[30 Pa.B. 2611]
[Continued from previous Web Page] (3) The bandage for use on each hand and wrist of a boxer shall be soft surgical bandage or gauze not more than 2 inches in width and 10 yards in length, except that the bandage for the hand of a light heavyweight or a heavyweight boxer may be 12 yards in length. The bandage shall be wrapped smoothly and evenly on each hand [without zigzagging, rumpling, curling or other irregularity] and shall be held in place by [a single strip of] adhesive tape 1 inch in width around the wrist with overlap of not more than 1 inch to clinch the ends. Tape, cotton or substance other than the approved bandage may not be used between the fingers or over the knuckles of the hand. Bandaging of the hands of a boxer shall be done in the dressing quarters under the supervision and subject to the inspection and approval of [a designated] the Commission representative [of the Commission] and in the presence of a second of the opposing boxer, if the latter so desires.
(f) Persons other than boxers, managers, seconds and Commission representatives may not have access to the dressing quarters at an event under the jurisdiction of the Commission except by special permission of the Commission. The Commission may issue nontransferable written passes to the dressing quarters if circumstances warrant and then only holders of the passes shall be admitted except by special permission of the Commission. [A deputy commissioner] An inspector shall be on duty in the dressing quarters from the opening until the closing and shall be responsible for the maintenance of order and the enforcement of the Athletic Code [(4 P. S. §§ 31.101--31.3108)] and this part.
* * * * * (h) Unless otherwise authorized by the [Commission] Executive Director, a professional boxing event may not be scheduled for a total of less than 28 or more than 40 rounds, each of which shall be of the maximum duration of 3 minutes for male boxers and 2 minutes for female boxers with a rest period of 1 minute between the end of each round and the start of the next. Professional boxing contests under the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be scheduled for four, six, eight or ten rounds unless otherwise specifically authorized by the [Commission] Executive Director in the case of a world championship, [state] State championship or other especially significant contests when bouts may be scheduled for 12 or 15 rounds for male boxers as the Commission deems appropriate. The maximum number of rounds for female boxers is ten rounds. A bout of the scheduled duration of more than 15 rounds may not be permitted in this Commonwealth. [The main bout of a professional boxing event may start no later than 10:15 p.m. unless otherwise authorized by the Commission.] The [Commission] Executive Director may permit, and will have the discretion to place on the program, and to determine the length of, one scheduled intermission between bouts of a professional boxing event. [Ordinarily the intermission shall be scheduled immediately prior to the main bout and may not exceed 10 minutes in duration.]
(i) A promoter shall notify the Commission of a proposed change in the composition of [a main] any bout under his promotion immediately upon the arising of need or decision for change. [and an] An announcement or advertisement of the proposed change may not be made by the promoter or a person connected with the promotion unless [and until the] approval of the Commission has been granted. If the change is made and approved, [either before or after the weigh-in for the event,] immediate widespread public announcement shall be made through available communications media and written notice shall be posted conspicuously at ticket agencies and at entrances and ticket windows at the site of the event. [The] Upon postponement or cancellation of the main event or the entire program of contests or exhibitions, the promoter [, upon application by the ticket holder, shall refund the purchase price of a ticket bought prior to the announcement of change in composition of a main bout and presented for redemption before or on the date of the event and before use of the ticket for admission at the gate] shall refund the full price of each ticket to any person who presents the entire ticket for a refund within 10 days after the event. The promoter shall announce the postponement or cancellation at the beginning of the program and at other times during the event as the Commission may prescribe and shall notify the ticket holders in each announcement that they may present their ticket stubs for a refund of the purchase price during the program.
(j) The promoter of a professional boxing event under the jurisdiction of the Commission shall make payment of the purse and other money due a participating boxer to the boxer personally [and not to the manager or to an agent or alleged agent of the boxer, except in the immediate presence and with the full knowledge, understanding and permission of the boxer as to the exact amount due him] unless a prior arrangement has been made and approved by the Commission. A promoter may not make payment to a boxer, to a manager or to an agent of either of them except in the presence [and with the consent of the chief deputy commissioner designated by him to act in his stead] of a Commission member. There may be no variance from the procedure set forth in this subsection except by explicit written direction by the Commission to the promoter.
