as
			 explained in Rule 72.
(72) Should
			 a boxer be knocked down by a blow that he claims to have been foul, but that,
			 in the opinion of the referee, was not foul, the referee shall pick up his
			 count as usual in the event of a knockdown.
All contestants shall agree to equip themselves with an
				approved and foul-proof protection cup that will obviate the necessity of any
				claims being made for low blows during a contest. It is to be expressly
				understood that no contest will be terminated by a "low blow", as the protector
				selected by the boxers is, in their own opinion, sufficient protection to
				withstand any so-called "low blow" that might temporarily incapacitate
				them.
(73) If at the end of
			 a regulation round a boxer is "down" and the referee is in the course of
			 counting, the gong indicating the end of the round shall be sounded to commence
			 the one-minute rest period.
(74)
			 When a boxer has been knocked unconscious, the referee shall immediately remove
			 that contestant's mouthpiece.
If, in the opinion of the referee, a fallen boxer has been so
				seriously injured that removal to his corner might prove injurious, he shall
				request that the physician examine the boxer in the ring before permitting his
				removal.
(75) A contestant
			 who has been knocked through or over the edge of the ring platform during a
			 contest shall not be helped back by his manager or seconds. The referee shall
			 begin to count, in accordance with Rule 69 of the Rules for Referees, as soon
			 as the contestant leaves the inside of the ring ropes. If the contestant fails
			 to return by the count of "10", he is knocked out. The same procedure shall
			 apply to a contestant who leaves the ring during the progress of the bout under
			 any circumstances.
When one contestant has fallen through the ropes, the other
				shall retire to the farthest neutral corner and remain there until the count is
				completed or his opponent is on his feet in the ring.
A contestant who deliberately wrestles or throws his opponent
				from the ring, or who hits him when he is partly out of the ring and prevented
				by the ropes from assuming a position of defense, may be disqualified.
In case of serious injury to a contestant, the referee shall
				automatically be under suspension until investigation by the Board establishes
				whether the injury was the result of negligence or incompetence on the part of
				the referee or of circumstances not reasonably within his control.
(76) When a contestant fails to
			 answer the bell for a round "coming up", his opponent shall be credited with a
			 "T.K.O." in the round that is "coming-up" and not in the preceding round that
			 has been fought.
(77) In all
			 contests the gloves used must weigh not less than 8 ounces each.
The referee shall examine the gloves and protectors of each
				contestant before the start of the contest. This shall include the correct
				insertion of a mouthpiece. He shall determine that the gloves have not been
				"broken", nor the padding over the knuckles removed, and new gloves
				substituted. If the gloves have been used in other bouts, they must be whole,
				clean, and in sanitary condition if to be used again. The referee shall inspect
				each boxer's gloves and make sure that no foreign detrimental substances have
				been applied to either the gloves or the bodies of the boxers.
The referee may also inspect the bandages of contestants and
				each contestant may be permitted to inspect the bandages of his opponent. The
				purpose of the bandages is to protect the hand and not to add force to a
				blow.
(78) Referees shall
			 not permit unfair practices that may cause injury to a contestant, and will be
			 held strictly responsible for enforcing these rules.
RULES FOR JUDGES
(79) To participate as JUDGE in a
			 professional boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont
			 Boxing Control Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board. Write to the Division of Licensing and Registration; Office of the
			 Secretary of State, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. No fee will be
			 charged for the license. All judges shall be appointed by the Board as capable
			 of judging boxing bouts.
(80) At
			 every professional contest there shall be in attendance two or more duly
			 licensed judges.
(81) No active
			 boxer, manager, promoter, or second shall hold a license as a judge.
(82) The judges must be familiar with the
			 Vermont Statutes and the Rules and Regulations of the related to boxing.
			 Particular attention shall be given to Rule 15 describing the point system and
			 its application.
(83) Upon
			 notification by the referee of a penalty imposed for a foul, at the end of the
			 round each judge shall follow the instructions of the referee in deducting one
			 or more points from his score for the boxer committing the foul. Each judge
			 shall mark a "P" (for Penalty) beside his original score, then he shall mark
			 the new score in the space provided for that round.
(84) When a contestant fails to answer the
			 bell for a round "coming up" his opponent shall be credited with a "T.K.O." in
			 the round that is "coming up" and not in the preceding round that has been
			 fought.
(85) Judges shall not
			 confer with each other during the contest, nor express in any way to anyone
			 their opinions as to the winner, except by final written vote.
RULES FOR PHYSICIANS
(86) Within ten hours before each contest,
			 the PHYSICIAN shall examine each contestant, and shall report on the condition
			 of each contestant. If, in his or her opinion, the condition of any contestant
			 is not favorable, the physician shall notify the promoter at once, and shall so
			 report over his or her signature.
(87) It shall be the duty of the physician to
			 remain at the scene of the contest until he has ascertained that no serious
			 injuries have been received by any contestant, or until such injuries have been
			 given attention.
