PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET

Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority

(As Amended at ARRS, March 12, 2012)

201 KAR 27:017. Requirements for elimination events.

      RELATES TO: KRS 229.021, 229.071(1), 229.081, 229.091, 229.101, 229.131, 229.171, 229.180, 15 U.S.C. 6304[(1)]

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 229.151(1), 229.171(1), 229.180[(1)]

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 229.171(1) authorizes the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority to provide the sole direction, management, control, and jurisdiction over all [professional]boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, sparring, and wrestling shows[matches] or exhibitions to be conducted, held, or given within the Commonwealth. KRS 229.151(1) authorizes[grants] the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority to provide regulatory oversight over [professional]boxing, wrestling, and other [professional] full contact competitive bouts within the Commonwealth. KRS 229.180[(1)] authorizes the authority to promulgate regulations necessary or expedient for the performance of its regulatory function. This administrative regulation establishes the rules of conduct governing elimination events.

      Section 1. (1) In order to participate in an elimination event, a contestant shall be required to obtain a permit issued by the authority to participate in the event.

      (2) A contestant shall complete and submit to the authority the form ["]Application for an Elimination Event Contestant Permit[", (2/06)].

      (3) The contestant shall also pay a fee of five (5) dollars to participate in an elimination event show.

      (4) The permit and the payment of the fee to participate in an elimination event shall allow participation in that event only.

      Section 2. Before the commencement of the main event of an[any] elimination event or exhibition, the promoter of the show or exhibition shall tender to the inspector or employee of the authority a certified check or money order made payable to each official who will officiate the show or exhibition in the amount prescribed by the schedule of compensation for officials established[set forth] in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

      Section 3. The schedule of compensation to be paid by the promoter to an[any] official officiating in the elimination event shall be as follows:

      (1) For a judge: $150 per day for shows of fifty (50) or fewer contestants[,] or $175 per day for shows of over fifty (50) contestants.

      (2) For a timekeeper: $150 per day for shows of fifty (50) or fewer contestants[,] or $175 per day for shows of over fifty (50) contestants.

      (3) For a physician: $300 plus five (5) dollars per contestant.

      (4) For a referee: $150 dollars per day for shows of fifty (50) or fewer contestants[,] or $175 dollars per day for shows of over fifty (50) contestants.

      Section 4. If a show or exhibition is cancelled[,] with less than twenty-four (24) hours notice to the authority, an official shall be paid one-half (1/2) of the compensation required by this administrative regulation.

      Section 5. The promoter shall submit a request for a show date to the authority for approval no less than thirty (30) calendar days before the requested date. There shall not be [no]advertising of the event prior to approval by the authority. Once the show date has been approved, all advertisements[advertisement] shall include the promoter’s license number.

      Section 6. (1) Before the commencement of a show, any change or substitution shall be:

      (a) Announced from the ring; and

      (b) Posted in a conspicuous place at the ticket office.

      (2) A purchaser of a ticket shall be entitled, upon request, to a refund of the purchase price of the ticket, provided the request is made before the commencement of the show.

      Section 7. The row nearest the ring on all four (4) sides shall be under the exclusive control of the authority.

      Section 8. (1) The ring shall have an area of at least six (6) feet between the edge of the ring floor and the first row of spectator seats on all four (4) sides of the ring.

      (2) A partition, barricade, or some type of divider shall be placed between:

      (a) The first row of the spectator seats and the six (6) foot area surrounding the ring; and

      (b) The entry lane for boxers to enter the ring and the spectator area.

      Section 9. The ring specifications shall meet the requirements established in this section.

      (1) All bouts shall be held in a four (4) sided roped ring with the following specifications:

      (a) The ring shall be at least sixteen (16) feet by sixteen (16) feet inside the ropes;

      (b) The floor of the ring shall extend beyond the ropes for a distance of at least one (1) foot;

      (c) The floor of the ring shall be elevated not more than six (6) feet above the arena floor; and

      (d) The ring shall have steps to enter the ring on two (2) sides.

