Legislation

Professional boxing and combat sports are regulated in Victoria via the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985 (the Act) and the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Regulations 2018 (the Regulations).

The Act defines professional boxing and combat sports as any contest or exhibition:

• That is conducted for profit.
• Where contestants participate for a monetary reward.
• Where admission fees are charged.

A contest or exhibition is NOT considered a ‘professional boxing and combat sports contest or exhibition’ if the admission  fee is for:

• A public charitable purpose; or
• An event that is organised or under the control of an amateur association formally recognised by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events under the Act and the fees are put towards the administration of the recognised association.

The Regulations set out the forms, fitness certificates, medical declarations, blood tests, medical examinations, duties of ringside medical personnel and skills assessments relating to:

• Applications for a professional contestant registration.
• Applications for a promoter’s licence and a promotion permit.
• Applications for a matchmaker’s licence.
• Applications for a trainer’s licence.
• Applications for official’s licence (referee, judge or timekeeper).
• Pre and post promotion medical examinations of contestants.
• Assessment of professional skills of registered contestants.

Charitable promotions

The Board considers a contest NOT to be a professional boxing or combat sport contest if:

• Prior to the event the contest is advertised and promoted as a fundraiser for a public charitable purpose or for the administration of an amateur boxing or combat sport association.
• The people paying for tickets or an admission fee are made aware, at the time they make the payment, that the payment amount will be donated to the public charitable purpose named in promotional material or are for the administration of the relevant amateur boxing association or combat sport association. The promoter keeps, and is able to produce on request by the Board, records verifying that the ticket price or admission fee has been donated to the public charitable purpose named in the promotional material or are for the administration of the relevant amateur boxing association or combat sport association.

It is an offence, subject to a fine or imprisonment, for a person to:

• Act as a promoter, trainer, match-maker, referee or timekeeper in relation to a boxing or combat sport contest without a licence issued by the Board; and
• For a licenced promoter to conduct a professional boxing or combat sport contest without a permit issued by the Board.

For information about the Act and Regulations, please refer to the following:

• Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985 and
• Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Regulations 2018.