All injuries shall be reported and registered by the physician
				at the office of the Vermont Boxing Control Board, Office of the Secretary of
				State, Division of Licensing and Registration, 109 State Street, Montpelier,
				Vermont 05602, with any recommendations.
(88) Among other things, the physician shall
			 provide himself with a stethoscope, manometer, sterile syringe with medication
			 for relieving pain, alcohol, cotton, gauze, ice bag, and aromatic ammonia
			 (capsules).
(89) During the
			 progress of the bout, the physician shall remain at ring-side in a seat to be
			 provided by the promoter, and shall have his medical kit immediately
			 available.
(90) Any boxer who
			 suffers a concussion shall be automatically suspended 30 days. Any boxer who
			 suffers a knock out shall also be automatically suspended for 30
			 days.
(91) No contestant shall be
			 allowed to engage in any boxing contest if the following conditions be found by
			 the physician:
(a) Any hernia, or
			 bubonocele;
(b) Organic heart
			 murmurs;
(c) Active pulmonary
			 lesions;
(d) Temperature over
			 98.8;
(e) Systolic pressure over
			 150;
(f) Infectious skin lesions,
			 such as boils or infected wounds;
(g) Recent wounds, especially on face and
			 ears;
(h) Hand injuries, and
			 fractures less than six weeks old, if, in the physician's opinion, the injury
			 would be detrimental;
(i) Use of
			 narcotics, drugs, stimulants, depressants, or analgesics of any description;
			 or
(j) Any other medical reason
			 deemed sufficient by the physician.
RULES FOR TIMEKEEPERS
(92) TIMEKEEPERS shall be responsible for
			 each round being of exactly equal duration as announced before such contest,
			 with rest periods of one-minute's duration. Timekeepers shall not leave the
			 gong until the completion of a contest. The call "Get Ready" shall be given 10
			 seconds before the round starts.
(93) When a contestant is knocked down and
			 takes the count, if the round ends before the count is completed, the
			 timekeeper shall indicate the end of the round in accordance with Rule 73 of
			 the Rules for Referees.
RULES FOR KNOCK-DOWN TIMEKEEPER
(94) When one of the contestants is knocked
			 down and takes the count, the KNOCK-DOWN TIMEKEEPER shall start the
			 split-second hand with the first count of the referee. The timekeeper shall
			 tell the count in a standing position and in a clear voice, causing his hand to
			 go up and down with the count. The referee shall make similar motions in unison
			 with the timekeeper until the contestant rises or the expiration of the count
			 of ten; which should be equivalent to a period of ten seconds. If there is a
			 variation between the two officials, the knock-down timekeeper shall announce
			 the expiration of the ten seconds, which shall be considered official. In case
			 the round ends before the ten seconds are completed, the timekeeper shall
			 indicate the end of the round in accordance with Rule 73 of the Rules for
			 Referees.
(95) If the contestant
			 who is knocked down rises during the count, the knock-down timekeeper shall
			 continue to count to "8" with the referee. This is the mandatory "8" count
			 rule.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITION
(96) The Board may deny, revoke, or suspend
			 the license of any boxer because of his physical or mental condition. For the
			 purpose of this rule, the Board shall be deemed to have acted properly if the
			 Board shall by personal observation, medical reports, psychological reports,
			 past records, or from other information bearing on his physical or mental
			 condition, determine that it would be injurious to the boxer's physical or
			 mental health to participate in a boxing contest. At the boxer's expense the
			 Board may demand a complete physical examination consisting of an EKG, Stress
			 Test, KAT scan, X-ray, blood and urine tests. Each boxer must complete a
			 medical information history both mental and physical.
If the Board suspends or revokes a license and such suspension
				or revocation could extend for a period of time in excess of 30 days, the boxer
				may request a hearing before the Board and offer what evidence he shall have
				bearing on his physical or mental condition. If after a hearing the Board is
				satisfied that the disqualifying condition does exist and is expected to
				persist, it may indefinitely suspend, revoke, or deny a license to the boxer.
				Any decision of the Board may be appealed to the Appeals Panel within 30
				days.
In the event that any commissioner shall observe or have notice
				of any such physical or mental condition existing within 10 hours of any
				scheduled bout, the commissioner shall have the authority to suspend
				immediately the boxer's license for a 48-hour period. If the Board fails to
				affirm such suspension, the suspension shall expire after the 48-hour period
				has elapsed.
Section
			 1.6 RULES FOR AMATEUR BOXING CONTESTS
(1) The Vermont Boxing Control Board has the
			 power to supervise and regulate boxing contests and training exhibitions under
			 Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 31, Chapter 3. For the safety and welfare of
			 participants in boxing contests, the Board has promulgated these rules and
			 regulations pursuant to 31 V.S.A. § 103 in order to carry out its
			 statutory purpose.
(2) No boxing
			 contest shall be conducted except in the city, town, or village specified in
			 the permit issued and in such places in the city, town, or village as are
			 approved by the Board.
