15 U.S.C. § 6307c: Sanctioning organizations

Summary

Requires the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) to create, within 2 years after May 26, 2000, agreed-upon written rules for how pro boxers are rated. Before a sanctioning group can be paid for a fight, it must tell boxers that if a boxer asks about a rating, the group will, within 7 days, send the boxer a written explanation of the rating (including answers to any questions) and give a copy to the ABC. If the group changes the rating of a boxer who was once in the top 10, it cannot get paid until it posts the change and an explanation on its website within 7 days and keeps that post up for at least 30 days, and also gives a copy to an association that most State boxing commissions belong to. Every sanctioning group must, by January 31 each year, give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the ABC: a full description of its rating rules, policies, and fee schedule; its bylaws; its rating appeals process; and a list and business addresses of the people who vote on ratings. The info must be in writing and, if longer than 2 pages, also electronic. The group must tell the FTC about major changes. The FTC will make the information public and may charge a fee. Instead of filing with the FTC, a group may keep a public, free, easy-to-search website with the same information and update it when things change.

Title 15, §6307c

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Objective criteria

Within 2 years after May 26, 2000, the Association of Boxing Commissions shall develop and shall approve by a vote of no less than a majority of its member State boxing commissioners, guidelines for objective and consistent written criteria for the ratings of professional boxers. It is the sense of the Congress that sanctioning bodies and State boxing commissions should follow these ABC guidelines.

(b)Appeals process

A sanctioning organization shall not be entitled to receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with a boxing match, until it provides the boxers with notice that the sanctioning organization shall, within 7 days after receiving a request from a boxer questioning that organization’s rating of the boxer—

(1)provide to the boxer a written explanation of the organization’s criteria, its rating of the boxer, and the rationale or basis for its rating (including a response to any specific questions submitted by the boxer); and

(2)submit a copy of its explanation to the Association of Boxing Commissions.

(c)Notification of change in rating

A sanctioning organization shall not be entitled to receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with a boxing match, until, with respect to a change in the rating of a boxer previously rated by such organization in the top 10 boxers, the organization—

(1)posts a copy, within 7 days of such change, on its Internet website or home page, if any, including an explanation of such change, for a period of not less than 30 days; and

(2)provides a copy of the rating change and explanation to an association to which at least a majority of the State boxing commissions belong.

(d)Public disclosure

(1)Federal Trade Commission filing

A sanctioning organization shall not be entitled to receive any compensation directly or indirectly in connection with a boxing match unless, not later than January 31 of each year, it submits to the Federal Trade Commission and to the ABC—

(A)a complete description of the organization’s ratings criteria, policies, and general sanctioning fee schedule;

(B)the bylaws of the organization;

(C)the appeals procedure of the organization for a boxer’s rating; and

(D)a list and business address of the organization’s officials who vote on the ratings of boxers.

(2)Format; updates

A sanctioning organization shall—

(A)provide the information required under paragraph (1) in writing, and, for any document greater than 2 pages in length, also in electronic form; and

(B)promptly notify the Federal Trade Commission of any material change in the information submitted.

(3)Federal Trade Commission to make information available to public

The Federal Trade Commission shall make information received under this subsection available to the public. The Commission may assess sanctioning organizations a fee to offset the costs it incurs in processing the information and making it available to the public.

(4)Internet alternative

In lieu of submitting the information required by paragraph (1) to the Federal Trade Commission, a sanctioning organization may provide the information to the public by maintaining a website on the Internet that—

(A)is readily accessible by the general public using generally available search engines and does not require a password or payment of a fee for full access to all the information;

(B)contains all the information required to be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission by paragraph (1) in an easy to search and use format; and

(C)is updated whenever there is a material change in the information.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 11 of Pub. L. 104–272 was renumbered section 19 and is classified to section 6310 of this title.

§6307c Sanctioning Organizations

Summary

Title 15, §6307c

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Citations & Metadata