Wisconsin Legislature: SPS 192.41(5)

(9) The wrist portion of a boxer’s gloves shall be sealed with identifying red or blue duct tape and initialed by the inspector or department representative.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.38 Ring. All bouts shall be conducted in a ring which meets the following requirements:

(1) The ring shall be a square of not less than 16 nor more than 20 feet on a side within the ropes. The apron of the ring floor shall extend at least 18 inches beyond the ropes. The ring may not be more than 4 feet above the floor of the building or grounds of an outdoor arena and shall have 3 sets of suitable steps for the use of boxers, coaches, and officials, one in each boxer’s corner and one in a neutral corner or area for use by ringside physicians and referees.

(2) The ring shall be circumscribed with at least 4 ropes. Ropes may not be less than one inch in diameter. Ropes may not be made of metal. Ropes shall be wrapped securely with soft material. The lowest rope shall be 18 inches above the ring floor, the second rope 30 inches, the third rope 42 inches, and the fourth rope 54 inches above the ring floor. The ropes shall be secured with 2 spacer ties on each side of the ring. The ring floor shall be padded with a one-inch layer of padding of felt, rubber or other similar material, placed on a one-inch base of building board or similar supporting base. Padding shall be covered with canvas duck, or similar material tightly stretched and laced securely in place, preferably under the apron.

(3) Ring posts shall be at least 3 inches in diameter, extending from the floor to the height of 58 inches above the ring floor. Ropes shall be connected to posts with the extension not shorter than 18 inches. Turn-buckles shall be covered with a protective padding. Full-length vertical corner pads shall be secured in place.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.39 Corner equipment.

(1) At least one second who works in a boxer’s corner may have the following equipment:

(a) A bucket.

(b) Clean towels.

(d) Ice in a spill-proof sealed container.

(e) Water in clear plastic sealed containers.

(2) Seconds shall submit the bucket and corner equipment to the inspector or department representative for inspection and approval before a bout.

(3) In case of a cut, a boxer’s seconds may only make topical use of the following:

(a) A solution of adrenaline 1/1000.

(b) Avetine.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.40 Number of rounds in a bout.

(1) No bout involving female boxers may be scheduled for more than 10 rounds with each round lasting 2 minutes and with a one-minute rest between rounds.

(2) No bout involving male boxers may be scheduled for more than 15 rounds with each round lasting 3 minutes and with a one-minute rest between rounds.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.41 Consumables.

(1) Only water or an approved electrolyte-replacement beverage may be consumed during the bout. Electrolyte-replacement beverages include GatoradeÒ, PoweradeÒ, PropelÒ, and SmartwaterÒ. All consumables are subject to approval by the inspector or department representative.

(2) Beverages shall be brought to ring side unopened, sealed, and only in a plastic container. Unsealed beverages are prohibited.

(3) The inspector or department representative shall approve and sign off on any beverage.

(4) No stimulant beverages or beverages with caffeine, such as Red BullÒ and Rockstar, are allowed.

(5) The department reserves the right to inspect, test, or remove any beverage from ring side. The department may test any contestant that an inspector or department representative believes is in violation of this section.

(6) Any beverage that is tested and found to have been altered in a manner that has not been approved by the inspector or department representative shall result in the contestant being subject to disqualification and disciplinary action.

(7) Tobacco use is not permitted in the contestant’s locker room.

(8) Use of any energy stimulant in pill or other form is not permitted.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

Subchapter V — Conducting Mixed Martial Arts at Events

SPS 192.42 General provisions.

(1) Male and female contestants may not compete against each other in a bout.

(2) Each contestant shall present a completed medical examination report form containing the information in s. SPS 192.06 (2) (d) to the ringside physician at the pre-bout examination.

(3) All professional and amateur bouts shall be conducted under the supervision of the department.

(4) Only licensed participants or persons approved by the department may be allowed in the cage or designated locker rooms.

(5) Amateur contestants may not currently or have ever been a professional fighter in any combative sport. This includes mixed martial arts, boxing, karate, or any other form of a combative sport. Any contestant found in violation will be subject to disciplinary action.

(6) Debut amateur contestants shall complete a department-approved form detailing the contestant’s experience and training for mixed martial arts competitions. The trainer of the debut contestant shall certify that the contestant is skilled enough to compete and has never engaged in any form of unarmed combat as a professional.

Note: Forms are available from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Professional Credentialing, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708, or from the department’s website at: http://dsps.wi.gov.

(7) Amateur contestants shall have a minimum of 5 recorded amateur bouts on the Association of Boxing Commissions’ national database prior to being permitted to compete as a professional contestant. The commissioner or department representative may waive this requirement.

(8) A bout in which more than 2 contestants participate is prohibited.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.43 Weigh-in procedures and weight classes.

(1) Professional and amateur contestants shall weigh in no more than 36 hours prior to the start time of the event in which they will compete. The weigh-in shall be conducted under the supervision of an inspector or department representative at a place designated by the promoter in an area with ample lighting to observe contestants and conduct the weigh-in.

(2) Contestants may wear a shirt, a pair of shorts, and socks at the weigh-in. Contestants may not wear any additional apparel or jewelry.

(3) The scale shall be provided by the promoter and approved by the inspector or department representative.

(4) Contestants may not participate in a bout where the weigh-in weight difference of opposing contestants exceeds the weight allowance shown in Table A. In this section, “weight allowance” means the difference in weight permitted between contestants in 2 different weight classes.

