Boxing Regulated ?

The U.S. Senate passed bill S.275 with an amendment by unanimous consent yesterday (3/31/04) that

deals with professional boxing. In a nutshell, it amends the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 with the

establishment of the United States Boxing Administration that would oversee all aspects of boxing. In other

words, boxing is one step closer to becoming federally regulated in the United States. The House of

Representatives also has boxing legislation before it in bill H.R.1281 which would also establish the United

States Boxing Administration. Bill S.275 was sponsored by Senator John McCain of Arizona.

The following summary of bill S.275 is copied directly from the governments website http://thomas.loc.gov

for those who may find it difficult to find (minus the color which we added).

SUMMARY AS OF:

5/14/2003--Reported to Senate, amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Professional Boxing Amendments Act of 2003 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Professional Boxing Safety Act of

1996 to: (1) authorize a tribal organization to establish a boxing commission to regulate professional boxing

matches held on Indian land; and (2) provide that its provisions shall apply to professional boxing matches

held on tribal lands to the same extent and in the same way as they apply to such matches held in any

State. Requires health and safety standards and licensing requirements for matches to be at least as

restrictive as: (1) standards and requirements in the State in which the Indian land is located; or (2) the

guidelines established by the United States Boxing Administration (USBA) (established in this Act) and

supervised by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC).

(Sec. 4) Prohibits any person from arranging, promoting, organizing, producing, or fighting in a match within

the United States unless the match is: (1) approved by the USBA; and (2) supervised by the ABC or a

member in good standing.

(Sec. 6) Repeals provisions allowing the use of alternative requirements for the protection of the health and

safety of boxers during matches. Requires: (1) pre-fight boxer physical examinations to include testing for

infectious diseases; and (2) continuous on-site presence during any match of an ambulance and emergency

medical personnel with resuscitation equipment.

(Sec. 7) Provides for boxing registration with the appropriate boxing commission of an Indian tribe.

Requires (current law urges) a boxing commission to make a health and safety disclosure to a boxer when

issuing an identification card. Requires a copy of each boxer registration and each identification card to be

furnished to the USBA.

(Sec. 8) Requires each boxing commission to establish procedures for review of a summary suspension

when a hearing is requested which provides an opportunity for a person to present evidence. Repeals

procedures for allowing a boxer under suspension in a State to participate in a match outside that State.

(Sec. 10) Requires USBA (currently ABC) to develop guidelines for boxing contracting requirements and for

rating professional boxers. Provides for notification of a change in rating.

(Sec. 13) Requires the sanctioning organization for a match and its promoter to provide disclosures of

charges, fees, and contractual agreements within seven days of a match of ten rounds or more.

(Sec 15) Prohibits a promoter from arranging a championship match or a match scheduled for ten rounds or

more unless all participating judges and referees have been licensed by USBA. Prohibits a sanctioning

organization from attempting to influence, directly or indirectly, the judge and referee selection process.

Authorizes the assignment of nonresident judges and referees. Requires all participating judges and referees

to disclose all consideration received for participation.

(Sec. 16) Directs the USBA to establish and maintain a registry of comprehensive medical records and

medical denials or suspensions for every licensed boxer.

(Sec. 17) Applies conflict-of-interest provisions to USBA officers and employees and requirements for

enforcement of the Act.

(Sec. 19) Repeals requirements for certain studies concerning boxer pensions and health and safety issues.

(Sec. 21) Establishes the USBA as an administration of the Department of Labor to protect the health,

safety, and general interests of boxers and to ensure uniformity, fairness, and integrity in professional

boxing. Provides for the licensing and registration of boxing personnel, including managers, promoters, and

sanctioning organizations. Requires the USBA to establish and maintain a national computerized registry of

such personnel. Authorizes the USBA to suspend or revoke boxer licenses or registrations for violating or

failing to meet standards of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 or when necessary to protect health,

safety, or the public interest . Requires annual USBA reports to specified congressional committees on its

activities. Requires such reports to include an overview of licensing and enforcement activities of State and

tribal organization boxing commissions. Authorizes appropriations.

This is only a summary - To view the entire bill, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov and type in S.275 in the bill

number box.

(3/31/04)