Chapter 439

2007 -- S 0227 AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/06/07

A N A C T

RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING, AND ATHLETICS - BOXING AND WRESTLING

Introduced By: Senator Leo R. Blais

Date Introduced: February 07, 2007

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 41-5-8, 41-5-12, 41-5-12.1, 41-5-13.1 and 41-5-21 of the General

Laws in Chapter 41-5 entitled "Boxing and Wrestling" are hereby amended to read as follows:

41-5-8. Referees -- Powers. -- At every boxing or sparring match or exhibition there

shall be in attendance a referee, duly licensed under the provisions of this chapter, who shall

direct and control the boxing match, sparring match, or exhibition. The referee shall have full

power to stop the match whenever he or she deems it advisable because of the physical condition

of any contestants, or when one of the contestants is clearly outclassed by his or her opponents, or

for other sufficient reason and that no fighter who has been knocked down shall be allowed to

continue until he or she has taken a mandatory eight (8) count. The referee shall stop a match

when any boxer suffers three (3) knockdowns in any one round. The referee shall have power in

his or her discretion to declare forfeited any prize, remuneration, or purse or any part thereof

belonging to any contestants if, in his or her judgment, the contestant or contestants are not or

were not competing in good faith. The physician in attendance shall examine the referee prior to

each bout or event and certify whether he or she is capable of performing his or her duties based

upon the examination. In all championship bouts held in Rhode Island first consideration shall be

given to referees in good standing residing in Rhode Island. The referee has the right to award a

boxer injured by a foul or inappropriate action from one to five (5) minutes to recover after time

has been called.

41-5-12. Duration of matches -- Gloves -- Maximum participation by contestant. --

Boxing or sparring matches or exhibitions shall not exceed fifteen (15) twelve (12) rounds in

length, and no round shall exceed three (3) minutes. The contestants shall wear during the contest

gloves weighing up to twelve (12) ounces each ten (10) ounces for contestants one hundred fifty-

four (154) pounds or greater and eight (8) ounce gloves for contestants less than one hundred

fifty-four (154) pounds. The gloves shall be of the webbed thumb variety. No contestant shall

participate in more than fifteen (15) twelve (12) such rounds during any period of twenty-four

(24) hours. A rest period of at least sixty (60) seconds shall separate each round. In the event that

a boxer's mouthpiece or other protective gear is displaced during a round, the round shall be

interrupted and discontinued until the gear is recovered and replaced and refitted damaged, there

may be an interruption of the round when there is a lull in the action as determined by the referee.

Protective headgear shall not be required, provided, however, that upon written application filed

by both participating boxers not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to a match or exhibition,

the division of racing and athletics may review the match or exhibition to be performed and may

waive such provisions of this section as the division deems appropriate for the particular event to

be performed. The application shall be subscribed to before a notary public or two (2) witnesses

who shall affix their respective signatures and addresses thereto under the pain and penalty of

perjury.

41-5-12.1. Number of corner persons. -- In any boxing or sparring match there shall be

not more than two (2) three (3) corner persons for each contestant.

41-5-13.1. Physical knockouts. -- (a) Any boxer suffering a physical knockout during a

boxing or sparring match or exhibition licensed under section 41-5-1 shall, at the request of his or

her manager or the division of racing and athletics, undergo an a electroencephalograph

examination magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) test scan

within twenty-four (24) hours of the request. Failure to comply with the request within the

prescribed time shall cause the boxer's license under section 41-5-7 to be revoked by operation of

law and shall render the boxer permanently ineligible for future licensing under section 41-5-7.

      (b) The license under section 41-5-7 of any boxer suffering five (5) physical knockouts

in any twelve-month period shall be revoked by operation of law and the boxer shall be

permanently ineligible for future licensing under section 41-5-7.

      (c) Every boxer suffering a physical knockout, at the discretion of the division of racing

and athletics, shall be ineligible to perform in a boxing or sparring match or exhibition licensed

under section 41-5-1 until seventy (70) sixty (60) days have elapsed following the date of the

knockout. The license under section 41-5-7 of every boxer shall be revoked by operation of law

whenever he or she suffers a physical knockout.

      (d) Every boxer suffering a physical knockout during a boxing or sparring match or

exhibition licensed under section 41-5-1 shall submit to an examination by the physician in

attendance immediately following his or her removal from the ring and shall within two (2) hours

of the knockout submit to a complete examination at a local hospital named by the physician in

attendance.

41-5-21. Application of chapter to wrestling and kickboxing matches. -- (a) The

division of racing and athletics shall have and exercise the same authority, supervision, and

control over wrestling and kickboxing matches and exhibitions as is conferred upon the division

by this chapter over boxing and sparring matches and exhibitions, and the provisions of this

chapter, except those of section 41-5-12, shall apply in all respects to wrestling and kickboxing

matches and exhibitions to the same extent and with the same force and effect as they apply to

boxing and sparring matches.

      (b) Whenever in this chapter, except in section 41-5-12, the words "boxing or sparring

match or exhibition" or the plural form thereof are used, they shall be construed to include the

words "wrestling or kickboxing match or exhibition" or the plural form thereof, and the word

"boxer" shall be construed to include "wrestler or kickboxer," unless the context otherwise

requires, and any person holding, conducting, or participating in a wrestling or kickboxing match

or exhibition shall be subject to the same duties, liabilities, licensing requirements, penalties, and

fees as are imposed by this chapter upon any person holding, conducting, or participating in a

boxing or sparring match or exhibition.

      (c) For the purpose of this chapter a professional wrestler is defined as one who

competes for a money prize or teaches or pursues or assists in the practice of wrestling as a means

of obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain; and a professional kickboxer is defined as one who

competes for a money prize or teaches or pursues or assists in the practice of kickboxing as a

means of obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain.

(d) The division of racing and athletics may waive the provisions of this chapter within

its discretion in the case of wrestling as a form of pre-determined entertainment.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01121

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