[(j) Professional boxers 18 years of age shall be permitted to engage in bouts of no more than six rounds, boxers 19 years of age in bouts of no more than eight rounds, and boxers 20 years of age in bouts of no more than ten rounds within this Commonwealth, unless otherwise authorized by the Commission for good and sufficient reasons based on special ability, experience and maturity factors in individual cases.]
* * * * * (l) A boxer or [a person licensed by the Commission] a licensee may not strike, molest or abuse physically or verbally a spectator, ring official or representative of the Commission under penalty of summary disqualification, suspension [and] or fine, or [both.] any of these penalties.
* * * * * (n) If a boxer refuses to continue a bout while physically able to do so, the referee shall [disqualify him,] rule the bout a technical knock-out (TKO) and award the bout to the opposing boxer [and file a written report of the incident to the Commission within 24 hours with recommendation as to penal action]. The purse of the [disqualified] losing boxer [shall meanwhile], or any part thereof, may be impounded by the Commission.
§ 21.5. Scoring system.
(a) The scoring in professional boxing contests shall be on the basis of the ten point must system.
(1) Each [scoring official] judge in reaching a finding on each round of a contest shall award to the winning boxer ten points and to the losing boxer [not more than] nine points or less and shall so inscribe the official score [sheet] card immediately upon conclusion of the round [and no later than the start of the ensuing round if any].
(2) In the case of an even round, the [scoring official] judge shall award ten points to each boxer [and shall so inscribe the official score sheet].
(3) At the conclusion of [the contest] each round which has not been terminated by a knockout, a technical knockout or the disqualification of either boxer, [prior to the conclusion of the final scheduled round, each scoring official shall add the points awarded to each boxer, the boxer having the greater total points to receive the vote of the scoring official as winner of the contest] the Executive Director or a designee shall tally the points for each boxer and mark these scores on the official score card.
(4) If each boxer has been awarded the same total number of points, the vote of the [scoring official] judge shall be recorded as a draw. [The scoring official]
(5) Each judge shall sign his name to his [official score sheet] score cards.
(6) A boxer shall be declared the winner of a contest if he has received the winning votes of two or all of the [scoring officials] judges.
(7) A contest shall be declared a draw if the votes of two or all of the [scoring officials] judges shall so state, or if each boxer receives the winning vote of one [scoring official] judge and the vote of the third [scoring official] judge shall be for a draw.
(b) Examples of ten point scoring are as follows:
* * * * * (2) 10-9. Indicates one boxer distinguished himself as more effective during the round, as described in paragraph (1). This score is the most often used, and allows for a slight to considerable margin between the boxers. One boxer may have been only slightly better than the other or the boxer may have dominated the round without really stunning the other boxer, with no [standing eight counts or] knockdowns.
(3) 10-8. [Used sparingly, but indicates] Indicates a round in which one boxer was in constant control, and unquestionably outclassed his opponent. The boxer [shall] may also have obviously stunned his opponent, usually including at least one knockdown [or standing-8-count]. If there were no knockdowns [or standing-8-counts], there shall still have been enough contact done to indicate that at least one of these occurrences was imminent.
