HAR 16-74 — BOXING (Subchapter 1 to 37)

These rules, adopted by the boxing commission, hereafter referred to as "commission", are intended to clarify and implement chapter 440 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the end that the provisions thereunder may be best effectuated and the public interest most effectively serve…

Inspectors shall perform such duties at boxing contests and exhibitions as shall be assigned by the executive secretary. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-10 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-18)

The commission's physician shall be responsible for the physical and mental condition of the boxers entering the ring and special attention shall be given to the eyes. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-100 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-21)

Physicians, other than those licensed by the commission, shall not be allowed in the dressing room before a contest or exhibition unless authorized by the commission or its representative. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-101 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § …

A boxer rejected by a commission's physician for physical disability shall be placed on the suspended list until the suspension is lifted by the commission. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-102 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-9)

An applicant for a referee's license must first take and successfully pass a written examination given by the commission, with a minimum grade of 75 before their applications will be considered. Examinations will be given to applicants for referee's licenses at such times as may …

All referees, judges and other officials shall report at least thirty minutes before the start of any boxing show, at which time the referees and judges shall be selected to officiate at any contest. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-107 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (…

(a) Annual. All referees must take and pass an annual physical and eye examination similar to that given to all applicants for boxer's licenses. (b) Regular. They shall, before officiating in any contest, report to the commission's physician who shall examine them if he feels the…

The chief official of contests shall be the referee who shall have general supervision over bouts and shall take his position in the ring. No person other than the contestants and the referee may enter the ring during the process of a round. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-109 [Eff 10…

A ticket inspector will be assigned to each show and his duties shall be as follows: (1) To see that all persons have proper admission tickets and that the seat stub is returned to them, and that the clipped tickets are put in a locked receptacle; and (2) To enable ticket holders…

Referees shall wear gray trousers and short sleeved, gray shirt with black bow tie and boxing shoes. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-110 [Eff 10/2/81; am and comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-9)

When deemed advisable by the commission a different referee may be designated for the preliminaries, semi-final or main event. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-111 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-19)

All referees will be held to strict observance of the rules while working in bouts. Failure to comply therewith shall necessitate immediate removal from the ring by the commission and cause the referee to be subject to suspension or license revocation. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-…

All referees shall visit the dressing rooms prior to the beginning of the show to give preliminary instructions and review rules with participating boxers and managers. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-113 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-19)

The referee shall call contestants together before each bout for final instructions, at which time each contestant shall be accompanied by his chief second only. The principals, after receiving instruction, shall shake hands and retire to their corners. They shall not again shake…

The referee shall inspect the boxers and the gloves and make sure that no foreign substances have been applied to either gloves or the bodies of boxers to the detriment of an opponent. The use of a reasonable amount of vaseline or similar compound on the face is permitted. They m…

The referee shall examine all contestants and see that they are wearing protection cups. If it is found they are not wearing protection cups, they shall not be allowed to participate. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-116 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-1…

The referee shall declare the contest terminated when: (1) A boxer is knocked down and is unable to arise within a period of ten seconds. (2) In his opinion, a boxer is unable to properly defend himself and there is danger of serious injury. (3) A chief second considering his box…

In cases where a boxer shall receive a cut eye or any other injury which the referee may believe shall incapacitate the boxer, the referee shall call into the ring the commission physician for examination of the boxer before the referee shall render his decision in the matter. No…

The referee shall stop a contest if in his judgment there is stalling or faking by either or both contestants, or if there is collusion affecting the result, in which case he must recommend the purse or purses of the offending boxer or boxers forfeited. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74…

Dressing room inspectors will be assigned to each show with duties as follows: (1) To see that none but qualified persons are allowed to enter the dressing rooms; qualified persons include boxers and managers scheduled to participate in the contests, and their seconds, club and p…

The referee may penalize any contestant who fouls his opponent during a contest, by charging such contestant with loss of points, whether the foul or fouls be intentional or unintentional. The referee shall use his own discretion in determining the number of points, if any, charg…

If an accidental butt occurs during a contest, the referee shall immediately warn the boxers in such a manner that everyone present may know what had transpired and deduct points for the offense. When a boxer receives a cut from an accidental butt, the referee shall halt the cont…

The referee shall use his discretion in deciding any matters that may come up during a contest which are not covered by these rules. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-122 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-19)

The referee shall not touch the contesting boxers except on failure of either or both to obey his command to "break". Failure on the part of the referee to observe this rule may result in his being penalized in whatever manner the commission may deem appropriate. Notes Haw. Code …

A contestant who goes down without being struck, and stays down, shall be disqualified, the referee shall render no decision, and his purse shall be turned over to the commission for disposition and other appropriate action. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-124 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/…

