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So what is wrong with boxing
What is Wrong with Boxing?
This is the primary question and I
have found prevalent when it comes to defining what is the problem with the
sport of boxing. Over the past couple of years in my dealings with the
various boxing commissions and the legislators from around the country I have
uncovered the answer to the question. What is the primary reason for the
problems and the conditions that the sport of boxing faces on a daily basis?
What is wrong with boxing.... the answer is "Standards", as in the fact there
are none.
Each state has been allowed to act
independently without oversight and without a common set of rules, definitions,
and regulations. This lack has been allowed the sport to degrade into a
compilation of various forms that allow for symptoms to manifest. The
sport is keenly aware of the symptoms that are affecting the boxers, promoters,
referee, gyms, and the overall health of the sport. The fact remains
standards are nonexistent within the industry. Even today some states were
without regulations or lack a boxing commission.
What are in the statutes of each
state that control the industry? In each state has a set of statutes to
act as a foundation for the sport, yet they differ from state to state.
What would our country be like if there was no Declaration of Independence and
each state was allowed to act completely independently from each other.
Well this is the state of boxing. In each state the statutes are
different, for example a boxer in one state maybe considered to be a
professional, in yet in another, the boxer is considered to be an amateur.
This issue and the lack of
consistency between the states was never more clear when Mike Tyson bit off
Evander Holyfield's ear during a match. In several states Tyson's boxing
license was revoked, yet he was granted a boxing license by yet another state.
The fact that one state is totally independent from another is NOT the issue,
but what is, is the fact that even the basic definitions that govern the sport
are not in agreement.
You would think that because the
sport of boxing is a mature sport that the basic definitions would be agree too.
Well that is not the case.Each state by statute distinguishes between a
professional and an amateur boxer differently. Below is a complied list of
how each states by their statutes defines what is a professional boxers and what
is an amateur boxer. So when the basic definitions are so blatantly
different from state to state how can one even begin to fix the problems
associated in the sport of boxing?
Well the answer would be to start
with the definitions. So the starting point for boxing is to have each
state with the same definitions and requirements to classify what is a
professional boxer and what is an amateur boxer. But then again that would
mean people would have to work together to create change. You need to
stand up and help.
|
State & Commission in
Place? |
Professional |
Amateur |
|
Alabama |
|
No definition |
No
definition |
|
Alaska
|
None
|
Nothing |
Nothing |
|
Arizona
|
|
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. |
No definition |
|
Arkansas |
|
a person who has received
or competed for any purse or other article of a value greater than fifty
dollars ($50.00), either for the expenses of training or for participating
in any match or exhibition |
a person who has never
received nor competed for any purse or other compensation except
reimbursement for expenses; |
|
California |
|
A
professional or amateur boxer or martial arts fighter is one who engages in
a boxing or martial arts contest and who possesses fundamental skills in his
or her respective sport. |
same as Professional |
|
Colorado |
|
participant who has
received or competed for a purse or any other thing of value for
participating in a match. |
No
definition |
|
Connecticut |
|
No
definition |
boxing match
which is no longer than five three-minute rounds in which no contestant has
received or is to receive, directly or indirectly, any money, reward or
compensation either from the expenses of any amateur boxing program or the
expenses of training or for taking part in such program or training |
|
Delaware |
None |
Nothing |
Nothing |
|
Florida |
|
means a person who has received or competed for any purse or other article
of a value greater than $50, either for the expenses of training or for
participating in any match |
a
person who has never received nor competed for any purse or other article of
value either for the expenses of training or for participating in a match,
other than a prize of $50 in value or less |
|
Georgia |
|
a
person who engages in a match, contest, or exhibition of boxing which is
governed or authorized by:
(A) U.S.A. Boxing;
(B) The Georgia High
School Athletic Association;
(C) The National
Collegiate Athletic Association;
(D) Amateur Athletic
Union;
(E) Golden Gloves; or
(F) The local affiliate
of any organization listed in this paragraph. |
a
person who is participating or has participated in a match, contest, or
exhibition of boxing which is not governed or authorized by one or more of
the organizations listed in paragraph (1) of this Code section and:
(A) Has received or
competed for or is receiving or competing for any cash as a salary, purse,
or prize for participating in any match, contest, or exhibition of boxing;
(B) Is participating or
has participated in any match, contest, or exhibition of boxing to which
admission is granted upon payment of any ticket for admission or other
evidence of the right of entry;
(C) Is participating or
has participated in any match, contest, or exhibition of boxing which is or