No boxing "exhibitions" shall be allowed without special
				permission from the Board.
(3) All applications for license must be made
			 on forms furnished by the Board. Associations or persons holding licenses
			 issued by this Board shall not lend out the license nor conduct a contest under
			 any name other than that stated in the license.
(4) The following shall be the age limits for
			 boxers:
(a) Minimum Age. The minimum age for
			 an individual to qualify as an amateur boxer is 12 through 15 for the junior
			 class and 16 years of age for the senior or open class.
(b) Maximum Age. The maximum age at which an
			 individual may qualify as an amateur boxer shall be at the sole discretion of
			 the Board. The Board may, at any time, demand such information concerning an
			 applicant's mental or physical condition as it deems necessary. Such
			 information may be in addition to that required in physical examinations under
			 other rules of this Board. At the boxer's expense the commission may demand a
			 complete physical examination consisting of an EKG, Stress Test, KAT scan,
			 X-ray, blood and urine tests. Each boxer must complete a medical history, both
			 mental and physical.
(5)
			 No contestant shall be permitted to participate in any amateur boxing contest
			 on more than two days in any seven, except in official-sanctioned tournaments
			 requiring more than two days to complete.
(6) All officials taking part in amateur
			 contests shall be licensed by the Board.
(7) The boxing ring shall be not less than 16
			 feet nor more than 24 feet square within the ropes. The floor of the ring shall
			 extend beyond the lower rope a distance of 2 feet on all sides. The ring shall
			 not be more than 4 feet above the floor of the building or grounds of an
			 outdoor arena, and shall be provided with suitable steps for the use of
			 contestants, coaches, and officials. The ring shall be equipped with at least 3
			 ropes. The ropes shall be not less than 1 inch in diameter. Such ropes shall be
			 manila rope, synthetic, plastic rope or any similar material, and shall not be
			 made of metal of any type. All ropes shall be wrapped securely in soft
			 material. If 3 ropes are used, they shall extend in triple parallel lines 2, 3,
			 and 4 feet above the ring floor. If 4 ropes are used, the lower rope shall be
			 18 inches above the ring floor, the second rope 30 inches, the third rope 42
			 inches, and the fourth rope 54 inches above the ring floor. The ring floor
			 shall be padded with a 1 1/2 inch layer of ensolite or foam rubber (or
			 equivalent), placed on a 1 1/2 inch base of celotex (building material). The
			 padding shall be covered with canvas, duck, or similar material tightly
			 stretched and laced securely in place, preferably under the apron. Ring posts
			 shall be not less than 3 inches or more than 8 inches in diameter, extending
			 from the floor to the height of 58 inches above the ring floor. The ropes shall
			 be connected to posts with the extension not shorter than 18 inches. The
			 turn-buckles must be covered with a protective padding.
(8) All contests shall be conducted under the
			 Marquis of Queensberry rules, except where changed or modified by these rules
			 or by the Board.
(9) No collection
			 shall be made at any contest unless permission in writing has previously been
			 obtained from the Board.
STANDARD OF WEIGHTS
(10) The following is the Vermont Boxing
			 Control Board standard of weights for amateur boxing:
Pounds
Light Flyweight
106
Flyweight
11 2
Bantamweight
119
Featherweight
12 5
Lightweight
132
Light Welterweight
139
Welterweight
147
Light Middleweight
156
Middleweight
165
Light Heavyweight
178
Heavyweight
over 190 No limit
(11)
			 No contestant may compete in a weight class unless he weighs more than the
			 maximum limit for the class below, and no more than the maximum limit for the
			 class in which he desires to compete. For example: To compete in the 139 pounds
			 class, a contestant must weight more than 132 pounds but not more than 139
			 pounds.
The following limitations of weights are placed on amateur
				boxing bouts:
Pounds
Light Flyweight
3
Flyweight
3
Bantamweight
3
Featherweight
5
Lightweight
5
Light Welterweight
5
Welterweight
6
Light Middleweight
6
Middleweight
7
Light Heavyweight
7
Heavyweight
No limit
(12)
			 The Three Point System shall be used in deciding all boxing contests and the
			 scoring of such points shall be adjudged by at least two duly licensed judges
			 and, in the absence of a third such official, by the referee. In awarding
			 points, the following qualities are to be considered:
(a) Contestant doing the greatest amount of
			 leading;
(b) Contestant landing the
			 greatest number of clean solid blows;
(c) Ring generalship, to include evasive
			 action, blocking, footwork, and feinting both in offensive and defensive
			 action; and
(d) General form during
			 performance.
The maximum number of points any contestant may receive for
				each round is twenty. Knockdowns as the result of a solid blow should be
				considered in the scoring at the discretion of the referee. Knockdowns as the
				result of a slip or loss of balance through bodily contact other than blows
				should be discounted. Scoring shall be accomplished on a judge's score card
				furnished by the Board. Points shall be recorded for each of the contestants
				immediately following the end of each round. At the conclusion of every bout,
				the points given each contestant shall be added carefully by the official. The
				winner's name should then be written clearly on the card, signed by the
				official. A winner must be named. In case of a draw, the judge must arrive at a
				decision.