No contestant shall leave the ring during any one minute rest period between rounds; should any contestant fail or refuse to resume boxing when the gong sounds denoting the commencement of the next succeeding round, the referee shall count out such boxer; if any contestant is phy…

Should a contestant who is "down" arise before the count of "ten" is reached, and goes down again immediately without being struck, the referee shall resume the count where it was left off. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-126 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS §…

Should a contestant finish any one round of a contest and fails for any one of numerous reasons, such as cuts, injuries or admissions of overwhelming superiority, to answer the bell for the succeeding round, the proper termination of the bout is by a technical knockout in the rou…

Before a boxer resumes boxing after having been knocked down or having fallen or slipped to the floor, the referee shall wipe any accumulated resin from the boxer's gloves with a damp towel or on his shirt. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-128 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 4…

The executive secretary or inspector shall, before the start of each contest, issue to the referee, if appropriate, and judges a regulation score card. The referee and judges shall score each round of the contest on the cards and sign them. Score cards of the referee and judges m…

There shall also be assigned to each exhibition at the ringside, one or two ringside or arena inspectors whose duties shall be to see that apron and press seats are occupied by people assigned thereto, or that none but qualified managers and seconds are in the corners; that there…

Referees, who judge contests, shall determine the winner through the use of a ten-point "must" system, under which each round shall be tabulated with the winner of a round being awarded ten points and the loser receiving nine points or less. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-130 [Eff 10…

(a) In case of a knockdown the timekeeper shall immediately start counting off the seconds over the P.A. system. The timekeeper shall continue his count until the count of eight has been given. The referee, after directing the opponent to a neutral corner, shall pick up the count…

(a) Count. If a contestant falls or is knocked out of the ring during a contest, the referee shall use his discretion in starting to count over the fallen boxer, giving the boxer a reasonable time to reenter the ring before starting to count. A contestant who falls or is knocked …

In case of serious injury to a contestant, the referee shall be automatically under suspension until investigation by the commission establishes whether the injury was the result of negligence or incompetence on the part of the referee, or circumstances not reasonably within his …

Any referee failing to familiarize himself with the rules and to properly enforce them is subject to permanent suspension. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-134 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-9)

(a) General. A referee shall submit a report of any and all contests which he referees, including therein any matter involving disregard of the rules or the law and any recommendation relative to fines or suspensions of violators. This report must be filed immediately after worki…

(a) Duty. Every referee is required to warn competing boxers of his power to recommend the forfeiture of purse or purses, should there be any apparent cause for such warning. (b) Decision. In any case where the referee decides that the contestants are not honestly competing and t…

A decision rendered at the termination of any boxing contest cannot be changed except as follows: Should the commission at any time following the rendering of a decision, determine there was collusion affecting the result of any contest, or an error in computing score, or a rule …

Any licensee of this commission who verbally or physically abuses a referee shall be suspended, and shall be permanently disbarred for any subsequent offense. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-138 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-9)

Referees will not permit unfair practices that may cause injury to a contestant, and are held strictly responsible for enforcing these rules. The only fair blow is a blow delivered with the padded knuckles. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-139 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 4…

A chief inspector, working under the supervision of the executive secretary, will be assigned to each show. His duties will include overseeing and coordinating the functions of the dressing room inspectors; checking of the ring ropes and equipment; and generally maintaining order…

Holding with one hand, especially back of the neck, and hitting with the other is classed as a major foul. Referees must warn offenders that this type of foul will not be tolerated and will be strictly penalized. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-140 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: H…

The kidney punch, which is an illegal blow landing on that part of the back near the spine and over the kidneys, is strictly barred because it may produce permanent injury. Failure by the referee to prohibit the use of this blow may result in the suspension of the referee. Notes …

The pivot punch, which is barred, is a blow delivered by whirling around and striking at an opponent with the side or back of the hand or the wrist. The half-pivot, or backhand blow, also barred, is struck by bringing the hand back after missing, and so landing with the side or b…

A rabbit punch is any blow struck at the back of the neck near the base of the skull, and is barred as dangerous. A blow landed on the head behind the ear, or on the side of the neck, as the opponent turns his head to avoid it, is not a rabbit punch. Any deliberate attempt to use…

Butting with the top or side of the head is not allowed. A boxer who goes in head down and leans against an opponent with his head while infighting is butting. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-144 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-19)

"Thumbing", using an open glove or jabbing at an opponent's eye with the thumb of the glove, has frequently caused serious injuries to the eye. Referees are cautioned to watch for this trick, and if it is deliberately used, penalize by disqualification. Contestants using such tac…

If a contestant is helpless on the ropes, the referee must instantly intervene, declare the helpless boxer "down" and proceed with the count as in case of a knockdown. Notes Haw. Code R. § 16-74-146 [Eff 10/2/81; comp 10/5/91] (Auth: HRS § 440-6) (Imp: HRS § 440-19)