USA Statutes : arizona
Title : Amusements and Sports
Chapter : BOXING AND SPARRING
5-221 Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Boxing" means the act of attack and defense with the fists, using padded
gloves, that is practiced as a sport. Where applicable, boxing includes kick boxing.
2. "Commission" means the ARIZONA state boxing commission.
3. "Contest" means any boxing contest, match or exhibition.
4. "Department" means the ARIZONA department of racing.
5. "Director" means the director of the ARIZONA department of racing.
6. "Kick boxing" means a form of boxing in which blows are delivered with any part
of the arm below the shoulder, including the hand, and any part of the leg below the hip,
including the foot.
7. "Nontraditional fighting contest" means any competition between two or more
persons, with or without gloves, who use any combination of fighting skills, including
boxing, wrestling, hitting, kicking, martial arts and other combative full contact
techniques. Nontraditional fighting contests include ultimate fighting, extreme fighting
and shoot fighting but do not include kick boxing or any recognized martial arts
competition.
8. "Professional" means any person who competes for any money prize or a prize that
exceeds the value of thirty-five dollars or teaches or pursues or assists in the practice
of boxing as a means of obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain.
9. "Secretary" means the executive secretary of the commission.
10. "Tough man contest" means any boxing match consisting of one minute rounds,
between two or more persons who use their hands, wearing padded gloves that weigh not
less than twelve ounces, or their feet, or both, in any manner. Tough man contest does
not include kick boxing or any recognized martial arts competition.

5-222 Application of this chapter;definition
This chapter does not apply to any amateur boxing contest conducted by or
participated in by the following institutions or organizations:
1. Any school, community college, college or university or an association or
organization composed exclusively of schools, community colleges, colleges or
universities when each contestant is a student enrolled in a school, community college,
college or university. As used in this section, "school, community college, college or
university" means every school, community college, college or university and every other
school, community college, college or university determined by the state board of
education, community college districts as defined in section 15-1401 or the ARIZONA board
of regents to be maintained primarily for the giving of general academic education.
2. A government unit or agency of the United States or this state and its
subdivisions.
3. A nonprofit interstate association or intrastate association in this state which
has standards and regulations for the physical safety of the participants at least equal
to the requirements of this chapter, including such bona fide amateur associations or
organizations.
4. A fraternal benefit society as defined in section 20-861.
5. Any bona fide private school whose primary purpose is instruction in the martial
arts provided that the contests held in conjunction with such instruction are amateur. 5-223 ARIZONA state boxing commission;appointment; terms; compensation; conflict of interest; emergencyringside meetings
A. The ARIZONA state boxing commission shall consist of three members appointed by
the governor pursuant to section 38-211. The term of office of commissioners is three
years. The term of one member shall expire on the third Monday in January each year.
B. Two members of the commission constitute a quorum for conducting business. A
concurrence of two members is necessary to render a decision by the
commission. Emergency ringside meetings held immediately prior and subsequent to a
scheduled contest for the purpose of determining whether or not there has been a
violation of the rules and regulations of the commission or the provisions of this
chapter shall be exempt from the provisions of title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1.
C. The commissioners shall receive compensation as determined pursuant to section
38-611 for each day they act in their official capacity, not to exceed one hundred days
each year.
D. A commissioner shall not during his term of office promote, sponsor or have any
financial interest in a boxer, a boxing contest or in the premises leased for a boxing
contest.

5-224 Division of boxing regulation; powers andduties
A. A division of boxing regulation is established in the ARIZONA department of
racing to provide staff support for the ARIZONA state boxing commission. The director of
the department shall appoint an assistant director to perform the duties prescribed in
this article. The resources for the ARIZONA state boxing commission shall come from
monies appropriated to the department of racing.
B. The commission shall obtain from a physician licensed to practice in this state
rules and standards for the physical examination of boxers and referees. A schedule of
fees to be paid physicians by the promoter or matchmaker for the examination shall be set
by the commission.
C. The commission may adopt and issue rules pursuant to title 41, chapter 6 to
carry out the purposes of this chapter.
D. The commission shall hold a regular meeting quarterly and in addition may hold
special meetings. Except as provided in section 5-223, subsection B, all meetings of the
commission shall be open to the public and reasonable notice of the meetings shall be
given pursuant to title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1.
E. The commission shall:
1. Make and maintain a record of the acts of the division, including the issuance,
denial, renewal, suspension or revocation of licenses.
2. Keep records of the commission open to public inspection at all reasonable
times.
3. Assist the director in the development of rules to be implemented pursuant to
section 5-104, subsection T.
4. Conform to the rules adopted pursuant to section 5-104, subsection T.
F. The commission may enter into intergovernmental agreements with Indian tribes,
tribal councils or tribal organizations to provide for the regulation of boxing contests
on Indian reservations. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to diminish the
authority of the department of gaming. 5-225 Regulation of boxing contests, tough mancontests and nontraditional fighting contests
A. All boxing contests are subject to the provisions of this chapter. Every
contestant in a boxing contest shall wear padded gloves that weigh at least eight ounces.
The commission shall for every contest:
1. Direct a deputy to be present.
2. Direct the deputy to make a written report.
B. All tough man contests, including amateur tough man contests, are subject to the
provisions of this chapter. Every contestant in a tough man contest shall wear padded
gloves that weigh at least twelve ounces.
C. All nontraditional fighting contests, including amateur nontraditional fighting
contests, are subject to the provisions of this chapter. Contestants in nontraditional
fighting contests shall not strike other contestants in the spinal column or in the back
of the head. Contestants shall not strike with their knees or elbows unless specified by
rule.