was filmed, broadcast, or transmitted for viewing; or
(D) Is participating or
has participated in any match, contest, or exhibition of boxing which
provides a commercial advantage by attracting persons to a particular place
or promoting a commercial product or enterprise. |
|
Hawaii |
|
is one who: competes for a
money prize or purse or other form of compensation; or teaches, pursues, or
assists in the practice of boxing as a means of obtaining a livelihood or
pecuniary gain. |
is one in which no
contestant has boxed with or against a professional boxer or another amateur
boxer for a money prize or purse, except as provided in this chapter. |
|
Idaho |
|
an
individual eighteen (18) years of age or older who participates as a
contestant in a boxing event for money, prizes, or purses, or who teaches,
instructs, or assists in the practice of boxing or sparring as a means of
obtaining pecuniary gain. |
an
individual who has never been a professional boxer or professional wrestler,
as defined in this chapter, as well as an individual who has never received
nor competed for any purse or other article of value, either for
participating in any boxing contest or exhibition or for the expenses of
training therefor, other than a noncash prize which does not exceed fifty
dollars ($50.00) in value. |
|
Illinois |
|
means a person licensed by
the Department who competes for a money prize, purse, or other type of
compensation in a boxing contest, exhibition, or match held in Illinois.
|
person who has never
received or competed for any purse or other article of value, either for
participating in any boxing contest or for the expenses of training therefor,
other than a prize that does not exceed $50 in value.
|
|
Indiana |
|
No
definition
Indiana Boxing Commission has sole authority over all boxing and
sparring matches, semiprofessional elimination contests, or exhibitions. |
No
definition |
|
Iowa |
|
a boxing or wrestling
contest or exhibition open to the public in this state for which the
contestants are paid or awarded a prize for their participation. |
No
definition |
|
Kansas |
|
the
sport of attack and defense which uses the fist and where contestants
compete for valuable consideration |
No
definition |
|
Kentucky |
|
is
a boxer who compete for a money prize, or other pecuniary gain |
No
definition |
|
Louisiana |
|
a
person who has received or competed for or is receiving or competing for any
purse or other article of value of $50 or more, either for participating in
any boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or martial arts contest or exhibition or
for the expenses of training therefore |
a
person who never received or competed for any purse or other article of
value, wither for participating in any boxing contest or exhibition or for
the expenses of training therefore, other than a prize which does not exceed
$50 in value |
|
Maine |
|
No
definition
No
boxing contests or exhibitions, except as provided in this chapter, may be
held or conducted within this State, unless the contest or exhibition is
properly licensed by the commission
|
No
definition
|
|
Maryland |
|
No
definition |
an
amateur boxing or wrestling contest held under the
auspices of the United States of America Amateur
Boxing Federation or the Young Men's Christian Association |
|
Massachusetts |
|
No
definition |
No
definition
amateur organizations as may be approved by the commission |
|
Minnesota |
None |
Nothing |
Nothing |
|
Michigan |
|
a person who is competing
or has competed in
boxing for a money prize. |
a person who is not
competing and has never competed for a money prize or who is not competing
and has not competed with or against a professional for a prize and who is
required to be registered by USA
boxing. |
|
Mississippi |
|
No
definition
All boxing, sparring and
wrestling matches and exhibitions authorized herein shall be held under the
supervision of and subject to the rules and regulations of the Mississippi
Athletic Commission |
No
definition |
|
Missouri |
|
the sport of attack and
defense which uses the fist and where contestants compete for valuable
consideration |
No
definition |
|
Montana |
|
No
definition |
No
definition |
|
Nebraska |
|
No
definition |
No
definition |
|
Nevada |
|
No
definition |
No
definition
“Contestant” means any person who engages in unarmed combat for
remuneration. |
|
New Hampshire |
|
No definition |
No definition
All amateur boxing bouts and
wrestling competitions to which admission fees are charged shall be
regulated by the commission, except those conducted by a school, college or
university. |
|
New Jersey
|
|
No definition |
No definition |
|
New Mexico
|
|
an individual who competes for money, prizes or
purses or who teaches, pursues or assists in the practice of boxing, wrestling
or martial arts as a means of obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain; |
No definition |
|
New York |
|
a
professional boxer is deemed to be one who competes for a money prize or
teaches or pursues or assists in the practice of boxing as a means of
obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain, and any contest conforming to the
rules,
regulations and requirements of this chapter shall be deemed to be a
boxing match and not a prize fight. |
No definition |
|
North Dakota
|
|
No definition |
No definition |
|
North Carolina |
|
Any person who is licensed
as a professional boxer under the federal Professional Boxing Safety Act of
1996. |
A person who is not
receiving or competing for and has never received or competed for any purse
or other article or thing of value for participating in a match.
