Section 350. Boxing fouls, duties of referee, and deduction of points

A. Any of the following acts committed by a boxer during a boxing contest shall constitute a foul:

1. Hitting below the navel or behind the ear.

2. Hitting an opponent who is down or is getting up after being down.

3. Holding an opponent with one hand and hitting with the other.

4. Holding or deliberately maintaining a clinch.

5. Wrestling or kicking.

6. Striking an opponent who is helpless as a result of previous blows and so supported by the ropes that he does not fall after being instructed by the referee to a neutral corner.

7. Butting with the head or shoulder or using the knee.

8. Hitting with the open glove, the butt of the hand, the wrist or the elbow, and all backhand blows.

9. Purposely going down without being hit.

10. Striking deliberately at that part of the body over the kidneys.

11. Using the rabbit punch (punch thrown to the back of the head and neck areas).

12. Jabbing the opponent's eyes with the thumb of the glove.

13. Using abusive language in the ring.

14. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct including, but not limited to, a trick or other action which causes injury to an opponent.

15. Hitting on the break.

16. Hitting after the bell has sounded signaling the end of the round.

17. Hitting an opponent whose head is between or outside of the ropes.

18. Pushing an opponent about the ring or into the ropes.

19. Intentionally spitting out the mouthpiece.

20. Biting or spitting.

21. Not following referee's instructions.

22. Stepping on opponent.

23. Crouching below opponent's belt.

24. Leaving neutral corner.

25. Corner second shouting.

B. Referees are responsible for enforcing the rules of the contest and shall not permit fouls or other unfair practices which may cause an injury to a boxer. Referees shall warn each boxer who commits a foul during a boxing contest.

C. Any boxer who commits any foul after being warned by the referee may have points deducted by the referee or may lose the contest by disqualification by the referee.

D. Boxers who commit fouls or any other infraction may be penalized by the referee through the deduction of points from his score. The number of points to be deducted shall be determined by the referee based on his determination of the severity of the foul and its adverse effect on the opponent and shall be reported to the judges and both boxers as soon as practical. The points shall be deducted from the score of the round in which the fouls were committed.

E. The referee shall stop a contest when he determines that a foul has occurred and determine whether the fouled boxer is able to continue. The referee may order the contest suspended for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed five minutes, to allow the fouled boxer to recover if the referee determines the boxer's chance of winning has not been seriously jeopardized. The referee shall inform the event inspector or his designee of his determination that the foul was accidental.

F. The referee shall stop a contest when he determines that an injury resulting from an accidental foul is so severe as to adversely affect the fouled boxer's chances of winning. The contest shall be a draw if the accidental foul occurs during the first four rounds. The contest shall be determined by a tabulation of the scores of the completed rounds if the accidental foul occurs after the fourth round in a contest or more than four rounds.

G. The referee shall stop a contest when he determines that an injury resulting from an accidental foul has been aggravated by fair blows. The outcome of the contest shall be determined by scoring the completed rounds.

H. If a boxer commits an intentional foul in the ring and the foul causes an injury severe enough to terminate the bout immediately, the boxer causing the injury shall lose by disqualification. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee will notify the event inspector and deduct two points from the boxer who caused the foul. Point deductions for intentional fouls are mandatory. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured boxer will win by technical decision if he is ahead on the score cards or the bout will result in a technical draw if the injured boxer is behind or even on the score cards. If no action has occurred, the round should be scored as an even round. If the boxer injures himself while attempting to intentionally foul his opponent, the referee will not take any action in his favor, and the injury will be the same as one produced by a fair blow.

I. If the boxer conducts himself in an unsportsmanlike manner, the referee may stop the bout and disqualify the boxer.

J. If a boxer is injured by an accidental foul and the injury is severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a no decision if stopped before three completed rounds in bouts scheduled for four rounds. Rounds are complete when the bell rings signifying the end of the round. If a bout is scheduled for more than four rounds, the bout will result in a no decision if stopped before four completed rounds.

K. If the boxer is injured by an accidental foul that causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a technical decision awarded to the boxer who is ahead on the score cards if the bout is stopped after three completed rounds in bouts scheduled for four rounds. If a bout is scheduled for more than four rounds and four rounds are completed, the bout will result in a technical decision, awarded to the boxer who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped.

L. If a boxer is hit with an accidental low blow, he must be able to rise by the count of 10 and to continue after a reasonable amount of time not to exceed five minutes or he will lose the bout.

M. Disqualification for fouls to the body may occur if the fouls are flagrant or continual. The referee may order a deduction of points for any illegal blow to the body and may, at his discretion, give a rest period of up to five minutes for the injured boxer to recover. The referee may ask the ringside physician to examine the boxer before granting the rest period. If the referee rules the foul accidental and the injured boxer is unable to continue after the five minute rest period, the rules governing accidental fouls shall apply.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 15, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003; Volume 23, Issue 24, eff. September 5, 2007.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-831 of the Code of Virginia and 15 USC § 6301 et seq.