14B NCAC 10 .0504 FOULS - BOXING

(a) In a boxing match, except in the case of punching while the opponent is down, a foul, whether intentional or unintentional, may result in a deduction of a point, as determined by the referee. The first offense of punching while down shall result in the deduction of two points from the score of the contestant who punches his opponent while his opponent is down, unless the first offense is determined by the referee to be a blatant disregard of the rule. If such determination is made by the referee, the contestant committing the foul shall be immediately disqualified and his opponent shall be declared the winner by disqualification. The second offense of punching while down shall result in the disqualification of the contestant committing the offense and his opponent shall be declared the winner by disqualification. In the case of all other fouls, the referee shall determine whether or not a point is to be deducted, using as his criteria the severity of the foul and its effect upon the opponent. When the referee determines that he shall deduct a point from a contestant, he shall immediately advise the contestant and judges of such action. The referee shall not tolerate continual and repeated commission of fouls by a contestant. The referee shall give warning to a contestant who continually and repeatedly commits fouls and when, in the opinion of the referee, the contestant has displayed persistent disregard for the rule governing the commission of fouls, the referee shall disqualify the contestant, terminate the match and provide such findings to the Division representative for appropriate action. Points for fouls shall be deducted in the round in which the fouls occurred. A contestant shall not be penalized in a subsequent round for fouls that occurred in a previous round. The following actions are considered to be fouls, the committing of which may result in a deduction of points:

(1) Major fouls consist of the following:

(A) Punching below the belt;

(B) Punching an opponent who is down or is getting up after being down;

(D) Holding or deliberately maintaining a clinch after several warnings;

(E) Wrestling or kicking;

(F) Striking an opponent who is helpless as a result of punches received and so supported by the ropes that he does not fall;

(G) Butting with the head or shoulder or using the knee;

(H) Punching with an open glove, or with the butt of the hand, the wrist or elbow and all backhand punches;

(I) Purposely going down without being punched;

(J) Striking deliberately at that part of the back near the spine and over the kidneys;

(K) The deliberate use of the pivot punch or rabbit punch or any punch struck at the back of the neck near the base of the skull and which is not the result of the opponent turning his head to avoid a punch;

(L) Jabbing the opponent's eyes with the thumb of the glove;

(M) The use of abusive language in the ring;

(N) Any unsportsmanlike trick or action causing injury to an opponent;

(O) Punching on the break;

(P) Punching after the bell has sounded ending the round;

(Q) Roughing at the ropes;

(R) Pushing an opponent around the ring or into the ropes;

(S) Tripping; or

(T) Intentional spitting out of the mouthpiece or allowing the mouthpiece to fall out of the mouth.

(2) Minor fouls include:

(A) Punching or flicking with the open glove; and

(B) Clinching after warning has been given.

(b) Points for aggressiveness shall be awarded to the contestant who sustains the actions of a round by the greatest number of skillful attacks.

(c) A contestant shall be awarded points for sportsmanlike conduct, close adherence to the rules and refraining from taking technical advantage of situations which are unfair to his opponent. Points shall be deducted from a contestant for unsportsmanlike conduct, disregard of the rules and taking technical advantage of situations which are unfair to his opponent.

(d) Points shall be given for clever defensive work such as avoiding or blocking a punch.

(e) Points shall be awarded where ring generalship is conspicuous. Ring generalship includes the ability to:

(1) Quickly recognize and take advantage of every opportunity presented;

(2) Cope with a diversity of situations;

(3) Anticipate and neutralize an opponent's form of attack; and

(4) Force an opponent to adopt a style of boxing at which he is not particularly skillful.

(f) Points shall be deducted when a contestant persistently delays the action of a match by clinching, holding or lack of aggressiveness.

(g) If a contestant refuses to continue a match while physically able to do so, the referee shall disqualify him, and award the match to his opponent. The referee shall provide a written report to the Division. If the Division determines that the contestant refused to continue a match while physically able to do so, the Division shall impose a period of suspension for a period not less than six months and may impose a civil penalty.

(h) In any case where the referee determines that both contestants are not honestly competing, that a knockdown is intentional and predetermined by both parties or a foul has been prearranged so as to cause the match to be terminated, he shall not finish the knockdown count or disqualify either contestant for fouling or render a decision, but shall instead terminate the match not later than the end of the round and order the promoter to surrender the purses of both contestants to the Division representative pending an investigation of the alleged violation. The announcer or referee shall inform the audience that no decision has been rendered.

(i) If, in the opinion of the physician, the referee or a judge has received an injury, or has become ill the seriousness of which prevents him from continuing to officiate, time out shall be called and another official shall be immediately assigned by the Division representative to replace the incapacitated person.

(j) A decision rendered at the conclusion or termination of any match is final and shall not be changed unless it is determined that any of the following occurred:

(1) There was collusion affecting the result of any match;

(2) The compilation of the round or match score cards of the referee and judges shows an error which indicates that the decision was awarded to the wrong contestant;

(3) There was a violation of the rules in this Chapter, relating to drugs or foreign substances; or

(4) There was a violation of G.S. 143, Article 68 or the rules set forth in this Chapter which violation affected the result of the match.

If it is determined that any of the above occurred, the decision rendered shall be changed in an equitable manner as directed by the Division.

(k) As a result of injuries or suspected injuries sustained or suspected to have been sustained in any match, the Division representative shall, based upon the recommendation of the physician, order a medical examination to be given to any contestant or referee at any time if he has cause to believe that the health or safety of the contestant or referee is in jeopardy.

(l) When it appears to a physician, for whatever reason and regardless of how the injury was sustained, that a contestant or referee is no longer able to safely continue to compete or officiate, the physician shall report such findings, in writing, to the Division representative. If the physician has so recommended, the contestant or referee shall not be permitted to participate until such time as he is certified as fit to participate by the physician.

(m) A participant, losing by knockout or having been rendered a decision of technical draw as a result of being counted out in any jurisdiction, shall be automatically suspended for a period of time to be determined by the Division representative based upon the recommendation of the physician, or 60 calendar days from the date of the knockout or technical draw, whichever is longer. A contestant shall not engage in any match, contact exhibition or contact sparring for training purposes during the suspension period. After the suspension period and prior to engaging in any match, contact exhibition or contact sparring for training purposes he shall be examined by a physician. The contestant shall advise the physician of the previous knockout or technical draw and shall provide medical records or his permission for the physician to consult with the physician who treated him at the time of the previous knockout or technical draw. The results of this examination shall be filed with the Division prior to any further matches being approved for the contestant.

(n) A contestant losing by technical knockout shall be automatically suspended for a period of time to be determined by the Division representative based upon the recommendation of the physician, or 30 calendar days from the date of the technical knockout, whichever is longer. A contestant shall not engage in any match, contact exhibition or contact sparring for training purposes during the suspension period without the approval of the physician.

(o) Any contestant who has lost six consecutive matches shall be automatically suspended and not be reinstated unless he has been examined and pronounced fit by a physician. In the case of repeated knockouts and severe beatings, the license of the contestant shall be revoked and shall not be reissued or renewed.

History Note: Authority G.S. 143-652.1;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 1996;

Recodified from 18 NCAC 09 .0104(p)(4)-(z) Eff. April 1, 1996;

Eff. April 1, 1996;

Transferred and recodified from 18 NCAC 09 Eff. November 8, 2002;

Amended Eff. November 1, 2004;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2008 (recodified from 14A NCAC 12 .0108);

Transferred from 14A NCAC 12 .0504 Eff. June 1, 2013;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018.