Rules of professional boxing and combat sports
The Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board regulates professional boxing and combat sports in Victoria on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events to promote safety, reduce the risk of malpractice and uphold industry integrity.
These rules are issued by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board of Victoria in the interests of safety and integrity of professional boxing and combat sports in Victoria.
The purpose of the rules is to supplement the requirements of the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985 (the Act) and the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Regulations (the Regulations) that apply to professional contests in Victoria.
The Board makes rules for:
Boxing
Kickboxing
Muay Thai
K1
MMA (professional)
MMA (amateur)
The rules also set out the requirements, duties and obligations for promoters, contestants, trainer’s, referees, judges, medical practitioners and timekeepers.
It is a condition of any licence, registration or permit issued by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board that all licence, registration or permit holders comply with these rules.
A breach of any such condition may result in a licence, registration or permit being cancelled or suspended or any licence, registration or permit conditions being varied.
The Board may vary, revoke or waive these rules at any time.
The rules for boxing and combat sports include concussion management guidelines and a return to fight strategy.
Decision Review
The Board’s rules stipulate that a decision rendered at the end of any contest is final and cannot be changed unless the Board, on written application from the promoter, contestant or trainer or sanctioning body under whose rules the contest was conducted, determines that any one of the following occurred:
- There was collusion by persons affecting the result of any contest.
- The completion of the scorecard of the judges’ shows an error which would mean that the decision was given to the wrong contestant.
- There was a clear violation of the Act, Regulations or rules governing the contest which affected the result.
The Board will accept written requests for decision review should any of the above criteria apply. The request must be made in writing to combat.sports@sport.vic.gov.au and provide a clear outline of the circumstances and any evidence to support such a request.
If the Board is satisfied that any of the above criteria apply, the decision rendered can be changed at the Board’s discretion.
Modified rules for exhibition bouts and corporate contests
Exhibition bouts
The purpose of an exhibition bout is to give contestants the opportunity to showcase their skills and gain experience competing in a professional contest setting.
Any exhibition of boxing (including an exhibition of sparring) or combat sport that is conducted for-profit, where the contestants participate for a monetary reward or where an admission fee is charged, subject to some exceptions where an admission fee is paid, is considered ‘professional’ under section 5 of the Act and subject to regulation by the Board.
The Board’s requirements associated with permits, contestant registrations and the appointment of licensed officials apply (referee only as judges are not required to score exhibitions) and Board members must supervise the weigh in and bout for all exhibitions. These requirements are set out in the Act and the Regulations. Only contestants aged 18-years and over can participate in an exhibition bout supervised by the Board.
Corporate boxing contests
Corporate boxing contests are those that generally involve participants who have undertaken a 8-12 week boxing program and result in a fight night experience against fellow first timers, under modified rules.
Admission fees are charged for corporate boxing contests and are subject to the Board’s regulatory requirements inclusive of permits, contestant registrations and the appointment of licensed officials. Board members supervise the weigh in and promotion and the referee will manage the contest closely and stop the contest should it be necessary.
Corporate mixed martial arts contests
Corporate mixed martial arts (MMA) contests are those that generally involve participants who have undertaken a 8-12 week training program and result in a fight night experience against fellow first timers, under modified rules.
Admission fees are charged for corporate MMA contests and are subject to the Board’s regulatory requirements inclusive of permits, contestant registrations and the appointment of licensed officials. Board members supervise the weigh in and promotion and the referee will manage the contest closely and stop the contest should it be necessary.
Page last updated: 16 September 2024