(13)
			 The referee shall collect the judges' cards and present them to the
			 commissioner in attendance to be checked. The referee shall then announce or
			 shall cause to be announced to the public the name of the winning contestant,
			 according to the majority vote, and unless the decision be unanimous, the
			 individual score of each official for each contestant shall be
			 announced.
(14) The referee should
			 present the awards in the ring at the end of each bout.
(15) Wagering on contests is prohibited in
			 any arena under the jurisdiction of the Board.
(16) Only beverages served in paper or
			 plastic foam cups may be sold in the hall where boxing contests or exhibitions
			 are conducted.
RULES FOR CONTESTANTS
(17) To participate as CONTESTANT in an
			 amateur boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont Boxing
			 Control Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control Board.
			 Write to the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the Secretary of
			 State, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. No fee is charged for the
			 amateur license, which nevertheless must be annually renewed.
(18) Contestants shall box in proper costume,
			 including a foul protection cup of a type satisfactory to the Board and the
			 contestant. This cup shall be firmly adjusted before leaving the dressing room.
Each contestant shall supply himself with a pair of trunks,
				loose fitting and made of light cloth, similar to athlete's "running pants".
				The belt of the trunks shall not extend above the waist line.
Boxing shoes or sneakers must be worn and must not be fitted
				with spikes, cleats, hard soles, or hard heels. Shoelaces shall be held in
				place by a strip of adhesive tape around the shoe tops.
While performing boxers must wear mouthpieces for the
				protection of tongue and teeth. This regulation shall be strictly enforced by
				the referee.
Boxers should wear headgear while performing in any bout. This
				is mandatory for boxers in the junior class, age 12 through 15. Use of any type
				of grease or other substance is prohibited.
Bandages shall consist of soft cotton or linen. In all classes
				up to 156 pounds, one roll of 2-inch gauze bandage, not to exceed 10 yards,
				should be used for each hand held in place by a strip of 1 inch adhesive tape,
				not more than 6 inches long around each wrist. In the 165 pounds class and
				over, one roll of 2-inch gauze bandage, not to exceed 12 yards in length should
				be used for each hand, held in place by a strip of 1-inch adhesive tape, not
				more than 8 inches long around each wrist. No tape, cotton, powder, or any
				substance other than the aforementioned may be used between the fingers or over
				the knuckles. In all senior or open class contests, the gloves used must weight
				not less than 10 ounces each. In all junior class contests the gloves used must
				weigh not less than 12 ounces each. If gloves have been used in other bouts,
				they must be whole, clean, and in sanitary condition.
(19) The commissioner in attendance shall
			 weigh each contestant using scales furnished by the promoter. He shall see that
			 the weights of opposing contestants comply with Rule 11 of these rules and
			 regulations. If the weights do not comply with Rule 11, the commissioner shall
			 notify the promoter, and shall so indicate to the Board.
RULES FOR PROMOTERS
(20) To participate as PROMOTER in any
			 amateur boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont Boxing
			 Control Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control Board.
			 Write to the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the Secretary of
			 State, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. The fee for promoter of an
			 amateur contest is $ 25.00 per year.
(21) One or more licensed physicians shall be
			 provided with a ring-side seat, and shall be required to remain at ring-side
			 until the end of the final bout.
(22) The judges shall be provided with seats
			 at ring-side, on opposite sides of the ring, preferably on a raised dais or
			 platform commanding a clear view of the entire ring area. They shall be
			 isolated by at least the space of one seat on each side and to the
			 rear.
(23) The names of the referee
			 and judges shall be announced to the public over a public address system or
			 from the center of the ring before the start of the contests. Any change of
			 officials that is made during the program shall be similarly
			 announced.
(24) Promoters must
			 provide a foolproof protection device of standard make for all contestants. A
			 minimum of four are to be kept on hand at all times.
(25) At no time shall a promoter schedule a
			 bout between a professional boxer and an amateur boxer or the amateur will lose
			 his amateur standing.
(26)
			 Promoters shall provide a suitable stretcher at ring-side at all times for
			 emergency use; an ambulance and a rescue squad should be in
			 attendance.
(27) Promoters shall
			 supply suitable watches for time-keepers and aides.
(28) Amateur boxers shall be covered by
			 accident insurance, provided by the promoter, in the event of injury or death
			 while competing in a properly licensed boxing or sparring match or exhibition.
			 Such insurance shall be covered by a policy issued by a recognized insurance
			 company, and must be approved at least ten (10) days beforehand by the Board as
			 to form, premium, and coverage. Promoters must also provide the Board with a
			 Certificate of Liability Insurance stating the amount at least ten (10) days
			 beforehand.
