Sec. 27. (a) Each contestant for boxing, sparring, or unarmed combat shall be examined within two (2) hours before entering the ring by a competent physician licensed under IC 25-22.5 appointed by the commission. The physician shall certify in writing that each contestant is physically fit to engage in the contest if the physician so determines, and the physician’s certificate shall be delivered to the commission before the contest. The physician shall mail the report of examination to the commission within twenty-four (24) hours after the contest. Blank forms of physicians’ reports shall be furnished to physicians by the commission, and questions on blank forms must be answered in full. No match, contest, or exhibition shall be held unless a licensed physician is in attendance. Any boxer or unarmed competitor who, in the opinion of the physician, is physically unfit to enter the match or exhibition shall be excused by the commission or its deputy. During the conduct of the match or exhibition, the physician may observe the physical condition of the boxers or unarmed competitors and if, in the opinion of the physician, any contestant in any match or exhibition is physically unfit to continue, the physician shall advise the referee.

     (b) A boxing or sparring match or exhibition may not last more than twelve (12) rounds, and each round may not last more than three (3) minutes. There must not be less than a one (1) minute intermission between each round. The commission may for any bout or any class of contestants limit the number of rounds of the bout within the maximum of twelve (12) rounds.

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Terms Used In Indiana Code 4-33-22-27

  • boxing: means the art of attack and defense with the fists, or feet in the case of kickboxing, practiced as a sport. See Indiana Code 4-33-22-1
  • fund: refers to the athletic fund created by this section. See Indiana Code 4-33-22-9
  • in writing: include printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Judgment: means all final orders, decrees, and determinations in an action and all orders upon which executions may issue. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • sparring: means combat in which participants intend to and actually:

    Indiana Code 4-33-22-5

  • unarmed combat: means the practice, or any related practice, of mixed martial arts or martial arts. See Indiana Code 4-33-22-7
  • unarmed competitor: means a person who engages in an unarmed combat match, contest, exhibition, or performance. See Indiana Code 4-33-22-8
     (c) Any contestant in a boxing or sparring match or an exhibition must wear standard gloves, weighing at least eight (8) ounces, and the gloves worn by each of the contestants must be equal in weight.

     (d) At each boxing, sparring, or unarmed combat match or exhibition there must be in attendance, at the expense of the person conducting the match or exhibition, a licensed referee who shall direct and control the match or exhibition. Before starting each contest, the referee shall ascertain from each contestant the name of the contestant’s chief second, and shall hold the chief second responsible for the conduct of the chief second’s assistant seconds during the contest. The referee may declare forfeited a part or all of any remuneration or purse belonging to the contestants, or one (1) of them, if, in the referee’s judgment, the contestant or contestants are not honestly competing. Any forfeited amount shall be paid into the fund.

     (e) There must also be in attendance at the expense of the person conducting the match or exhibition three (3) licensed judges who shall, at the termination of each boxing, sparring, or unarmed combat match or exhibition render their decisions as to the winner.

     (f) A person who holds any boxing, sparring, or unarmed combat match or exhibition in violation of this section commits a Class A infraction.

     (g) A physician who knowingly certifies falsely to the physical condition of any contestant commits a Class B infraction.

As added by P.L.113-2010, SEC.11.