      (2) The ring shall be formed of ropes with the following specifications:

      (a) There shall be a minimum of three (3) ropes extended in a triple line at the following heights above the ring floor:

      1. Twenty-four (24) inches;

      2. Thirty-six (36) inches; and

      3. Forty-eight (48) inches;

      (b) A fourth rope may be used. If used, the fourth rope shall be[if it is] approved by the inspector or employee of the authority prior to the commencement of the show;

      (c) The ropes shall be at least one (1) inch in diameter;

      (d) The ropes shall be wrapped in a clean, soft material and drawn taut; and

      (e) The ropes shall be held in place with vertical straps on each of the four (4) sides of the ring.

      (3) The ropes shall be supported by ring posts that shall be:

      (a) Made of metal or other strong material;

      (b) Not less than three (3) inches in diameter; and

      (c) At least eighteen (18) inches from the ropes.

      (4) The ring floor shall be padded or cushioned with a clean, soft material that:

      (a) Is at least one (1) inch in thickness using slow recovery foam matting;

      (b) Extends over the edge of the platform; and

      (c) Is covered with a single tightly stretched canvas or synthetic material. If the event is held outdoors, only canvas shall be used[a similar material].

      (5) The ring ropes shall be attached to the ring posts by turnbuckles padded with a soft vertical pad at least six (6) inches in width.

      Section 10. A bell or horn shall be used by the timekeeper to indicate the time.

      Section 11. In addition to the ring and ring equipment, the promoter shall supply the following items, which shall be available for use as needed:

      (1) A public address system in good working order;

      (2) Chairs for the judges and timekeepers, elevated sufficiently to provide an unobstructed view of the ring and the ring floor;

      (3) Items for each contestant’s corner including:

      (a) A stool or chair;

      (b) A clean bucket;

      (c) Towels; and

      (d) Rubber gloves;[.]

      (4) A clean stretcher and a clean blanket placed under or adjacent to the ring throughout each program; and

      (5) First aid oxygen apparatus or equipment.

      Section 12. (1) A contestant shall wear boxing gloves that shall be:

      (a) Dry, clean, and sanitary;

      (b) Furnished by the promoter;

      (c) Clearly labeled with the promoter's name;

      (d) Of equal weight;

      (e) Of not less than sixteen (16) ounces each; and

      (f) Thumbless or thumb-attached.

      (2) Bandaging of the hands shall not be allowed.

      (3) A contestant shall wear properly fitted headgear that shall be:

      (a) Clean and sanitary;

      (b) Furnished by the promoter; and

      (c) Clearly labeled with the promoter's name.

      (4) A contestant shall not [be allowed to provide]substitute gloves or headgear.

      (5) An elimination event shall be divided into at least two (2) weight divisions. [No]Open shows shall not be permitted.

      (6)(a) An elimination event round shall:

      1. Not exceed sixty (60) seconds duration; and

      2. Have not less than a one (1) minute rest period between rounds.

      (b) Elimination event bouts shall not exceed three (3) rounds.

      (7) A person over the age of thirty-nine (39) shall not participate in an elimination event without first submitting to a comprehensive physical performed by a physician licensed by the authority. The results of the physical and a medical authorization or release shall then be completed and submitted to the authority no later than fifteen (15) business days prior to the scheduled bout.

      Section 13. A contestant shall report to, and be under the general supervision of, the inspector or employee of the authority in attendance at the show and shall be subject to any orders given by the inspector or employee of the authority.

      Section 14. The inspector or an employee of the authority shall make all bouts in an elimination event.

      Section 15. (1) A contestant shall produce one (1) form of picture identification.

      (2) A contestant shall not assume or use the name of another.

      (3) A contestant shall not change his ring name nor be announced by any name other than that appearing[which appears] on his license, except upon approval of the inspector or employee of the authority.

      Section 16. A contestant shall not compete against a member of the opposite sex.

      Section 17. A contestant shall:

      (1) Be clean and neatly clothed in proper ring attire, and the trunks of opponents shall be of distinguishing colors;

      (2) Wear closed toe and heel shoes during the contest;

      (3) Wear a groin protector;

      (4) Wear a kidney protector if available; and

      (5) Wear a mouthpiece.

