Chapter 3773-4 | Boxers

Rule 3773-4-01 | Conditions for applying and the issuing of a professional boxing license.

• Effective: January 1, 2012
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The applicant must be a minimum of eighteen years old and have a federal identification card (ID), prior to applying for an Ohio boxing license.

(B) Any person who desires to participate as a professional boxer shall apply for a professional boxing license from the athletic commission. The applicant shall fill out an application form. The forms shall be provided by the athletic commission. Each application shall be accompanied by the license fee prescribed in rules in agency 3773 of the Administrative Code.

(C) The application shall include: the name of the applicant; the "ring" name of the applicant if applicable; ; address, city, state and zip code; date of birth; home and cell phone number(s); email address and federal ID number. The applicant must answer all questions on the form and must sign the application form verifying the information provided is accurate and true.

(D) After proper filing of an application for a professional boxer's license and the executive director determines the applicant meets all the qualifications, the athletic commission shall vote on whether to issue the license to the applicant.

(E) Any license issued pursuant to this rule shall bear the correct name of the licensee, their photo, address, an identification number issued by the athletic commission and the date of expiration. A license issued pursuant to this rule shall expire twelve months after it's date of issue and may be renewed thirty days prior to the expiration date.

(F) If the application is for renewal of a professional boxing license, the applicant must submit the application form with the fee prescribed in rules in agency 3773 of the Administrative Code. The commission may deny the renewal application for one or more reasons in any rules in agency 3773 of the Administrative Code.

(G) A professional boxer will not be permitted to compete if they fail to present proof of a valid federal ID and a current Ohio boxing license, to the commission inspector or representative at the weigh-in.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3773.34
Amplifies: 3773.42, 3773.55
Five Year Review Date: 8/18/2022
Prior Effective Dates: 2/8/1991, 1/19/2006

Rule 3773-4-02 | Medical requirements for professional boxers and all other unarmed combat contestants.

• Effective: November 30, 2017
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The following test results from a certified laboratory or physician must be submitted to the commission office prior to competing in a professional boxing event:

(1) Negative HIV;

(2) Negative hepatitis B surface antigen (SA);

(3) Procedures to complete when failing hepatitis B surface antigen test:

(a) Must pass a hepatitis B "PCR" quantitative test;

(b) The quantitative limit must be within permissible limits according to the laboratory where test was administered;

(c) Test and results must have been taken be within two weeks of the event.

(4) Negative hepatitis C antibody;

(5) Dilated eye exam performed no later than twenty four hours prior to any competition by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or qualified physician.

(B) Electrocardiogram - EKG when required by commission, executive director or physician.

(C) A cat scan examination of the brain will only be accepted when given within five days of the last date a contestant competes in a unarmed combat sports event. Any required post fight neurological examination after five days must be an MRI or MRI/MRA examination.

(1) These results must be from a medical facility, certified laboratory or physician;

(2) Must include the date of test, the address and phone number of the facility where test was conducted.

(D) The results of an MRI or MRI/MRA examination will be accepted if conducted within five years.

(1) When a neurological clearance is needed for a pre fight examination;

(2) When competing in a ten or twelve round title fight;

(3) Whenever it is an age requirement.

(E) The commission, executive director or ringside physician may order a electrocardiogram or MRI or MRI/MRA examination when a contestant:

(1) Has lost three or more bouts in a row by KO or TKO;

(2) Has lost five bouts in a row;

(3) Has an extensive losing record.

(F) The commission will not issue a license or renew any applicants license for a contestant who is found to be blind in one eye or whose vision in one eye is so poor that an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician recommends that a license not be granted. This rule is effective regardless of how good the vision of the contestant may be in the other eye.

(G) The commission will not issue or renew the license of any applicants who wishes to compete in any sport regulated by the Ohio athletic commission who has suffered from any type of cerebral hemorrhage.

(H) If any applicant applying for a contestants license has suffered a serious head injury the applicant must have their application for license reviewed by the executive director or commission before any license is issued or renewed.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3773.34
Amplifies: 3773.34; 3773.45
Five Year Review Date: 11/18/2022
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/2006

Rule 3773-4-03 | Additional physical examination requirements.

• Effective: August 1, 2019
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) In addition to all other required medical examinations these additional medicals must be submitted to the athletic commission office within seventy-two hours by a professional boxer or other unarmed combat contestant who:

(1) Is thirty-five years or older.

(2) Has boxed in excess of one hundred fifty rounds of professional boxing since being licensed.

(3) Has been a previously licensed boxer and hasn't participated in the past twenty-four months.

(B) Required medicals:

(1) MRI brain examination.

(2) A stress echo cardiogram examination with cardiology clearance.

(3) A chest x-ray within two years.

(C) The required tests - once completed - will be reviewed by a qualified physician who will present their analysis to the commission. The commission will determine if a professional boxing license will be issued after carefully reviewing all the information.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3773.34
Amplifies: 3773.34, 3773.45
Five Year Review Date: 8/1/2024
Prior Effective Dates: 6/16/2006, 4/18/2009, 1/16/2010

Rule 3773-4-04 | Licensing a professional boxer or all mixed martial arts fighters from out of state.

• Effective: January 7, 2018
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Applicants from out of state may produce a valid physical examination form issued from another state, if that state's physical requirements are as stringent as those required by the state of Ohio, or meet the minimum standards required by the association of boxing commissions.