(5) After having communicated with the promoter, the commissioner or department representative shall have the sole discretion as to whether to cancel a bout if a contestant does not make weight.

(6) There may not be a difference of more than 3 pounds between weight classes from straw weight up to the bantamweight class for fighters competing in two different weight classes.

(7) There may not be a difference of more than 5 pounds between weight classes from featherweight up to the welterweight class for fighters competing in two different weight classes.

(8) There may not be a difference of more than 7 pounds between weight classes from middleweight up to the superheavyweight class for fighters competing in two different weight classes.

Example: A fighter weighing 134 pounds in the bantamweight class may not compete against an opponent who weighs more than 137 pounds in the featherweight class. A fighter weighing 184 pounds in the middleweight class may not compete against an opponent who weighs more than 191 pounds in the light heavyweight class.

(9) A one-pound weight variance is allowed for all weight classes for all bouts except title bouts and catch-weight bouts.

(10) A contestant in the welterweight class or lower may not lose more than 2 pounds within 1 hour. A contestant above the welterweight class may not lose more than 3 pounds within 1 hour.

(11) Weight allowances between weight classes do not apply to contestants in a title bout.

(12) The final agreement between a contestant and a promoter shall be provided to the department no later than 4 business days before the official weigh-in.

(13) Contestants who fail to arrive at their report time for weigh-in will be subject to a suspension of up to 120 days, as reported in the Association of Boxing Commissions’ mixed martial arts national database.

(14) Contestants who fail to make their contracted weight within 1 hour of their official weigh-in will be subject to a suspension of up to 120 days, as reported in the Association of Boxing Commissions’ national database.

Table A

Note: On July 26, 2017, the Association of Boxing Commissions revised its unified rules of mixed martial arts to include 4 weight classes in addition to those listed in Table A. As required under s. 444.095 (4), Stats., the department is conducting mixed martial arts contests using the weight classes as revised by the ABC. A complete list of weight classes is available on the ABC’s website at http://www.abcboxing.com/unified-weight-classes-mma/. Table A will be revised in future rulemaking.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.44 Judging and scoring.

(1) All bouts will be scored by 3 judges.

(2) The ten-point must scoring system under the ABC’s unified rules shall be the standard system of scoring a bout. The winner of the round shall be awarded 10 points, and the loser of the round shall be awarded 9 points or less, except for the rare occasion of an even round, that is scored 10 to 10.

Note: The ABC’s unified rules are available at www.abcboxing.com.

(3) Only the referee may assess a foul or any point deductions. Judges may not deduct points for what they interpret is a foul.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.45 Fouls.

(1) The referee may caution, warn, or penalize a contestant for committing a foul.

(2) The penalty for a foul may be a deduction of points or disqualification. Any points deducted for a foul shall be deducted in the round in which the foul occurred. Disqualification may occur after multiple fouls or if the referee determines a foul is flagrant.

(3) If a bottom contestant commits a foul and in the referee’s judgment is not in control, unless the top contestant is injured, the bout shall continue so as not to jeopardize the top contestant’s superior positioning at the time.

(4) The referee shall verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.

(5) If an injury results from a foul and is severe enough to terminate the bout, the contestant causing the injury loses by disqualification.

(6) If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, a mandatory 2-point penalty shall be assessed to the contestant committing the foul.

(7) When an injury sustained by a contestant as a result of an intentional foul causes the contestant to be unable to continue at a subsequent point, the injured contestant shall win by a technical decision, if they are ahead on the score cards. If the injured contestant is even or behind on the score card at the time of the stoppage, the bout shall be declared a technical draw.

(8) If a bout is stopped because of an unintentional foul, the referee shall determine whether the contestant who has been fouled can continue or not. If the contestant’s chance of winning has not been seriously jeopardized as a result of the foul, and if the foul did not involve concussive impact to the head of the contestant who has been fouled, the referee may order the bout continued after a recuperative interval of not more than 5 minutes. Immediately after stopping the bout or at the end of the round, the referee shall immediately inform the inspector, commissioner, or department representative of their determination that the foul was accidental and unintentional.

(9) If the referee determines either from their observation or that of the ringside physician that the bout may not continue because of the injury from the unintentional foul, the bout shall be declared a no contest if the foul occurred before completion of the first 2 rounds of a non-championship bout, or before completion of the first 3 rounds of a championship bout.

(10) If an unintentional foul renders the contestant unable to continue the bout, or an injury from an intentional foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the referee stops the bout because of the injury, after the completion of the second round in a non-championship bout or 3-round bout, or after the completion of the third round of a championship bout or 5-round bout, the outcome shall be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the partial round at which the referee stopped the bout.

(11) A contestant may not be declared the winner of a bout on the basis of their claim that the opponent fouled them unintentionally by hitting them in the groin. If after a recuperative interval of not more than 5 minutes a contestant is unwilling to continue because of the claim of being hit in the groin, the bout will be declared a no contest if the second round has not been completed in a 3-round bout or the third round has not been completed in a 5-round bout.

(12)

(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), types of fouls in a mixed martial arts bout are those identified in the ABC’s unified rules for mixed martial arts.

(b) An illegal strike to the back of the head, resulting in a foul, include a strike in the nape of the neck area up to the top of the ears, and a strike in the mohawk area from the top of the ears to the crown of the head, or the area where the head begins to curve, as specified in the ABC’s unified rules.

1. An elbow or forearm strike.

2. Any strike to the head with the knee.