      Section 18. In addition to other requirements in this administrative regulation, the following requirements apply to all bouts between female contestants:

      (1) A contestant shall not wear facial cosmetics during the bout;

      (2) A contestant with long hair shall secure her hair with soft and nonabrasive material; and

      (3) A contestant shall provide the results of a pregnancy test indicating a negative finding that was taken within one (1) week prior to the bout.

      Section 19. Scales used for any weigh-in shall be approved in advance by the authority.

      Section 20. (1) Each promoter[All promoters] shall provide a minimum of two (2) security guards for the premises where contests or exhibitions are conducted to ensure [to the satisfaction of the authority]that adequate protection against disorderly conduct has been provided.

      (2) Any disorderly act, assault, or breach of decorum on the part of a[any] licensee at the premises shall be prohibited.

(3) A promoter shall provide security in the locker room area.

      Section 21. (1) All emergency medical personnel and portable medical equipment shall be stationed at ringside during the event.

      (2) Resuscitation equipment, oxygen, a stretcher, a certified ambulance, and an emergency medical technician shall be on site at all contests.

      (3) If the ambulance or emergency medical technician is required to leave the event [for any reason, no]boxing shall not be allowed to continue until an ambulance is on site and the emergency medical technicians are once again at ringside.

      Section 22. There shall be at least one (1) physician licensed by the authority at ringside before a bout shall be allowed to begin. The physician shall have at ringside any medical supplies reasonably anticipated to provide first aid medical assistance for the type of injuries reasonably anticipated to occur in an elimination event.

      Section 23. (1) The promoter shall secure insurance for his contestants that provides medical coverage for [any]injuries sustained in the boxing event.

      (2) The minimum amount of coverage per contestant shall be $5,000 health and $5,000 accidental death benefits.

      (3) A certificate of insurance coverage shall be provided to the authority no less than two (2) business days before the event.

      Section 24. Judges, physicians, referees, and timekeepers shall be selected, licensed, and assigned to elimination events by the authority. The authority shall assign to each event:

      (1) Three (3) judges;

      (2) One (1) timekeeper;

      (3) One (1) physician; and

      (4) One (1) referee if fifty (50) or fewer contestants participate in the elimination event, or two (2) referees if more than fifty (50) contestants participate in the elimination event[events].

      Section 25. If at any time during or between rounds a contestant begins to bleed so that blood may come into contact with the other contestant, the gloves of the other contestant, the ring, the officials, or the audience, the bout shall be terminated. The judges shall score the bout until the time the bout was halted and shall determine the winner. Either the referee or the ringside physician has the power to terminate the bout under this section.

      Section 26. (1) The authority may request a contestant to submit to a drug screen for illegal drugs at the contestant’s expense. If the drug screen indicates the presence of illegal drugs in the contestant, or if the contestant refuses to submit to the test, the authority shall:

(a)[may] Suspend or revoke the license of the contestant;

(b)[, or the authority may] Impose a fine upon the contestant; or

(c) Impose both penalties established in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.[, or both]

(2) From arrival to the venue to the conclusion of the event, a contestant shall not consume, possess, or participate under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that may affect the contestant’s ability to participate.

      Section 27. The promoter shall submit written notice to a local hospital with an on-call neurosurgeon that an elimination event is being held. This notice shall include the date, time and location of the event. A copy of this notice shall be filed with the authority no less than two (2) business days before the event.

Section 28. Any event held outdoors while the temperature is or exceeds a heat index of 100 degrees Fahrenheit shall be conducted under a roof[10. A ring shall have a canvas mat].

      Section 29[28]. Incorporation by Reference. (1) "Application for an Elimination Event Contestant Permit", 3/12[(5/06)], is incorporated by reference.

      (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority office at 100 Airport Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

GEORGE GINTER, Board Chair

      ROBERT D. VANCE, Secretary

      APPROVED BY AGENCY: November 14, 2011

      FILED WITH LRC: November 15, 2011 at 10 a.m.

      CONTACT PERSON: Angela Robertson, 500 Mero Street, Capitol Plaza Tower, Room 509, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, phone (502) 564-0085, fax (502) 564-3969.