Rule 85-5-.08 - Conduct of Bout(1)Bare-Knuckle Boxers. (a)Federal Identification Card. All bare-knuckle boxers must have a valid national Federal Identification Card issued by their home state per the Association of Boxing Commissions.(b)Prohibition if Under Suspension. No bare-knuckle boxer shall enter any agreement or contract with a promoter, compete, or attempt to compete in any match in Georgia when such bare-knuckle boxer knows that his or her combat sports license issued by this Commission or by any other boxing Commission is under suspension.(c)Pregnancy. No bare-knuckle boxer shall enter any agreement or contract with a promoter, compete, or attempt to compete in any match in Georgia when such boxer knows that she is pregnant.(d)Weigh-In. 1. Preliminary Weigh-In. All fighters must video record a Preliminary Weigh-in one week prior to the Official Weigh-in. That video must be reported to the promoter. i. The promoter should save these recordings for 1 year.ii. Fighters are required to be within 10% of their scheduled weight.iii. Should either or both of the contestants weigh more than 10% above their scheduled weight, the promoter may increase the weight class limit, with the consent of both parties.2. Official Weigh-In. In all contests or exhibitions, contestants shall weigh-in at a previously agreed upon time and in the presence of an authorized Commission representative, provided however that such weigh-in shall not take place less than six hours nor more than 36 hours prior to the contest or exhibition. i. All official weigh-ins, unless otherwise agreed to in advance by the Commission, shall be conducted outside the view of the general public.ii. Ceremonial weigh-ins may be conducted in such manner and at such place as agreed to by all parties involved in the promotion or match.iii. The weigh-in will last for 2 hours after the agreed upon time.iv. Contestants who have not arrived in the first hour will be placed on the clock and their hour to cut weight will start. When the contestant arrives, and weighs-in, the contestant will only have the remaining time of the 2-hour weigh-in window to cut any weight if they missed their agreed upon weight.3. Missing Weight i. Any fighter who does not make weight at an Official Weigh-In may be fined and may further be subject to denial of Commission approval to fight at the failed weight class during his/her next bout.ii. Any fighter who twice does not make weight at an Official Weigh-In may be fined and may further be subject to denial of Commission approval to fight at the failed weight class during his/her next two bouts.(e)Weight Classes. 1. Strawweight: 100-107 lbs.2. Flyweight: 108-115 lbs.3. Bantamweight: 116-125 lbs.4. Featherweight: 126-135 lbs.5. Lightweight: 136-145 lbs.6. Welterweight: 146-155 lbs.7. Middleweight: 156-165 lbs.8. Super Middleweight: 166-175 lbs.9. Light Heavyweight: 176-185 lbs.10. Middle Heavyweight: 186-205 lbs.11. Cruiserweight: 206-225 lbs.12. Heavyweight: 226-265 lbs.13. Super Heavyweight: 266 lbs. and up(f)Weight Spread. No bare-knuckle boxing contest or exhibition may be scheduled if the difference in weight between the boxers exceeds the following allowance. 1. Up to 118 lbs.-not more than 3 pounds2. 118 lbs. to 126 lbs.-not more than 5 pounds3. 126 lbs.-135 lbs.-not more than 6 pounds4. 135 lbs.-147 lbs.-not more than 7 pounds5. 147 lbs.-200 lbs.-not more than 9 pounds6. 200 lbs. and over (Heavyweight)-no limit(g)Contestants: Entering Ring. All contestants must be ready to enter the ring immediately upon the conclusion of the preceding bout.(h)Contestants: Demeanor During the Round. Each contestant shall take care to avoid fouling their opponent or illegally striking their opponent.(i)Penalty for Disqualification. Any bare-knuckle boxer who is disqualified for any reason by the referee or the Commission representative supervising the show and is therefore unable to fulfill the terms of their contract will forfeit their entire purse and will be subject to a fine not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the contracted amount of the purse.1. Any bare-knuckle boxer who has forfeited their purse because of a loss by disqualification has a right to appeal during either the next two scheduled Commission meetings, and must so notify the Commission in writing within fifteen days of the disqualification of their intent to appeal. Failure to notify the Commission within the fifteen-day period of the intention to appeal the forfeiture will be tantamount to a waiver of any further appeal rights.