RULES FOR SECONDS
(29) To participate as SECOND in an amateur
			 boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control Board. Write to
			 the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the Secretary of State,
			 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. No fee is charged for the amateur
			 license, which must nevertheless be annually renewed.
(30) Any profanity or disobedience of the
			 referee's instructions during the progress of a contest shall be deemed
			 sufficient cause for removal of a contestant's second from the
			 corner.
(31) A second of a
			 contestant may be present to examine the application of the bandages and tape
			 to the hands of the opposing boxer, and may accompany the boxer to the ring
			 until the referee takes charge.
RULES FOR REFEREES
(32) To participate as REFEREE in an amateur
			 boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control Board. Write to
			 the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the Secretary of State,
			 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. No fee is charged for an amateur
			 license, which must nevertheless be annually renewed.
(33) Every new applicant for a referee's
			 license, or any applicant who has been inactive for 3 years, shall furnish the
			 Board with satisfactory proof of physical fitness before the application shall
			 be considered.
(34) At every boxing
			 contest a duly licensed referee shall be in attendance. The referee shall be
			 prohibited from acting as a referee for more than 12 consecutive rounds unless
			 the twelfth round is within the bout, in which case he may finish the
			 bout.
(35) The referee shall study,
			 and become thoroughly familiar with, the contents of this booklet. Particular
			 attention should be given to Rule 12 describing the point system.
(36) No active boxer, manager, promoter, or
			 second shall be allowed to hold a license as a referee.
(37) The referee or commissioner shall have
			 full power to stop a contest whenever he deems it advisable because of the
			 physical condition of the contestant or opponent, or for other sufficient
			 reasons.
(38) Correct Blows. Each
			 blow to have scoring value must, without being blocked, land directly with the
			 knuckles part of the closed glove of either hand on any part of the front or
			 sides of the head or body above the belt. Swings landing as described are
			 scoring blows.
The value of blows scored in a rally of fighting shall be
				assessed at the end of such a rally and shall be credited to the boxer who has
				had the better of the exchanges according to the degree of his superiority. The
				following blows are not scoring blows and therefore do not count when struck by
				a boxer:
(a) while infringing on any
			 of the rules;
(b) with the side,
			 the heel, the inside, the back of the glove, or with any part of the glove
			 other than knuckles part;
(c) which
			 land on the arms, the shoulders, or back; or
(d) which merely make contact, without the
			 weight of the shoulder or body.
(39) Fouls. The competitor who does not obey
			 the instructions of the referee, violates the boxing rules, boxes in an
			 unsportsmanlike manner, or commits fouls, can at the discretion of the referee
			 be cautioned, warned, or disqualified without warning. Only two warnings may be
			 given to the same boxer in one contest. The third offense brings prompt
			 disqualification.
Each boxer is responsible for the conduct of his seconds. A
				referee may, without stopping a contest, caution a boxer at some safe
				opportunity.
If a referee decides to warn a boxer, he shall stop the
				contest, and shall demonstrate the infringement. He will then point to the
				boxer and to each of the judges. Before issuing a warning, a referee should
				remember that a warning may carry a heavy penalty, and that a warning should
				not be lightly given.
The following are fouls:
(a) Hitting or holding below the belt,
			 tripping, kicking, and butting with foot or knee.
(b) Hits or blows with head, shoulder,
			 forearm, elbow, throttling of the opponent's face, pressing the head of the
			 opponent back over the ropes.
(c)
			 Hitting with open gloves, the inside of the glove, wrist, or side of the
			 hand.
(d) Hits landing on the back
			 of the opponent, and especially any blow on the back of the neck or head, and
			 the kidney punch.
(e) Pivot
			 blows.
(f) Attack while holding the
			 ropes or making any unfair use of the ropes.
(g) Lying on, wrestling, and throwing in a
			 clinch.
(h) An attack on an
			 opponent who is down or who is in the act of rising.
(i) Holding.
(j) Holding or locking of the opponent's arm
			 or head, or pushing an arm underneath the arm of the opponent.
(k) Holding and hitting, or pulling and
			 hitting.
(l) Ducking below the belt
			 of the opponent in a manner dangerous to the opponent.
(m) Completely passive defense by means of
			 double cover and intentionally falling to avoid a blow.
(n) Useless, aggressive, or offensive
			 utterances during the round.
(o)
			 Not stepping back when ordered to "Break".
(p) Attempting to strike opponent immediately
			 after the referee has ordered "Break" and before taking a step back.
(q) If a boxer has received a low blow (punch
			 below the belt line), the referee shall, if he has seen the foul blow
			 delivered, use his discretion and may permit, if the blow was of damaging
			 effect, a rest period to the victim not to exceed five minutes. If the offended
			 boxer refuses to box after a five minute rest period, his opponent shall be
			 named the winner. If a referee has any reason to believe that he himself has
			 not seen a blow, he may consult the judges.
