5 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7

in effect

5 Pa.C.S. § 701 Boxing regulated.

(a) General rule.--Professional contests or exhibitions, including kick boxing, shall be held within this Commonwealth only in accordance with the provisions of this subpart and the rules and regulations promulgated under this subpart. (b) Events on Sunday.--Contests or exhibitions may be held on Sunday.

5 Pa.C.S. § 702 Age of participants.

(a) General rule.--No person under 18 years of age shall be a participant in any contest or exhibition. (b) Exception.-- (1) Any person between 12 and 17 years of age may participate in amateur contests or exhibitions under such rules and regulations as the commission shall prescribe. (2) Any person between 12 and 17 years of age may participate after obtaining written permission from a parent or legal guardian, as well as consent by the executive director. (3) A person 12 to 16 years of age may only participate in such contests with a person not more than one year older. (c) Junior Olympics.--The limitations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to sanctioned boxing events for the Junior Olympics under the direction of a national governing organization certified by the commission. For the purposes of the Junior Olympic events, participants, with the written permission of a parent or legal guardian, may box only in the following age divisions: (1) Ten and eleven years of age. (2) Twelve and thirteen years of age. (3) Fourteen and fifteen years of age. No participant shall take part in any event outside of the approved division for that age group.

5 Pa.C.S. § 703 Fictitious names.

No person shall participate in any amateur contest or exhibition under a fictitious or assumed name unless the fictitious or assumed name has first been registered with the commission.

5 Pa.C.S. § 704 Physician to be in attendance.

A physician shall be assigned to every contest or exhibition by the executive director. The physician shall observe at all times the physical condition of the participants and may stop any contest or exhibition at any time to examine a participant and to terminate a bout when, in the judgment of the physician, severe injury could result to a participant if the contest or exhibition were to continue. The commission shall establish by rule or regulation a schedule of fees to be paid to physicians for their services. The physician's fee shall be paid by the promoter of the contest or exhibition attended by the physician.

5 Pa.C.S. § 705 Medical training seminars.

The commission shall conduct mandatory medical training seminars at least twice a year for all ring personnel, commission personnel and other designated persons employed by the secretary.

5 Pa.C.S. § 706 Register.

The executive director shall establish and maintain a register for all professional boxers licensed in this Commonwealth. The register shall include a photograph of the boxer. In the register, the executive director shall record the results of each contest or exhibition the boxer is involved in, including technical knockouts, knockouts and other boxing-related injuries, as well as the dates of each contest or exhibition and the record of wins and losses.

5 Pa.C.S. § 707 Medical equipment.

No professional contest or exhibition shall be started unless there is on the premises: (1) An ambulance, together with emergency equipment. (2) A portable resuscitator with oxygen and appropriate endotracheal tubes and a qualified operator.

5 Pa.C.S. § 708 Suspension and revocation for injuries.

(a) General rule.--For sound medical reasons and to protect the individual boxers, the commission shall establish mandatory license suspensions of those persons who sustain certain injuries. (b) Particular suspension periods.--The commission may suspend a boxer's license for up to: (1) Sixty days for a laceration of the face. (2) Thirty days: (i) for a technical knockout without head injuries; or (ii) upon recommendation of the ringside physician if, in the physician's opinion, the boxer has sustained sufficient injuries to require the suspension. (3) Sixty days for head injuries. (4) Ninety days for a knockout. (c) Unconsciousness or concussion.--A boxer who has been knocked unconscious or who has received a concussion shall have his license suspended for 90 days, and the suspension shall be removed only after the boxer has been pronounced fit after undergoing medical examination by a physician. (d) Repeated knockouts.--A boxer who has been knocked out or severely beaten shall have his license revoked if, after undergoing a medical examination by a physician, the commission decides such action is necessary in order to protect the health and welfare of the boxer. (e) Consecutive defeats.--A boxer who has suffered six consecutive defeats shall be investigated by the commission and, upon recommendation of the executive director, in consultation with the Medical Advisory Board, shall be required to undergo a medical examination by a physician approved by the commission. If appropriate, the commission may then proceed to suspend or revoke the boxer's license. Cross References. Section 708 is referred to in section 709 of this title.

5 Pa.C.S. § 709 Medical examinations.

(a) Prefight examination.--In addition to any other examination required by this subpart or the rules and regulations promulgated under this subpart, each boxer shall be examined by the attending physician within two hours before he enters the ring. If, in the opinion of the physician, any boxer is physically or mentally unfit to proceed, the physician shall notify the person in charge, who shall immediately cancel the contest or exhibition. (b) Postfight examination.--In addition to any other examination required by this subpart or the rules and regulations promulgated under this subpart, a boxer may, at the discretion of the ringside physician, be required to undergo a medical examination by a physician designated by the executive director during the five days following the contest or exhibition in which he was a participant. If the boxer sustains a knockout or technical knockout, the boxer shall undergo the medical examination within such time period as shall be prescribed by the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission. An examination under this section shall be performed at the expense of the promoter. (c) Filing of results of examinations.--The results of the examinations required by this section shall be reduced to writing by the physician, signed by him and filed with the commission within 48 hours after they have been performed. (d) Content of examination.--Any medical examination prescribed under this section or section 708 (relating to suspension and revocation for injuries) shall conform to the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission after consultation with the Medical Advisory Board. The rules and regulations regarding the postfight examination may prescribe or permit the attending physician to prescribe additional tests in the case of a knockout, technical knockout, head injury or other injury or medical condition. The examination may include drug testing as prescribed by rules and regulations, which shall be promulgated by the commission in accordance with the program mandated by section 105(5) (relating to powers and duties of executive director).