5-227 Jurisdiction of commission
A. The commission shall:
1. Except for the financial and accounting functions delegated to the director
pursuant to section 5-104, have sole direction, management, control and jurisdiction over
all boxing contests held within this state unless exempt from the application of this
chapter by section 5-222.
2. Have sole control, authority and jurisdiction over all licenses required by this
chapter.
B. The commission shall grant a license to an applicant if in the judgment of the
commission the financial responsibility, experience, character and general fitness of the
applicant are such that his participation is consistent with the public interest,
convenience or necessity and the best interests of boxing and in conformity with the
purposes of this chapter. The commission may delegate the commission's licensing
authority to the commission's executive director.

5-228 Persons required to procure licenses;requirements; background information; fee; bond
A. All referees, judges, matchmakers, promoters, trainers, ring announcers,
timekeepers, ringside physicians, boxers, boxers' managers and boxers' seconds are
required to be licensed by the commission. The commission shall not permit any of these
persons to participate in the holding of any boxing contest unless the person has first
procured a license.
B. Before participating in the holding of any boxing contest, a corporation, its
officers and directors and any person holding twenty-five per cent or more of the
ownership of the corporation shall obtain a license from the commission. Such a
corporation must be authorized to do business under the laws of this state.
C. The commission shall require referees, judges, matchmakers, promoters and
boxers' managers to furnish fingerprints and background information pursuant to section
41-1750, subsection G before licensure. The commission shall charge a fee for
fingerprints and background information in an amount determined by the commission. The
commission may require referees, judges, matchmakers, promoters and boxers' managers to
furnish fingerprints and background information pursuant to section 41-1750, subsection G
before license renewal if the commission determines the fingerprints and background
information are necessary. The fee may include a reasonable charge for expenses incurred
by the commission or the department of public safety. For such purpose the commission
and the department of public safety may enter into an intergovernmental agreement
pursuant to title 11, chapter 7, article 3. The fee shall be credited pursuant to
sections 35-148 and 41-1750.
D. Before the commission issues a license to a promoter, matchmaker or corporation,
the applicant shall:
1. Provide the commission with a copy of any agreement between any contestant and
the applicant which binds the applicant to pay the contestant a certain fixed fee or
percentage of the gate receipts.
2. Show on the application the owner or owners of the applicant entity and the per
cent interest if they hold twenty-five per cent or more interest in the applicant.
3. Provide the commission with a copy of the latest financial statement of the
entity.
4. Provide the commission with a copy of the insurance contract required by this
chapter.
E. Before the commission issues a license to a promoter, the applicant shall
deposit with the department a cash bond or surety bond in an amount set by the
commission. The bond shall be executed in favor of this state and shall be conditioned
on the faithful performance by the promoter of the promoter's obligations pursuant to
this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
F. Before the commission issues a license to a boxer, the applicant shall submit to
the commission the results of a current medical examination on forms furnished or
approved by the commission. The medical examination must include an ophthalmological
examination.
5-229 Promoters; licenses; bond; proof offinancial responsibility
A. The commission may in its discretion withhold the granting of a license to a
promoter until the applicant furnishes proof of his financial responsibility to promote
contests in accordance with section 5-104.02, subsection B and the rules adopted by the
director. The commission may issue a license to conduct, hold or give boxing contests to
any qualified person or to a corporation duly authorized to do business under the laws of
this state.
B. In addition to the cash bond or surety bond required pursuant to section 5-228,
subsection E, the commission may require a promoter to deposit with the department prior
to each contest a cash bond or surety bond in an amount set by the commission as a
guarantee for the fulfillment of the promoter's contract obligations for that contest,
the payment of licenses and taxes on gross receipts of that contest and reimbursement to
ticket purchasers if the contest is not held as advertised.

5-230 License fees; expiration; renewal
A. The commission may establish and issue annual licenses, subject to the
collection of advance fees by the department, provided that the fees do not exceed the
following amounts:
1. Promoters, two hundred dollars.
2. Matchmakers, one hundred dollars.
3. Managers, fifty dollars.
4. Judges, referees, announcers and ringside physicians, twenty-five dollars.
5. Timekeepers, boxers, boxers' trainers and boxers' seconds, ten dollars.
6. For a corporation filing for a license to participate in the holding of any
boxing contest, four hundred dollars.
7. Officer, director or other person affiliated with a corporation, fifty dollars.
B. A license expires December 31 at midnight in the year of its issuance and may be
renewed on filing an application for renewal of a license with the commission and payment
of the license fee prescribed in subsection A. The application for renewal of a license
shall be on a form provided by the commission. There is a thirty day grace period during
which a license may be renewed if a late filing penalty fee equal to the license fee is
submitted with the regular license fee. A licensee that files late shall not conduct any
activity regulated by this chapter until the commission has renewed the license. If the
licensee fails to apply to the commission within the thirty day grace period the licensee
must apply for a new license pursuant to subsection A.