(c) Subject to the [''butt] foul rule[''] in subsection (d), if in a round a boxer is adjudged guilty by the referee of a foul or of a technical violation of the Athletic Code [(4 P. S. §§ 31.101--31.3108)] or repetition of either [or both], the referee may penalize the offending boxer one point for each foul or technical violation. [and] He shall immediately stop the contest and notify the judges of the number of points being deducted and provide for the innocent boxer to be examined by the ringside physician, if warranted. In each round where points are being deducted, judges shall score the round in a normal manner and mark next to the score the number of points being deducted for that boxer for the foul as indicated by the referee. If a boxer persists in the employment of foul tactics or in technical violations of the Athletic Code [(4 P. S. §§ 31.101--31.3108)] or if the boxer inflicts, by foul means, a crippling injury upon his opponent so that the latter is adjudged incapable of continuing the contest, the referee shall disqualify the offending boxer and shall award the contest to the innocent boxer. In determining the scoring of a round, [the scoring official] a judge shall consider the following:
* * * * * (d) If a boxer in a bout scheduled for more than four rounds receives an accidental [butt] foul that renders the boxer immediately unable to continue and [three] less than four rounds [or less] have been [fought] completed, the referee shall rule the decision a [technical draw] ''no-contest.'' This rule does not apply in the case of low-blow fouls as referenced in subsection (k). If [more than three] at least four rounds have been [fought, the referee shall collect the score cards and] completed, the boxer ahead on the score cards shall be awarded the decision. If neither boxer is ahead on points, the contest shall be ruled a draw. The round shall be considered complete when the bell is sounded ending the round. Partial rounds shall be scored when at least four rounds have been completed.
(e) If a boxer in a bout scheduled for four rounds receives an accidental foul that renders the boxer immediately unable to continue and less than three rounds have been completed, the referee shall rule the decision a ''no-contest.'' This rule does not apply in the case of low-blow fouls as referenced in subsection (k). If at least three rounds have been completed, the boxer ahead on the score cards shall be awarded the decision. If neither boxer is ahead on points the contest shall be ruled a draw. The partial fourth round shall be scored.
[(e)] (f) If a boxer receives an intentional [butt] foul, the referee [may] shall stop the contest and [may] shall deduct one [point] or more points from the offender. Point deductions shall be at the discretion of the referee based upon the severity of the [butt] foul. [If a boxer receives more than two intentional butts, the referee shall stop the contest and disqualify the offender.] If the boxer who received the intentional [butt] foul is unable to continue the round in which the [butt] foul occurred, as determined by the referee or ringside physician, the referee shall stop the contest and the injured boxer shall have up to 5 minutes of recovery time. If after these 5 minutes the injured boxer cannot continue, the referee shall disqualify the offender. Point deductions and disqualifications are at the discretion of the referee.
[(f)] (g) The referee shall have the authority to determine whether the [butt] foul is accidental or intentional and shall make his ruling known immediately after the foul has been committed. The referee shall notify the judges, Commission personnel and both boxers of his ruling.
[(g)] (h) If an injury inflicted by an [intentional butt] accidental foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the bout must be stopped in a round other than the one in which the [butt] foul occurred [(See subsection (e))], the outcome will be determined by the scoring of [the] all partial and completed rounds if [more than three] at least four rounds have been [fought] completed. If less than [three] four rounds have been [fought] completed, the outcome shall be ruled a [technical draw] ''no-contest.''
(i) If an injury inflicted by an intentional foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the bout must be stopped in a round other than the one in which the foul occurred (See subsection (e)), the injured boxer will win by a technical decision if he is ahead in the scoring.
(1) The bout shall be ruled a technical draw if the injured boxer is behind or even in the scoring.
(2) If a boxer injures himself while attempting to intentionally foul his opponent, the referee shall take no action in his favor, and this injury shall be treated the same as one produced by a fair blow.
[(h) Happenings subsequent to the sounding of the bell at the conclusion of a round and prior to the sounding of the bell at the start of the next succeeding round shall be considered to have occurred in the succeeding round. When a round, excepting the final scheduled round, in a boxing contest terminate before a contestant who has been knocked down has risen from the floor of the ring,]
(j) In a round when a boxer has been knocked down and that boxer has not risen at the end of the round, the count of the timekeeper shall be continued and, if the fallen contestant shall fail to rise before the count of ten, he shall be considered to have lost the bout by a knockout in the round just concluded. [In the last round, the fight is over at the sound of the bell. The count stops at the final bell.] If the boxer does rise and the round has already ended, the timekeeper shall immediately ring the bell signifying the end of the round.
(k) The referee shall signal for a time-out when a boxer is knocked down as a result of an accidental foul or accident, as ruled by the referee. The boxer shall have up to 5 minutes of recovery time. If the boxer cannot continue after 5 minutes and four rounds or more have been completed, the winner of the bout shall be determined by the scores indicated for completed rounds on the score cards. If less than four rounds have been completed, the bout shall be ruled a technical draw.
