N.Y. Boxing, Sparring and Wrestling § 23 — Regulation of conduct of matches or exhibitions

* § 23. Regulation of conduct of matches or exhibitions. 1. No boxing or sparring match or exhibition shall be of more than twelve rounds in length, such rounds to be not more than three minutes each; and no boxer shall be allowed to participate in more than twelve rounds within seventy-two consecutive hours. The commission may in respect to any bout or in respect to any class of contestants limit the number of rounds of a bout within the maximum of twelve rounds. At each boxing or sparring match or exhibition except where the exhibitions are held solely for training purposes, there shall be in attendance a duly licensed referee who shall direct and control the same. Before starting such contest the referee shall ascertain from each contestant the name of his chief second, and shall hold such chief second responsible for the conduct of his assistant seconds during the progress of the contest. The commission shall have power in its discretion to declare forfeited any prize, remuneration or purse, or any part thereof, belonging to the contestants or one of them, or the share thereof of any manager if in its judgment, such contestant or contestants are not honestly competing or the contestant or manager of a contestant, as the case may be, has committed an act in the premises in violation of any rule, order or regulation of the commission. The amount so forfeited shall be paid within forty-eight hours to the commission. There shall also be in attendance, except where the exhibitions are held solely for training purposes, three duly licensed judges who shall at the termination of each such boxing or sparring match or exhibition render their decision. The winner shall be determined in accordance with a scoring system prescribed by the commission. Each contestant shall wear, during such contest, gloves weighing not less than eight ounces, unless otherwise directed by the commission. Thumbless boxing gloves (or gloves with the thumb section locked, fastened, tied or immovably set to the balance of the glove) of a type approved by the commission shall be used in all boxing matches or exhibitions, provided, however, that this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the commission for championship matches of at least twelve scheduled rounds.

2. The commission may by rule, regulation or order, require the presence of any medical equipment and personnel at each boxing or sparring match or exhibition as is necessary or beneficial for the safety and protection of the contestants; and may also require the presence of an ambulance or other apparatus at the site of any such match or exhibition or the promulgation of an emergency medical plan in lieu thereof.

3. The commission shall prescribe by rule or regulation the responsibilities of managers, trainers and seconds prior to, during and after a boxing or sparring match or exhibition in order to promote the safety of the contestants at all times.

4. The commission shall require by rule or regulation that any professional boxer licensed under this chapter present to a designated commission official, before each match or exhibition in which he fights in this state, a license which shall include but not be limited to the following information: (a) the boxer's name, photograph, social security number, date of birth, and other identifying information; (b) the boxer's prior fight history including the dates, location, and decision of such fights; (c) the boxer's medical history, relating to any physical condition, medical test or procedure which relates to his ability to fight, and a record of all medical suspensions.

5. The commission shall prescribe by rule or regulation the unsportsmanlike practices prohibited in all boxing or sparring matches or exhibitions, which shall include the practice of biting.

* NB Repealed September 1, 2016