Section 650-2-3-2 - RefereeingAll boxing competitions shall be refereed according to the following criteria:
A. Warnings The referee shall issue a single warning for the following infractions:
1. Holding or grabbing the ropes;2. Holding an opponent's shorts or gloves; or3. The presence of more than one second on the fighting area perimeter. After an initial warning, if the prohibited conduct persists or the first foul warrants, a penalty will be issued. The penalty may result in a deduction of points or disqualification.
B. Fouls 1. In General a. A foul is an action not meeting the standard of a fair blow or violating a standard of professional boxing conduct.b. Only a referee can assess a foul. If the referee does not call a foul, judges shall not make that assessment on their own or factor such into their scoring calculations. Judges shall deduct points for knockdowns or fouls only if so instructed by the referee.c. Fouls will result in one or more points being deducted by the official scorekeeper from the offending boxer's score.2. Types of Fouls Fouls include, but are not limited to, the following conduct:
a. Hitting an opponent below the navel or behind an ear;b. Hitting an opponent who is knocked down;c. Holding an opponent with one hand and hitting with the other;d. Holding or deliberately maintaining a clinch;e. Wrestling, kicking, or roughing;f. Pushing an opponent about the ring or into the ropes;g. Butting with the head, shoulder, knee, or elbow;h. Hitting with the open glove, the butt or inside of the hand, the back of the hand, the elbow, or the wrist;i. Purposely falling onto the canvas of the ring without being hit or to avoid a blow;j. Striking deliberately at that part of the body over the kidneys;k. Using the pivot blow (pivoting while throwing a punch);l. Using a rabbit punch (punches thrown to the back of the head and neck areas);m. Jabbing an eye with the thumb of the glove;n. Use of abusive language; p. Intentionally spitting;q. Hitting on or out of the ropes;r. Holding the rope and hitting;t. Stepping on an opponent;u. Crouching below an opponent's belt;v. Leaving a neutral corner;w. Shouting by a corner second;x. Unsportsmanlike conduct causing injury;y. Any act that places an opponent at an unfair disadvantage; andz. Not following a referee's instructions.C. Outcomes Resulting from Injuries Sustained During Competition 1. Intentional Fouls a. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injury is severe enough to terminate the bout immediately, the boxer causing the injury shall lose by disqualification.b. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee shall notify the judges to deduct two points from the score of the boxer who caused the foul. Point deductions for intentional fouls are mandatory.c. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured boxer will win by Technical Decision if he is ahead on the score cards. The bout will result in a Technical Draw if the injured boxer is behind or even on the score cards. Partial or incomplete rounds will be scored. If no action has occurred, the round shall be scored as an even round.d. If a boxer injures himself while intentionally attempting to foul his opponent, the referee shall not take any action in that boxer's favor, and the injury will be deemed to be one produced by an opponent's fair blow.e. If the referee decides that a boxer has conducted himself in an unsportsmanlike manner, the referee may stop the bout and disqualify the boxer.2. Accidental Fouls a. If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a No Decision if stopped before three completed rounds in bouts scheduled for four rounds. If a bout is scheduled for more than four rounds and an accidental foul occurs causing an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a No Decision if stopped before four completed rounds. Rounds are complete when the bell rings signifying the end of a round.b. If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop a bout immediately after three rounds in bouts scheduled for four rounds, the bout will result in a Technical Decision awarded to the boxer who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped. If a bout is scheduled for more than four rounds and an accidental foul causing an injury is severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately after four rounds, the bout will result in a Technical Decision awarded to the boxer who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped.c. A boxer who is hit with an accidental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time, but no more than five minutes, or she/he will lose the fight.D. Penalties for Fouls Disqualification for fouls to the body can only occur if the referee finds that the fouls are flagrant or continual. The referee may order a deduction of points for any illegal blow to the body and may, at his/her discretion, give a rest period of up to five minutes for the injured boxer to recover. The referee may ask a ringside physician to examine the boxer before granting the rest period. If the referee rules the foul accidental and the injured boxer is unable to continue after the five-minute rest period, the rules governing accidental fouls shall apply. When an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee will notify the judges and deduct two points from the score of the boxer who caused the foul. Point deductions for intentional fouls are mandatory.
E. Determination of a Knockdown It shall be ruled a knockdown when, as a result of a legal blow or series of legal blows, a boxer touches the floor with any part of the body other than his/her feet; is being held up by the ropes; or is hanging on, through, or over the ropes without the ability to protect him/herself and cannot fall to the floor.
F. Knockdown Eight Count In the case of a knockdown, the eight count is mandatory. A referee may terminate the count and the bout at any point, when he/she decides that the safety of a downed boxer is at risk.
A downed boxer will be allowed a ten count in which to rise unassisted. Should a boxer rise before the count of ten is reached and go back down immediately without being struck by the opponent, the referee shall resume the count where he/she left off. The referee may count a boxer out who is on, through, or over the ropes, or on the floor defensively.
A downed boxer's opponent shall go to the farthest neutral corner and remain there while the count is being made. If the opponent fails to go to the neutral corner, the referee may stop counting and resume the count where he/she left off when the opponent goes to the neutral corner.
G. Bout Termination Due to Injury: Technical Knockout When a cut is produced by a legal punch and the bout is stopped because of that cut, the injured boxer shall lose by Technical Knockout ("TKO"). Any boxer losing by way of a TKO resulting from head blows shall receive a medical suspension and shall not participate in any boxing activity for a minimum of 30 days. The boxer must satisfy requirements set forth in Section 4 of Chapter 7 of these rules for requalification to box.
G. Bout Termination Due to a Knockout When a boxer loses by way of a knock-out or is unable to rise by the count of ten, he/she shall lose by a Knockout ("KO"). Any boxer losing by way of a KO shall receive a medical suspension and shall not participate in any boxing activity for a minimum of 60 days. The boxer must satisfy requirements set forth in Section 4 of Chapter 7 of these rules for requalification to box.
99- 650 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 3-2