(l) In the case of an accidental low blow, the same procedures in subsection (k) shall be followed, except that if the boxer who is unable to continue is ahead on points, the bout shall be ruled a technical draw. If his opponent is ahead on points, he shall be awarded the decision.
(m) If a boxer is disqualified by the referee and that boxer is behind on points at the time of his disqualification, regardless of the round, that boxer shall lose by technical knock-out (TKO).
§ 21.6. Promoters.
(a) Promoters of professional boxing events under the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be licensed by the Commission and shall be responsible for the observance of [the provisions of] the Athletic Code [(4 P. S. §§ 31.101--31.3108)] and this part, as far as the Athletic Code and this part apply to them and their activities during and after events under their promotion.
(b) Each promoter shall file with the Commission fully conformed and executed copies of contracts between the promoter and managers[, or] and boxers[, or both,] committed to participation in events under his promotion. Each contract filed shall set forth the exact and complete agreement between the parties. Undisclosed additional or collateral written or oral agreements or understandings pertaining to the subject matter of the original contract or the event [shall be strictly] are prohibited and void. [No promoter may include in a contract with a manager or boxer, or both, a return bout clause or other provision calling for the services of a boxer for a bout or series of bouts following the bout which is the principal subject of the contract.] Promoters may not contract or negotiate with a matchmaker, manager or boxer who is under suspension by the Commission, except with the written permission of the Commission.
(c) The promoter [shall be] is responsible for the maintenance of order and the safety of persons present at each event under his promotion, and he shall provide ample [and effective police and fire protection at each event] security.
* * * * * (e) [A promoter may not deal with an unlicensed manager in arranging the program of an event under the jurisdiction of the Commission.] Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, each promoter shall pay out all boxing purses immediately after the contest but no later than 24 hours after an event.
(f) [A promoter may not arrange, announce, advertise or conduct an event under the jurisdiction of the Commission for the benefit of a charity, civic cause or other eleemosynary purpose unless the beneficiary is guaranteed either a stated monetary amount or a fixed percentage of the gross receipts after deduction of taxes and special license fees. A written memorandum of the full and precise benefit agreement, signed by the promoter and by an authorized representative of the beneficiary, shall be submitted to the Commission for approval prior to every benefit event and no public announcement of the benefit may be made until the memorandum has been filed and the agreement has been approved by the Commission.] A promoter may distribute passes to his staff or other individuals helping in the promotion of an event to permit them to enter the event. The number of passes will not exceed 50 or more than 1% of the total seating capacity of the facility, whichever is less, unless otherwise approved by the Commission. Passes shall be visibly displayed and are not subject to the Commission's gross receipts tax.
(g) The promoters of a contest between female boxers shall provide them with adequate and separate dressing rooms from male boxers.
§ 21.7. Matchmakers.
(a) Matchmakers shall be licensed by the Commission and shall be employed only by licensed promoters. Matchmakers shall be familiar and comply with the Athletic Code [(4 P. S. §§ 31.101--31.3108)] and this part with special reference to [those pertaining to] contracts, the giving of advance notice [and], the advertising of events and the due observance of legal weight differentials between opponents.
(b) Matchmakers shall be familiar with the records, the abilities and the physical condition of boxers for whose services they negotiate. Matchmakers shall take notice of [the suspensions bulletins] suspensions issued by [the Commission] any commission and may neither contract nor negotiate with unlicensed managers or boxers who are under suspension, except by written permission of the Commission. [Matchmakers may at no time deal with an unlicensed manager or with a manager or boxer whose license has been revoked by the Commission.]
* * * * * [(d) No matchmaker may be employed by more than one promoter at the same time, except by written permission of the Commission.]
§ 21.8. Boxers.