(B) It is the applicants responsibility to verify that the physical examination from another state meets those required by the state of Ohio.

(C) When using the physical examination from another state, that meet the standards in paragraph (A) of this rule, the expiration date for the Ohio license will be ninety days or less from the date of issuance, depending on the expiration date of the medicals that were submitted.

(D) The fee is the same as required for an Ohio license.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3773.34
Amplifies: 3773.34; 3773.45
Five Year Review Date: 1/7/2023
Prior Effective Dates: 6/16/2006

Rule 3773-4-05 | Contract requirements and suspensions.

• Effective: November 30, 2017
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) There must be a contestant/promoter contract signed by both parties for all public or private competition that involves the sports of boxing, kick boxing, karate, or any other form of boxing or martial arts prior to any bout occurring. The contract shall contain the names of the contestants competing, the date of the event, the location of the event, the weight or weight class the contestants will compete at and the amount the contestants will be paid for the bout. The state of Ohio contract form must be the valid contract form completed by all parties.

(B) A bout agreement which provides that a contestant must fight exclusively for one promoter or at the option of one promoter is prohibited for amateur contestants.

(C) In the event a contestant is unable to participate through no fault of their own, the promoter shall give the contestant the option of receiving the show money or an amount expressly agreed upon and approved by the commission in advance and contracted for on the contestant/promoter contract or scheduling the contestant on the promoter's next event at an equal or greater amount of the contract amount listed for the event the contestant was unable to participate in.

(D) After signing a contestant/promoter contract form, a contestant may not enter into another contracted bout that is scheduled thirty days prior to the previously signed contract. If the contestant participates in a bout within this thirty day time period and because of participating in this event is not able to participate in the originally contracted event, they shall be suspended for not more than six months. The contestant may appeal by certified mail to the executive director for a hearing within thirty days of the mailing date of the notice of the suspension. The suspension will start at the end of any previously administered suspension.

(E) When the contestant fails to appear in a contest in which they signed a bout agreement to appear shall be suspended for not more than six months. The contestant may produce a valid certificate from a physician and approved by the executive director or commission in the case of any physical disability. The contestant who files a certificate from a physician stating they are unable to fulfill a bout agreement because of physical disability, shall be immediately given a medical suspension for a period of sixty days. The executive director or commission may remove any suspension if the contestant is released from the bout agreement by mutual agreement. The contestant may appeal by certified mail to the executive director within thirty days of the mailing date of notice of the suspension.

(F) A contestant who fails to make the required weight listed on the contestant/promoter contract form and as a result the bout is canceled the contestant will be suspended for not more than six months and be fined or both. The contestant may appeal by certified mail to the executive director within thirty days of the mailing date of notice of the suspension.

(G) If after weighing in a contestant fails to honor the contestant/promoter bout contract by not showing for the bout or refuses to compete, may be fined and shall be suspended for not more than twelve months or both. The contestant may appeal by certified mail to the executive director within thirty days of the mailing date of the notice of suspension.

(H) A contestant or promoter will be suspended indefinitely, until payment is made in full of any judgment awarded by a court of law that is presented to the Ohio athletic commission for any violations of rules in agency 3773 of the Administrative Code.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3773.34
Amplifies: 3773.34; 3773.45
Five Year Review Date: 11/18/2022
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/2006, 1/1/2012

Rule 3773-4-06 | Restrictions for competing in a boxing, kickboxing or MMA event.

• Effective: November 28, 2017
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) No contestant may be eligible to compete, unless approved by the commission or executive director when the following conditions exist:

(1) Seven days after participating in any bout;

(2) Sixty days following a knockout "(KO)" loss;

(3) Thirty days following a technical knockout "(TKO)" loss;

(4) When there is a medical suspension or medical requirements that are required;

(5) If they do not have a current federal ID license;

(6) if they do not have a current national MMA ID

(7) If they are not currently licensed in the state of Ohio;

(8) If they are listed as suspended by any other state in "Fight fax" records or any commission suspension list recognized by the Ohio athletic commission.

(9) if the contestant shows a lack of skills due to multiple losses, lack of defensive skills or lack of training.

(B) The time for any suspension or required rest period will start the first day after the date of the scheduled event.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3773.34
Amplifies: 3773.34; 3773.45
Five Year Review Date: 11/17/2022
Prior Effective Dates: 4/18/2009

Rule 3773-4-07 | Pre-bout and post-bout medical examinations.

• Effective: November 30, 2017
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Requires that a contestant be given a medical examination by the assigned ringside medical personnel in any competition regulated by the Ohio athletic commission that involves boxing, mixed martial arts, kick boxing, karate, tough man contests or any other form of boxing or martial arts within a specified time period before and after the competition to determine whether the contestant is physically fit to compete in the competition under specified standards, has sustained physical injuries in the competition, or requires follow-up examinations. Medicals are given within forty-eight hours prior to the start of the event.

(B) No contestant may compete without signing the ringside physicians report stating that they have been training, that they are in good physical condition and that they are not withholding any information from the examining physician, in reference to any recent KO losses, recent illness, prescribed medication, or any physical defects.

(C) The physician shall answer all questions on the post ringside physicians report, recommend any suspensions or further medical examinations and submit the report to the inspector or commission representative.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3773.34
Amplifies: 3773.34; 3773.45
Five Year Review Date: 11/18/2022
Prior Effective Dates: 1/19/2006