A boxer cannot be named the winner of a bout as a result of
				receiving a low blow unless, in the opinion of the referee, the blow was
				delivered deliberately and was of such force as to seriously incapacitate the
				offended boxer so that he could not continue to box. Under this condition, the
				offender should be disqualified immediately.
(40) In his instructions to the contestants
			 before each bout, the referee shall caution both contestants to retire to the
			 farthest neutral corner, at his direction, immediately after scoring a
			 knockdown, and to remain there until the signal to resume boxing is given, or
			 until the count is completed, or the bell has rung terminating the round. After
			 having so instructed both contestants, the referee is authorized to hold his
			 count in the event any boxer who has scored a knockdown refuses to retire to
			 the proper corner to await the signal, the count, or the bell as the case may
			 be. The knockdown timekeeper shall not start the split-second hand to time the
			 knockdown until the referee so indicates by his first count.
(41) In all bouts, if the contestant who is
			 down rises during the count, the referee shall continue to count to "8" and
			 assure himself that the contestant is in fit condition to continue. This is the
			 mandatory "8" count. If so assured, he shall without loss of time order both
			 contestants to go on with the contest. During such intervention by the referee,
			 the striking of a blow by either contestant may be ruled "Foul".
(42) Should a boxer be knocked down by a blow
			 that he claims to have been foul, but that, in the opinion of the referee, was
			 not foul, the referee shall pick up his count as usual in the event of a
			 knockdown.
All contestants shall agree to equip themselves with an
				abdominal guard of their own selection, which will obviate the necessity of any
				claims being made for "low blows" during a contest. It is to be expressly
				understood that no contest shall be terminated by a low blow, as the protector
				selected by the boxers is, in their own opinion, sufficient protection to
				withstand any so-called low blow that might temporarily incapacitate a
				contestant.
In connection therewith, referees are instructed to count
				boxers out who fall to the floor claiming foul as a result of a low blow, since
				they are equipped with a protector of their own selection which they agree is
				of sufficient protection to withstand any so-called low blow that might
				temporarily incapacitate them.
(43) If at the end of a two-minute round,
			 other than the last round, a boxer is "down" and the referee is in the course
			 of counting, the gong indicating the end of this two-minute round will not be
			 sounded. If the downed contestant does not rise by the count of ten, the other
			 contestant will be the winner by a knockout. If the downed boxer does get up
			 before the count of ten, the gong shall be sounded to indicate the end of the
			 round and the beginning of the one-minute rest interval.
(44) When a boxer has been knocked
			 unconscious the referee shall immediately remove that contestant's
			 mouth-piece.
(45) If, in the
			 opinion of the referee, a fallen boxer has been so scriously injured that
			 removal to his corner might prove injurious, he shall request that the
			 physician examine the boxer in the ring before permitting his
			 removal.
(46) A contestant who has
			 been knocked through or over the edge of the ring platform during a contest
			 shall not be helped back by his manager or seconds. The referee shall begin to
			 count, in accordance with Rule 40 of the Rules for Referees, as soon as the
			 contestant leaves the inside of the ring ropes. If the contestant fails to
			 return by the count of "10", he is knocked out. The same procedure shall apply
			 to a contestant who leaves the ring during the progress of the bout under any
			 circumstances.
When one contestant has fallen through the ropes the other
				shall retire to the farthest neutral corner and remain there until the count is
				completed or his opponent is on his feet in the ring.
A contestant who deliberately wrestles or throws his opponent
				from the ring, or who hits him when he is partly out of the ring and prevented
				by the ropes from assuming a position of defense, may be disqualified.
In case of serious injury to a contestant, the referee shall be
				automatically under suspension until investigation by the Board establishes
				whether the injury was the result of negligence or incompetence on the part of
				the referee or of circumstances not reasonably within his control.
(47) When a contestant fails to
			 answer the bell for a round "coming up", his opponent shall be credited with a
			 "T.K.O." in the round that is "coming up" and not in the preceding round that
			 has been fought.
(48) The referee
			 shall examine the gloves and protectors of each contestant prior to the start
			 of the contest. This shall include the correct insertion of a mouthpiece. He
			 shall determine that the gloves have not been "broken" nor the padding over the
			 knuckles removed or disturbed. In case the padding over the striking part of
			 the gloves shows evidence of having been disturbed other than through actual
			 use, he may order the glove or gloves removed and new gloves substituted.
The referee may also inspect the bandages of contestants and
				each contestant may be permitted to inspect the bandages of his opponent. The
				purpose of the bandages is to protect the hand and not to add force to a
				blow.
(49) Referees shall
			 not permit unfair practices that may cause injury to a contestant. Referees
			 shall be held strictly liable for enforcing these rules.
RULES FOR JUDGES
(50) To participate as JUDGE in an amateur
			 boxing contest in Vermont, you must be licensed by the Vermont Boxing Control
			 Board. You may obtain a license from the Vermont Boxing Control Board. Write to
			 the Division of Licensing and Registration, Office of the Secretary of State,
			 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602. No fee is charged for the license.