(a) Professional boxers shall be licensed by the Commission. The Commission will not license or renew the license of a professional boxer unless the license application is accompanied by a report from a Department of Health facility, a laboratory possessing a permit from the Department of Health under 28 Pa. Code § 5.11 (relating to permit, requirements, application, and conditions) or a report from a laboratory licensed in another jurisdiction that meets the requirements to be issued a permit under 28 Pa. Code § 5.11 and is acceptable to the Commission, which indicates that the applicant has been tested for any virus, antibody, antigen or etiologic agent determined to cause or indicate the presence of human immunodeficiency virus, and the results of those tests were negative. The tests shall have been initiated no more than 60 days prior to the date of filing the application. A boxer whose application for license has been denied has the right to a hearing before the Commission under 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to administrative law and procedure). The applicant shall apply, in writing, to the Commission requesting a hearing [at which time the]. The Commission will conduct a hearing within 10 business days from the receipt of the written request.
(b) The Commission will require each professional boxer under contract to appear in a bout under its jurisdiction to be properly licensed and to be examined and certified by a physician appointed by the [Commission] Executive Director to be physically sound before being permitted to engage in the bout. The Commission upon its own initiative as a safety precaution may require a professional boxer under its jurisdiction to undergo a general or an ad hoc physical or mental examination, or both, for the purpose of determining whether or not the boxer is fit to continue actively in the profession of boxing.
(c) Whenever a professional boxer considers himself unable by reason of illness or injury to participate in a bout for which he is under contract within the jurisdiction of the Commission, he, or his manager in his behalf, shall promptly notify both the Commission and the promoter of the event of the alleged condition of the boxer. [and the] The boxer shall immediately submit written medical verification to the Commission which may, if it deems fit, require the boxer at his own expense to undergo examination by a physician selected by the Commission for further substantiation of the averment of disability. If a bout to which a professional boxer is under contract has been canceled and no suitable opponent, as determined by the Commission, can be located, the boxer shall be entitled to reasonable expenses as determined by the Commission.
(d) A boxer shall be considered to have been knocked out in a bout if he is counted out and he [shall] may incur [mandatory] a suspension of [6 weeks] up to 90 days. A suspension under this section shall be mandatory if the boxer has been knocked unconscious or has received a concussion. This mandatory suspension shall be removed only after the boxer has been pronounced fit after undergoing medical examination by a physician.
(1) A boxer [shall] may incur [automatic] a suspension of up to 30 days if he experiences a technical knockout[, subject to reduction in appropriate cases to suspension of not less than 25 days in the discretion of the Commission after medical examination and approval] without head injuries.
(2) A boxer may incur additional suspension time upon recommendation of the ringside physician or the Commission's Medical Advisory Board. [The victim boxer shall furnish satisfactory medical proof of physical well-being in every case of knockout and technical knockout before he is permitted to box again under the jurisdiction of the Commission. The Commission may suspend a]
(3) A professional boxer who is defeated in [five] six consecutive contests, either within or [beyond] outside the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be required to undergo a medical examination by a physician approved by the Commission, pending inquiry by the Commission to determine the physical and mental ability of the boxer to continue safely in the boxing profession.
(e) The Commission will not license as a professional boxer an applicant under 18 years of age and the Commission will require conclusive proof of age of a boxer applying for the first time to be so licensed with [the] this Commonwealth. An applicant for a boxing license who has never competed in a professional boxing contest shall attach to his license application the results of a complete general physical on a form supplied by the Commission. The Commission will not license as a professional boxer an applicant over 36 years of age except by special action by the Commission. An applicant for a boxing license over 36 years of age shall attach to his license application the results of the following:
(1) A complete general physical on a form supplied by the Commission.
(2) An electrocardiogram (EKG).
(3) A stress echo test.
(4) An eye exam.
(f) The Commission will not permit a professional boxer to participate in a bout under its jurisdiction without first having signed with a licensed promoter a [properly drafted] contract covering the participation that meets the requirements of the Athletic Code and this part. If the boxer is under contract to a manager, the manager [is also], too shall be required to sign the contract unless excused by [special action of] the Commission. This[,] does not mean that a boxer is not contractually bound by a commitment made in his behalf by his legally constituted manager even though the boxer may not have personally executed the instrument purporting to commit him.
