99- 650 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 5-5

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 650-2-5-5 - Referees' Duties

A. Referees shall be attired in apparel approved by the Authority.

B. Prior to commencement of a bout, a referee shall:

1. Inspect the mouthpiece of each boxer, to ensure that mouthpieces are correctly inserted;

2. Inspect any dressing on a cut, wound, abrasion, laceration, or blood swelling on the scalp or face, to determine whether a boxer should be allowed to compete. Unless the dressing can be removed and the injury, cut, or wound is not so serious as to endanger the boxer, the referee shall not allow the boxer to compete;

3. Confirm boxers' identities;

4. Receive confirmation that each judge has the correct identity of each boxer;

5. Meet with boxers and their chief seconds in the dressing room to:

a. Warn the seconds that violation of applicable rules may result in their disqualification, disqualification of their boxers, and/or disciplinary action;

b. Identify the belt/hip line and clarify that equipment shall not extend above that imaginary line;

c. Explain what to do when the warning indicating that the end of a round is near sounds and when the bell ending the round sounds;

d. Explain to the chief second that he/she is expected to manage the corner, e.g., clean up spills or ice, wipe off excess petroleum jelly, and ensure that the boxer has his/her mouthpiece in place before the start of each round;

e. Share how she/he will direct the boxers to break,e.g., "punch" or "get out" and, if necessary, "hold your punches" and step in and separate the boxers;

f. Review fouls and how she/he will issue cautions and/or deductions of points; and

g. Answer any questions from boxers and chief seconds;

6. Meet with each physician to:

a. Determine his/her ringside experience;

b. Determine where she/he will be located at ringside during the bout;

c. Remind the physician that he/she is not to enter the ring unless directed to do so by the referee or the Authority;

d. Specify the signal to be used to call the physician into the ring;

e. Specify the signal to be used to call the physician to a neutral corner;

f. Direct the physician to mount the ring apron quickly if called to examine a boxer, make a quick examination, and communicate with the referee;

g. Direct the physician not to make any statement after examining a boxer that could change the dynamics of the bout, e.g., "Let it go one more round"; and

h. Answer any questions from the physician; and

7. Check the condition of the ring to ensure that everything is ready for the bout (buckets and stairs in red and blue corners, rope tension, ring floor, and canvas condition, etc.).

C. When boxers enter the ring, a referee shall:

1. Make sure that no foreign substance that might be detrimental to an opponent has been applied to the gloves or body of a boxer;

2. Inspect gloves, trunks, shoes (which must be double knotted and/or taped), hair, mouthpieces, and safety equipment;

3. Re-establish the belt line and check for jewelry;

4. After the announcer makes introductions, call the boxers to center ring, give final instructions, direct boxers to return to their corners, and clear the ring and ring apron in preparation for the contest; and

5. Before signaling the timekeeper to start the bout, check with each judge, the timekeeper and the physician(s) to determine if they are ready.

D. During a bout, a referee shall:

1. Ensure the safety of the boxers;

2. Enforce all the rules that apply to the conduct of a boxer's second;

3. Maintain control of the fight and issue cautions and/or deduct points as appropriate;

4. Whenever the gloves of a boxer touch the canvas floor, inspect the gloves and wipe them clean before the bout proceeds;

5. If a boxer is cut, and it is deemed appropriate, interrupt the bout to consult the ringside physician to determine if the injured boxer can continue;

6. If a ringside physician steps onto the ring apron, call time-out, and have the injured boxer examined by that physician;

7. Immediately stop a contest to inform the Authority and boxers of any injury caused by a head butt or foul, determine if the act was intentional or accidental, and determine if the bout can continue;

8. Instruct the judges to mark their scorecards accordingly, when he/she has assessed a foul;

9. If a boxer is still down when the referee calls the count of ten or, in the opinion of the referee, a boxer who has been knocked down is in no condition to continue, wave both arms to indicate a knockout;

10. If both boxers go down at the same time, continue the count as long as one of them is still down. If both boxers remain down until the count of ten, stop the bout, and the decision shall be a technical draw;

11. At the end of each round, pick up the score cards from the judges and give them to the Authority, unless the Authority has arranged some other procedure; and

12. Exercise exclusive and final authority to stop or continue the bout, as deemed appropriate.

E. After a bout, a referee shall:

1. Pick up scorecards from the judges and give them to the Authority;

3. Inspect the hand wraps of both boxers after their gloves have been removed;

4. Call the boxers to center ring and raise the hand of the winner after his/her name is announced; and

5. Maintain control of the ring, boxers, and seconds, until the winner has been announced and all have exited the ring.

99- 650 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 5-5