			 All judges shall be appointed by the Board as capable of judging
			 bouts.
(51) At every boxing contest
			 there shall be in attendance two or more duly licensed judges.
(52) The judges shall familiarize themselves
			 with the Vermont Statutes and the Rules and Regulations of the Board related to
			 boxing. Particular attention should be given to Rule 12 describing the point
			 system and its application.
(53) No
			 active boxer, manager, promoter, or second shall hold a license as a
			 judge.
(54) After notification by
			 the referee of a penalty imposed for a foul, at the end of the round each judge
			 shall follow the instructions of the referee in deducting one or more points
			 from the score in the space provided for that round.
(55) When a contestant fails to answer the
			 bell for a round "coming up", his opponent shall be credited with a "T.K.O." in
			 the round that is "coming up" and not in the preceding round that has been
			 fought.
(56) Judges shall not
			 confer with each other during the contests, nor express in any way to anyone
			 their opinions as to the winner, except by final written vote.
RULES FOR PHYSICIANS
(57) Within ten hours before each contest,
			 the PHYSICIAN shall examine each contestant, and shall report the condition of
			 each contestant. If, in his opinion, the condition of any contestant is not
			 favorable, he shall notify the promoter at once, and shall so report to the
			 Board.
(58) It shall be the duty of
			 the physician to remain at the scene of the contest until he has ascertained
			 that no serious injuries have been received by any contestant, or until such
			 injuries have been given attention. All injuries shall be reported by the
			 physician to the Vermont Boxing Control Board, Division of Licensing and
			 Registration, Office of the Secretary of State, 109 State Street, Montpelier,
			 Vermont 05602.
(59) Among other
			 things, the physician shall provide himself with a stethoscope, manometer,
			 sterile syringe with medication for relieving pain, alcohol, cotton, gauze, ice
			 bag, and aromatic ammonia (capsules).
(60) No contestant shall be allowed to engage
			 in any boxing contest if the following conditions be found by the physician:
(a) Any hernia, or bubonocele;
(b) Organic heart murmurs;
(c) Active pulmonary lesions;
(d) Temperature over 98.8;
(e) Systolic pressure over 150;
(f) Infectious skin lesion, such as boils or
			 infected wounds;
(g) Recent wounds,
			 especially on face and ears;
(h)
			 Hand injuries, and fractures less than six weeks old, if, in the physician's
			 opinion, the injury would be detrimental;
(i) Use of narcotics, drugs, stimulants,
			 depressants, or analgesics of any description;
(j) Any other medical reason deemed
			 sufficient by the physician.
RULES FOR TIMEKEEPERS
(61) TIMEKEEPERS shall be responsible for
			 each round being of exactly equal duration as announced before the contest,
			 with rest periods of one minute's duration. Timekeepers shall not leave the
			 gong until the completion of a contest. The call "Get Ready" shall be given ten
			 seconds before the round starts.
(62) When a contestant is knocked down and if
			 the round ends before the count is completed, the timekeeper shall indicate the
			 end of the round in accordance with Rule 43 of the Rules for Referees.
RULES FOR KNOCK-DOWN TIMEKEEPERS
(63) When one of the contestants is knocked
			 down and takes the count, the KNOCK-DOWN TIMEKEEPER shall start the
			 split-second hand with the first count of the referee. The timekeeper shall
			 toll the count in a standing position and in a clear voice, causing his hand to
			 go up and down with the count. The referee shall make similar motions in unison
			 with the timekeeper until the contestant rises or the expiration of the count
			 of ten, which should be equivalent to a period of ten seconds. If there is
			 variation between the two officials, the knock-down timekeeper shall announce
			 the expiration of the ten seconds, which shall be considered official. In case
			 the round ends before the ten seconds are completed, the timekeeper shall
			 indicate the end of the round in accordance with Rule 43 of the Rules for
			 Referees.
(64) If the contestant
			 who is knocked down rises during the count, the knock-down timekeeper shall
			 continue to count to "8" with the referee. This is the mandatory "8" count.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITION
(65) The Board may deny, revoke, or suspend
			 the license of any boxer because of his physical or mental condition. For the
			 purpose of this rule, the Board shall be deemed to have acted properly if the
			 Board shall by personal observation, medical reports, psychological reports,
			 past records, or from other information bearing on his physical or mental
			 condition, determine that it would be injurious to the boxer's physical or
			 mental health to participate in a boxing contest. At the boxer's expense the
			 Board may demand a complete physical examination consisting of an EKG, Stress
			 Test, KAT scan, X-ray, blood and urine tests. Each boxer must complete a
			 medical information history both mental and physical.
If the Board suspends or revokes a license and such suspension
				or revocation could extend from a period of time in excess of 30 days. The
				boxer may request a hearing before the Board and offer what evidence he shall
				have bearing on his physical or mental condition. If, after a hearing, the
				Board is satisfied that the disqualifying condition does exist and is expected
				to persist, it may indefinitely suspend, revoke, or deny a license to the
				boxer. Any such decision of the Board may be appealed to the Appeals Panel
				within 30 days.