(g) A boxer under the jurisdiction of the Commission may not be under contract to more than one manager at the same time without express approval of the Commission [, and a boxer may not be under contract to more than two managers at the same time]. A boxer under the jurisdiction of the Commission may not enter into a contract with a manager or combination of managers whereunder the boxer is obligated to the payment of more than the total of [50] 40% of his earnings under the manager or combination of managers.
* * * * * (j) The Commission may require either or both of the participants in a professional boxing bout to guarantee appearance or the making of agreed weight, or both, by stipulated monetary forfeit to be posted with the Commission in cash or by certified check by a stated time prior to the bout under appropriate circumstances. The Commission may declare the sum posted by him forfeited in whole or in part if a boxer fails to appear or make the agreed weight, and the forfeited amount [paid to the Commonwealth or to the opposing boxer or partly to the opposing boxer] shall be distributed as the Commission, in its discretion, will decide.
* * * * * (l) If either or both of the participants in a professional boxing contest fail to satisfactorily put forth serious effort during the bout or persist in foul tactics in the judgment of the referee, the referee shall stop the bout after reasonable warning, disqualify the offending boxer[,] and award the decision [of] to the boxer making the serious effort. [, if any, and direct that compensation due the offending boxer be impounded by the] The Commission may impound moneys due the offending boxer pending the outcome of a hearing which the Commission will arrange on the subject.
(m) Participants in professional boxing bouts under the jurisdiction of the Commission shall [be]:
(1) Be shaven clean except that the Commission may sanction the wearing of closely cropped mustaches or [religiously required] beards, or both, at its discretion.
(2) Wear their hair secured so that it does not interfere with the vision or safety of either contestant.
(3) Use no facial cosmetics.
(n) A female boxer:
(1) May not engage in a contest with a male boxer.
(2) Shall provide the Commission with a negative pregnancy test result taken not more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled contest.
(o) A male boxer may not engage in a contest with a female boxer.
§ 21.9. Managers.
(a) The Commission will license managers of professional boxers after being satisfied as to their good character, reputation and qualifications [all of which will be inquired into carefully before licensing and whenever appropriate thereafter].
(b) [An unlicensed manager or other unlicensed agent or representative of a boxer may not deal contractually on behalf of a boxer with a promoter or matchmaker under the jurisdiction of the Commission nor may a] A contract or negotiation entered into [or upon] by [an unlicensed person] manager not licensed by the Commission may be upheld as valid by the Commission if the manager is licensed in another jurisdiction.
(c) A person may not be permitted to enter into a contract to manage a professional boxer without first being so licensed. If his license is revoked or allowed to expire, a contractual relationship which he has with a boxer will become [voidable at the discretion of the Commission] void as required by section 1103(b) of the Athletic Code (relating to provisions in contracts between managers and professional boxers).
* * * * * (e) A licensed manager of a professional boxer may act as second to the boxer in a bout under the jurisdiction of the Commission. [but unless he is also licensed by the Commission as a second of professional boxers, he may not be permitted to act as second to a boxer with whom he has no contractual relationship as manager.]
* * * * * (h) The Commission [will] may impound for a [licensed manager] manager who has been licensed by the Commission, upon the request of the manager, the proper portion of the purse of a boxer under contract to him pending final determination of the merits of the matter [when the]. If a boxer [has engaged] engages in a bout without the consent of [the] his manager, the Commission may, at the request of a licensed manager, impound the proper portion of the purse of a boxer under contract pending final determination of the merits of the matter.
§ 21.10. Seconds.
(a) The Commission will license professional boxing seconds after being satisfied of their good character, reputation and qualifications [which will be inquired into carefully before licensing and whenever appropriate thereafter].
(b) Unless he is licensed also as a manager of professional boxers, a second may not act or attempt to act in a managerial capacity [, as distinguished from a second's capacity, especially in the negotiating of matches or in terms of matches, or both].
(c) The number of seconds attending a professional boxer in his ring corner shall be limited to a maximum of [three] four.
(d) Seconds attending a professional boxer shall be neatly and cleanly attired in a manner subject to the approval of the Commission. [A second may not wear into the ring an article of clothing which displays advertising matter except the name of the boxer whom he is attending in the event then in progress.]