5 Pa.C.S. § 710 Weights and classes.

The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing classes of boxers, which classes shall be based upon weights. All contests or exhibitions shall take place only between boxers who are within the same weight class as defined by the commission unless otherwise approved by the commission.

5 Pa.C.S. § 711 Limitation on difference in weights.

No contest or exhibition shall take place in which the difference in weight of the participants exceeds ten pounds. This section shall not apply to contests or exhibitions between participants in the light-heavyweight, cruiserweight or heavyweight classes, as defined by the commission, nor to exhibitions held solely for training purposes.

5 Pa.C.S. § 712 Gloves.

(a) General rule.--All boxers licensed under this subpart shall be required to use thumbless or thumb-attached gloves. The appropriate weight boxing gloves shall be worn by boxers as follows: (1) One hundred sixty pounds or under, boxing gloves weighing not less than eight ounces each. (2) Over 160 pounds, boxing gloves weighing not less than ten ounces each. (b) Violation.--A violation of this section may subject the participant, promoter or manager or any of them to suspension of not less than 30 days or revocation of their licenses, at the discretion of the commission, pursuant to section 1304 (relating to suspension or revocation of licenses or permits).

5 Pa.C.S. § 713 Ring padding.

All ring padding shall be subject to approval of the commission. All padding shall be of soft felt, foam rubber or similar material and shall be at least two inches thick.

5 Pa.C.S. § 714 Duration of bouts and rounds.

(a) Length of contest.--No contest or exhibition shall be more than 12 rounds in length, except for championship contests sanctioned by recognized international or national authorities, which may be up to 15 rounds in length. (b) Duration of round.--No round shall be more than three minutes in duration. (c) Mandatory rest period.--There shall be at least a one-minute rest between consecutive rounds. (d) Limitation on participation.--No boxer shall participate in nor be scheduled to participate in more than 15 rounds within 72 consecutive hours. (e) Limitation on rounds.--The commission may, with respect to any contest or exhibition or to any class of participants, limit the number of rounds in a contest or exhibition to less than the maximum number of rounds otherwise applicable.

5 Pa.C.S. § 715 Referee and judges.

(a) Referee.--At each professional contest or exhibition, except an exhibition held solely for training purposes, there shall be in attendance, at the expense of the promoter, a duly licensed referee designated by the executive director, who shall direct and control the contest or exhibition. Personal injury and liability insurance coverage, in a minimum amount set by the commission, for all claims arising from the performance of their duties at the contest or exhibition shall be in effect for all referees. This coverage shall be provided at the expense of the promoter. (b) Judges.--There shall be in attendance at every contest, at the expense of the promoter, three licensed judges, each of whom shall render his individual decision in writing on a scorecard supplied by the executive director at the end of every contest which continues for the scheduled number of rounds. Each judge shall have one vote, and a majority of the votes cast shall determine the winner. (c) Scoring.--The commission shall by rule or regulation prescribe the methods of scoring.

5 Pa.C.S. § 716 Seconds.

Before the start of any contest or exhibition, the referee shall ascertain from each participant the name of the chief second. The chief second shall be held responsible for the conduct of his assistants during the contest or exhibition.

5 Pa.C.S. § 717 Mandatory eight count.

Whenever a boxer is knocked down, the boxer shall be required to take a count of eight. The referee shall not permit the contest or exhibition to be resumed until the count of eight has been reached, except in professional championship contests and exhibitions.

5 Pa.C.S. § 718 Knockouts.

(a) Count by referee.--When a boxer is knocked out, the referee shall count to ten unless, in the judgment of the referee, the boxer is in immediate physical danger, in which case the referee may stop the count earlier. If the boxer has not risen from the ring floor before the referee stops the count, the result shall be recorded as a knockout. (b) Physician.--When a boxer has been knocked out, no one shall touch him, except to remove his mouth protector, until after the attending physician has entered the ring and issued such instructions as he deems necessary.

5 Pa.C.S. § 719 Duty of disclosure.

Every licensee shall, immediately after learning thereof, disclose to the executive director or his designee, or to the official in charge or the attending physician or referee if one of these persons is in attendance at any contest or exhibition, all knowledge or information in his possession concerning any mental or physical disability, injury, illness or incapacity of any boxer.

5 Pa.C.S. § 720 Sham or collusive contest prohibited.

(a) General rule.--No licensee or other person shall knowingly conduct, give, participate in or be in any way connected with any sham or collusive boxing contest. (b) Reports.--Any licensee who knows or has reason to suspect that a boxing contest is, was or is going to be a sham or collusive contest shall have a duty to promptly report this to the executive director or his designee. Such a report shall be in writing or, if oral, shall be reduced to writing and shall contain all of the reporter's reasons for the conclusions set forth in his report. (c) Penalty.--A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree. (d) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "sham or collusive contest" means an engagement that is promoted or advertised as a true contest, but in which one or both of the participants does not use his best efforts and skill or does not strive earnestly in good faith to win. The term includes, but is not limited to, any pseudocontest, the result of which has been prearranged, or any pseudocontest in which either participant does not, is not going to or is unable to use or is prevented from using his best efforts and skill as a result of coercion, reward or promise thereof, physical incapacity or disability, suggestion or agreement or any other improper or unlawful means.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=05Fetched: 10/16/2026