5-231 Financial interest in boxerprohibited
A person shall not have, either directly or indirectly, any financial ownership
interest in a boxer competing on premises owned or leased by the person, or in which the
person is otherwise interested.

5-232 Age of participants
A person under the age of eighteen years shall not participate in any boxing
contest.

5-233 Contestants and referees; physicalexamination; attendance of physician; payment of fees;insurance
A. All boxers and referees shall be examined by a physician licensed by this state
before entering the ring, and the examining physician shall immediately file with the
commission a written report of the examination. The physician's report of the
examination shall include specific mention as to the condition of the boxer's heart and
general physical condition. The physician's report may include specific mention as to the
condition of the boxer's nerves and brain as required by the commission. The cost of the
examination is payable by the person conducting the contest or exhibition.
B. Every person holding or sponsoring any boxing contest shall have in attendance
at every boxing contest a physician licensed by this state. The commission may establish
a schedule of fees to be paid to each physician by the person or by the promoter.
C. The commission shall:
1. Require insurance coverage for a boxer to provide for medical, surgical and
hospital care for injuries sustained in the ring in an amount of twenty thousand dollars
with twenty-five dollars deductible and payable to the boxer as beneficiary.
2. Require life insurance for a boxer in the amount of fifty thousand dollars
payable in case of accidental death resulting from injuries sustained in the ring.
D. The cost of the insurance required by this section is payable by the promoter.

5-234 Attendance by peace officers; duty ofchief of police or sheriff
If a boxing contest is held within the corporate limits of a city or town, the chief
of police shall assign not less than one officer to attend the contest, and if a boxing
contest is held outside the corporate limits of a city or town, the county sheriff shall
assign not less than one of his deputies to attend. The officer or deputy shall be
charged with the duty of preventing disturbances amounting to breach of the peace by
spectators. The cost of providing such officer or deputy shall be paid by the promoter.

5-235.01 Disciplinary action; grounds; emergency suspension; injunction
A. The commission may take any one or a combination of the following disciplinary
actions:
1. Revoke a license.
2. Suspend a license.
3. Impose a civil penalty in an amount of not to exceed one thousand dollars per
violation of this chapter.
B. The commission may take disciplinary action or refuse to issue or renew a
license for any of the following causes:
1. Committing an act involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit with the intent to
substantially benefit oneself or another or substantially injure another.
2. Advertising by means of known false, misleading, deceptive or fraudulent
statements through any communication media.
3. Violating any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this
chapter.
4. Making oral or written false statements to the commission.
5. Failing to complete the license application as prescribed by the commission.
C. In case of emergency, a member of the commission may, on his own motion or on
the verified complaint of any person charging a violation of this chapter or of the rules
promulgated by the commission, suspend for a period of not to exceed ten days any license
until final determination by the commission, if in his opinion the action is necessary to
protect the public welfare and the best interests of boxing.
D. The commission, the attorney general or a county attorney may apply to the
superior court in the county in which acts or practices of any person which constitute a
violation of this chapter or the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter are alleged to
have occurred for an order enjoining those acts or practices.

5-236 Violation; classification
A person is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor who:
1. Conducts, holds or gives boxing contests or participates in any boxing contest
without first having procured an appropriate license as prescribed in this article.
2. Violates any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted
pursuant to this chapter.

5-237 Selection of referees
The commission shall select and assign referees. The matchmaker may protest the
assignment of a referee and in such event the commission shall furnish a list of all
licensed referees within the state to the protesting matchmaker. The protesting
matchmaker shall have the right to select another referee from such list.

5-238 Sham boxing; withholding a purse
A. The commission may withhold all or part of a purse or other monies payable to
any contestant, manager or second if in the judgment of the commission a boxing
contestant is participating in a sham or fake boxing contest or is otherwise not
competing honestly or to the best of his ability.
B. If the commission withholds a purse or part of a purse or other monies the
commission shall give notice to all interested parties and hold a hearing upon the matter
within ten days.
C. If the commission determines that a contestant, manager or second is not
entitled to a purse, part of a purse or other monies the promoter shall turn such monies
over to the director to be applied pursuant to section 5-104.02, subsection C.

5-239 Judicial review Except as provided in section 41-1092.08, subsection H, final decisions of the commission are subject to judicial review pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6. 5-240 Reciprocity
Notwithstanding section 5-228, a person is entitled to receive a license under this
chapter if he complies with the requirements of each of the following:
1. Submits to the commission under oath an application for a license on a form
supplied by the commission.
2. Is licensed in another state in which the licensing requirements are at least
substantially equivalent to those of this state and which grants similar reciprocal
privileges to persons licensed under this chapter.
3. Pays the prescribed fees.