(e) First aid and other ring equipment of a second shall before, during and after use be subject to inspection by the attending physician and Commission personnel whose decision as to the propriety of its use shall be final.
* * * * * (g) Seconds shall remain seated at ringside and may not rise or lean upon the ring platform during rounds nor may they [coach or in another way assist or] heckle the participants or the officials during the [periods] event.
(h) Seconds may not attempt to render aid to a fallen or otherwise [possibly seriously] injured boxer in the ring until the attending physician has examined the boxer and indicated that his seconds may minister to him. However, a second may remove the protective mouthpiece of the boxer without awaiting direction.
* * * * * (j) [Penalty for offending behavior.] A manager, second or [other such] another person having received [two] ample warnings to stop an offending conduct, [shall] may be ejected from the corner [and]. His boxer may have points deducted during a contest. They may be suspended or fined, or both.
* * * * * § 21.11. Referees.
(a) Professional boxing referees shall be licensed by the Commission [which will appoint a licensed referee] and shall be appointed by the Executive Director to officiate in each professional boxing contest and exhibition under the jurisdiction of the Commission except exhibitions conducted solely for training or instruction purposes.
(b) To qualify as a professional boxing referee and to obtain a license in that capacity, an applicant shall conform with the following requirements:
(1) Be [a citizen of this Commonwealth,] at least 21 years of age, of good moral repute, of sound physical health and of a level of intelligence and degree of attainment as a student of boxing satisfactory to the Commission.
(2) Serve an apprenticeship of [not less than] at least 3 months during which he shall diligently study the Athletic Code [(4 P. S. §§ 31.101--31.3108)] and this part, especially the portions that pertain to boxing and to the duties of boxing referees, and shall work with and undergo instruction under the direction of licensed officials under conditions and occasions the Commission [will designate] designates.
[(3) Have the intention to be qualified for duty as a boxing referee after undergoing observation and written or oral examination, or both, on the techniques and requirements of the position by a board consisting of a commissioner and two licensed boxing referees.]
(c) The powers and duties of a professional boxing referee shall be as follows:
(1) [He shall] To exercise immediate authority, direction and control over each contest and exhibition to which he is appointed.
(2) [He shall] To submit to physical examination [by the physician assigned by the Commission to each event to which he is appointed] at the discretion of the Executive Director.
(3) [He shall] To wear in the ring apparel of a type, style and color [that is] approved by the Commission.
(4) [Before the start of each contest and exhibition under his direction, he shall] To determine the identity of the chief seconds of the respective boxers before the start of each contest and exhibition under his direction and shall hold the chief seconds responsible for their own conduct and for the conduct of their respective assistant seconds in all matters pertaining to the bout; [he shall] to give final instructions to the boxers and to their seconds as he deems appropriate; and [he shall have] to remove or cause to be removed from the ring or the vicinity a second or other person who interferes with the conduct of the bout.
(5) [Before the start of each contest and exhibition and as he sees fit throughout he shall] To check the gloves, equipment and persons of the boxers before the start of each contest and exhibition and as he sees fit throughout to assure that no unsafe or improper condition exists.
(6) [He shall] To observe carefully and continually the physical condition of the participants and he shall have full and final responsibility either at his own discretion, or upon direction from the attending physician, for the immediate halting of a bout [where] when the safety of a boxer would be, for any reason, jeopardized by continuance.
(7) [He shall have] To exercise his full authority to interrupt the progress of a round in the event of injury to a participant by directing the timekeeper to stop the clock and calling the attending physician into the ring to examine and rule upon the condition of the injured boxer [and if it is decided by]. If the physician determines that the boxer is fit to continue, the referee shall direct the timekeeper to start the clock and [the round shall be resumed] resume the round from the point of interruption. [However, no interruption of a round may be ordered when the condition of the distressed party may be materially remedied by an unscheduled rest period, except where the injury involved] When an injury has resulted from [a] an accidental or intentional foul [action] by the opposing boxer, [when] the referee upon advice of the attending physician [orders an appropriately reasonable] may order a rest period not to exceed 5 minutes.