Toughman is defined here |
|
Ohio |
|
a boxer who competes for a
prize in cash or otherwise, that has a value of more than twenty-five
dollars. |
means a boxer who does not
compete for a prize, in cash or otherwise, that has a value of more than
twenty-five dollars. |
|
Oklahoma |
|
an
individual eighteen (18) years of age or older who competes for money
prizes, or purses, or who teaches, instructs, or assists in the practice of
boxing or sparring as a means of obtaining pecuniary gain |
a
person who has never received or competed for any purse or other article
either for the expenses of training therefor or for participating in any
boxing contest or professional exhibition which exceeds in monies or other
things of value a sum to be determined by the Oklahoma Professional Boxing
Commission |
|
Oregon |
|
person licensed by the superintendent who competes for a money prize, purse
or compensation in a boxing or wrestling contest, exhibition or match held
within this state. |
No definition |
|
Pennsylvania |
|
No definition |
No definition |
|
Rhode Island
|
|
is defined as one who competes for a money prize or teaches or
pursues or assists in the practice of boxing as a means of obtaining a
livelihood or pecuniary gain. |
shall be deemed to mean a
person who engages in boxing or sparring contests or exhibitions for which no
cash prizes are awarded to the participants, and for which the prize competed
for, if any, shall not exceed in value the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
|
|
South Carolina |
|
No definition |
No definition |
|
South Dakota |
None |
Nothing |
Nothing |
|
Tennessee |
|
means any such
match or exhibition where the contestants receive or compete for any form of
purse, whether as a prize for winning the contest at hand or held out as the
potential prize for winning later events that the contestants compete for
invitations to, and the spectators are charged admission to view such match or
exhibition live or by closed circuit television. "Professional
boxing,
sparring, or wrestling match or exhibition" does not include any amateur
athletic match or exhibition where coaches and participants receive compensation
for reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with their participation,
nor do trophies, medals, shirts, jackets, or other symbols of participation
constitute compensation within the meaning of this section. |
An amateur may
not take part in a
boxing
contest unless such amateur is registered with the United States Amateur
Boxing
Federation or some other amateur organization recognized by the commissioner.
The promoting, conducting, or maintaining of
boxing
matches, contests, or exhibitions when conducted by educational institutions,
extracurricular organizations recognized by a college or university, such as a
fraternity, sorority or student union, law enforcement organizations, Tennessee
National Guard units, or amateur athletic organizations duly recognized by the
commissioner are exempt from the licensing and bonding provisions of this
chapter if none of the participants in such contests or exhibitions receives a
money remuneration, purse, or prize for performance or service in such contest.
|
|
Texas |
|
a person who competes in a boxing[0] event in this
state conducted for a purse or compensation. |
No definition |
|
Utah |
|
No definition |
No definition |
|
Vermont |
|
If it is not an amateur event
all other
matches shall be considered professional boxing matches. |
is a match held
under the supervision of a school, college or university or under the
supervision of United States Amateur
Boxing,
Inc. or its successor as the nationally-designated governing body for amateur
boxing.
|
|
Washington |
|
a person who has received or competed for any purse or other
articles of value greater than fifty dollars, either for the expenses of
training or for participating in an event. |
a person who has never
received nor competed for any purse or other article of value, either for
expenses of training or for participating in an event, other than a prize of
fifty dollars in value or less. |
|
West Virginia |
|
No definition |
No definition |
|
Wisconsin |
|
a boxing contest or exhibition in which one or more of the boxers
is compensated for participating in the contest or exhibition |
a boxing contest or exhibition
in which none of the boxers are compensated for participating in the contest or
exhibition |
|
Wyoming
|
None |
Nothing |
Nothing |
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