In the event that any commissioner shall observe or have notice
				of any such physical or mental condition existing within 10 hours of any
				scheduled bout, the commissioner shall have the authority to suspend
				immediately the boxer's license for a 48-hour period. If the Board fails to
				affirm such suspension, the suspension shall expire after the 48-hour period
				has elapsed.
Section
			 1.7 CONTROL BOARD HEARINGS
As provided in 31 V.S.A. § 111, each member of the Control
				Board shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations and examine
				witnesses concerning any matters within the jurisdiction of the Board. The
				Board is also vested with power to issue subpoenas as to matters within its
				jurisdiction. False swearing on the part of any witness before the Board shall
				be punishable in the same manner as false swearing before a trial board, and
				obedience to any subpoena issued by the Board may be compelled in the same
				manner as subpoenas issued by a trial board.
Section 1.8 YOUR RIGHT TO A WRITTEN DECISION
We must make all decisions in writing on whether you are
				granted or denied a license. If we deny you a license we give you our specific
				reasons. You have the right to appeal our decision to the Appeals Panel within
				thirty days.
Section 1.9
			 YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL
If you are not satisfied with our decision, you may appeal to
				the Appeals Panel within thirty days of receiving the decision. The Appeals
				Panel is created by Vermont Law under Title 3, V.S.A. Section 114a, and has its
				own procedural rules. You can get information about the Panel and copies of its
				rules from the Office of the Secretary of State, 109 State Street, Montpelier,
				Vermont 05602.
REVISED MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY RULES
RULE 1. All contests to be decided in a roped
			 ring, not less than 16 feet nor more than 24 feet square.
RULE 2. Contestants to box in light boots or
			 shoes (without spikes) or in socks.
RULE
			 3. In all contests the number and duration of rounds must be
			 specified. The limit of rounds shall be 20 three-minute rounds; the interval
			 between the rounds shall be one minute. All championship contests shall be of
			 20 three-minute rounds. The gloves to be of a minimum weight of 6 ounces, and
			 shall be provided by the promoter.
RULE
			 4. The contestants shall be entitled to the assistance of not more
			 than four seconds, who are to be approved of by the promoter; and no advice may
			 be given by the seconds during the progress of a round.
RULE 5. In all contests the decision shall be
			 given in favor of the contestant who attains the greatest number of points. The
			 points shall be for -- attack: direct, clean hits with the knuckle part of the
			 glove on any part of the front or sides of the head or body above the belt;
			 defense: guarding, slipping, ducking, or getting away. When points are
			 otherwise equal, the preference to be given to the contestant who does most of
			 the leading off, or displays the best style.
RULE 6. The referee may disqualify a
			 contestant for delivering a foul blow intentionally or otherwise, for holding,
			 butting, palming, shouldering, falling without receiving a blow, wrestling, or
			 for boxing unfairly by hitting with the open glove, the inside or butt of the
			 hand, with the wrist or elbow, or for roughing.
RULE 7. If, in the opinion of the referee, a
			 deliberate foul is committed by a contestant, such contestant shall not be
			 entitled to a prize.
RULE 8. The
			 referee shall have power to stop a contest if, in his opinion, a man is unfit
			 to continue, and that man shall be deemed to have lost the contest.
RULE 9. No seconds or any other person shall
			 be allowed in the ring during the rounds. Each contestant shall be entitled to
			 the assistance of not more than four seconds, who must take up position outside
			 the ring during the rounds, and who must not, under pain of disqualification of
			 their principal by the referee, coach, assist in any manner, or advise their
			 principal during the rounds or enter the ring during the progress of a contest.
			 A second refusing to obey the orders of the referee shall be removed from his
			 position, and replaced by another approved by the referee.
RULE 10. The contestant failing to come up
			 when time is called, or refusing to obey the referee, shall lose the contest. A
			 man on one knee, or when on the ropes with both feet off the floor, shall be
			 considered down.
RULE 11. If a
			 contestant slips down he must get up again immediately. His opponent must stand
			 back out of distance until the fallen man is on his feet, then the contest
			 shall be resumed. A contestant who has knocked down his opponent must
			 immediately walk to his own corner, but should the fallen man be knocked down
			 in the corner, the contestant delivering the knock-down shall retire to the
			 farthest corner. A man knocked down must rise unassisted in ten seconds or lose
			 the contest.
RULE 12. Should a
			 glove burst or come off, it must be replaced immediately to the satisfaction of
			 the referee. The time thus lost shall be considered no part of the stipulated
			 period of the round.
RULE 13. The
			 contestants shall not hit while in a clinch. A clinch shall be constituted by
			 both men holding, either with one or both hands.
RULE 14. The referee shall decide:
(1) Any question not provided in these rules;
(2) The interpretation of these
			 rules.Statutory Authority: 31 V.S.A. § 103