(8) [He shall] To enforce the rules of professional boxing set forth in the Athletic Code and in this part [, as well as those rules generally recognized in the sport under the traditional title of the Marquis of Queensbury Rules, as modified to current date by usage and written authority].
(9) [He shall be authorized, in the event of foul tactics by a boxer, to] To take away points from the score of the boxer in the event of foul tactics by the boxer at [the end of the round] any time during a round in which the foul tactics have occurred[, and when]. When he has taken action, he shall inform the judges [of the bout], the Commission and the chief seconds of the participants [, of his ruling prior to the start of the next round].
(10) [He shall be authorized to] To disqualify either or both participants in a bout for failure [, in his fair and reasonable opinion,] to perform according to due standards of effort, ability or conduct and [he may] to recommend the withholding of compensation otherwise payable to the disqualified boxer or the imposition of a fine, suspension or other penalties, or [both] one or all of these penalties, as he deems appropriate.
(11) [He shall carefully and expertly observe the performance of the boxers in each contest to which he is appointed, shall appraise the performances fairly and accurately in the light of the Athletic Code, this part and the generally recognized rules of boxing, shall inscribe the results of the appraisal after each round on the official Commission score card according to the scoring system adopted by the Commission and at the conclusion of the contest, shall total the respective scores, complete and sign the score card and] To collect and deliver the completed, signed, official score card of each judge to the [announcer or to another official the Commission designates] Executive Director or a designee after each round.
(12) [He shall] To decide whether or not a boxer has been knocked down during the course of a round and [he shall clearly] indicate that decision to the timekeeper, whose count shall be accordingly continued or discontinued[, and if]. If the count is to be continued, the referee shall pick it up verbally and by gesture after first making sure that the opponent of the fallen boxer has retreated to the [most distant] neutral corner of the ring.
(13) [He shall] To confirm the official result and whether it has been reached by decision on points, by knockout, by technical knockout or by disqualification to the [announcer and the] Commission at the conclusion of each bout under his direction.
(d) A referee [will not be permitted to act as such during a boxing event unless the referee is wearing] while officiating shall wear disposable latex hygienic gloves[. The gloves shall] to be paid for and provided by the promoter.
§ 21.12. Judges.
(a) Professional boxing judges shall be licensed by the Commission [which will appoint two licensed judges]. Three licensed judges shall be appointed by the Executive Director to officiate in each professional boxing contest under the jurisdiction of the Commission.[However, a] A licensed boxing referee may be appointed at any time to officiate in the capacity of boxing judge.
(b) To qualify as a professional boxing judge and to obtain a license in that capacity, an applicant shall conform with the following requirements:
(1) Be [a citizen of this Commonwealth,] at least 21 years of age, of good moral character and reputation and of a level of intelligence and degree of attainment as a student of boxing satisfactory to the Commission.
(2) Serve an apprenticeship of not less than 3 months, during which he shall diligently study the Athletic Code [(4 P. S. §§ 31.101--31.3108)] and this part, especially the portions that pertain to boxing and to the duties of boxing judges, and shall work with and undergo instruction under the direction of [licensed officials under the conditions on occasions which] the Commission [will designate].
(3) Have the intention to be qualified for duty as a professional boxing judge after undergoing observation and written or oral examination, or both, on the techniques and requirements of the position [by a board consisting of a Commissioner and two licensed boxing referees or one licensed boxing referee and one licensed boxing judge] at the discretion of the Commission.
(4) Attend at least one seminar per year as directed by the Commission.
(c) It shall be the duty of a professional boxing judge to observe carefully and expertly the performance of the boxers in each contest to which he is appointed; to appraise the performances fairly and accurately in the light of the Athletic Code, this part and the generally recognized rules of boxing; to inscribe the results of the appraisal after each round on the [Commission] official score card according to the scoring system adopted by the Commission; and at the conclusion of [the contest, to] each round complete and sign [the] each official score card and deliver the completed, signed score card to the [announcer or to another official that the Commission may designate] referee.
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