(2)Seconds. (a)Number Allowed. Each bare-knuckle boxer may have up to three seconds, except if the Commission permits otherwise. Each contestant shall have one chief second and each chief must have a complete first aid kit.(b)Leaving the Ring: Seconds shall leave the ring enclosure at the sound of the timekeeper's whistle. They shall leave the ring platform promptly when the gong sounds for the beginning of each round and immediately remove all obstructions, including stools, buckets, and any other corner equipment. None of these articles shall be replaced on the ring floor until the gong has sounded the end of a round.(c)Assisting Contestant During Bout: Prohibited. During the progress of the rounds, seconds shall not throw water on the contestant or in any way assist or interfere the contestant.(d)Throwing Towel: Prohibited. Seconds are forbidden from tossing a towel into the ring in token defeat of their boxer.(e)Ejection and Disqualification. Violations of the provisions of this subparagraph may be followed by ejection of the offender from the ring corner and may result in the disqualification of their contestant by the referee.(3)Between Round Care. Between round care of a boxer will be strictly enforced by the Commission. (a)Second: Only One Allowed in Ring. Only one person will be allowed in the ring with the bare-knuckle boxer during the rest period between rounds and no more than two people, exclusive to the Commission inspector and approved media personnel, will be allowed on the apron during that time.(b)Corner Kit: Substances Allowed. The use of an unapproved preparation during the match is prohibited. The only substances and materials allowed in the corner are: 6. Vaseline or surgical lubricants(c)Corner Kit: Substances Prohibited. Substances such as Monsell's solution, other iron or bismuth compounds, collodion, silver nitrate, ammonia or smelling salts will not be used and the use of such modalities will result in disqualification, suspension or fine of the boxer, manager and/or trainer.(d)Excessive Lubricant. The use of excessive lubricant on the body, arms or face of a boxer will not be tolerated.(e)Re-hydration of Contestant During Bout. Only water will be permitted to ease dehydration of a boxer between rounds. Honey, electrolyte glucose, sugar or any other substance mixed with water is prohibited.(4)After the Bout. (a)Contestants to Leave Ring. When the decision of the referee or judges has been announced both contestants and their seconds shall at once leave the ring and retire to their dressing rooms.(b)Decision: How to Change. A decision rendered at the termination of any boxing contest is final and shall not be changed unless following the rendition of a decision the Commission appointed secretary determines that any one of the following occurred: 1. There was collusion or fraud affecting the result of any contest, or,2. The compilation of the score cards of the referee and judges reveals a clerical or mathematical error which caused the decision to be given to the wrong bare-knuckle boxer.3. There was a violation of the laws or rules and regulations governing professional bare-knuckle boxing in Georgia which affected the results of any contest.4. The Commission supervisor may in his or her discretion change a referee's decision if in his or her judgement a palpable and self-evident error has been committed.(c)Decision: How to Appeal Commission Supervisor's Ruling. 1. A petition to change a bout decision or the ruling of the Commission appointed supervisor shall be in writing and filed by a bare-knuckle boxer or the bare-knuckle boxer's manager within five (5) business days from the date the decision was rendered.2. If a petition to change a bout decision or the ruling of the Commission appointed supervisor is not filed in writing within five (5) business days of the decision, the Commissioner may, upon the vote of no less than a majority of the Commissioners present, hold a hearing to change the decision at any time.3. If the Commission determines that any of the above occurred with regards to any contest then the decision rendered shall be changed as the Commission may direct, and shall notify the national registry within two (2) business days of the change.4. The Commission's findings of fact and rile in such matters shall be final and may not be appealed.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 85-5-.08
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-19, 43-1-25, 43-4B-4, 43-4B-7, 43-4B-11, 43-4B-12, 43-4B-13, 43-4B-14, 43-4B-18.1, 43-4B-19, 43-4B-20.
Original Rule entitled "Conduct of Bout" adopted. F. May 20, 2024; eff. June 9, 2024.