Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE
Division 2040 - Office of Athletics
Chapter 5 - Rules for Professional Boxing, Professional Wrestling, Professional and Amateur Kickboxing, and Professional Full-Contact Karate
Section 20 CSR 2040-5.040 - Rules for Professional Boxing

(1) No bout may exceed twelve (12) rounds nor be less than four (4) rounds. Rounds shall be no more than three (3) minutes in length with a one (1) minute rest period in between rounds. Rounds involving females may be reduced to two (2) minutes in length with a one (1) minute rest period between rounds.

(2) Before a contest permit will be issued, each professional boxing contest may include a scheduled main bout of at least eight (8) rounds and at least one (1) semi-main bout of at least six (6) rounds. The remaining bouts may not be less than four (4) rounds each. A contest should have a minimum of four (4) bouts totaling not less than twenty-four (24) rounds. The Office of Athletics may waive any of these restrictions at its discretion.

(3) No professional boxing bout shall be advertised or promoted as a championship bout unless it has the specific approval of the office.

(4) Contestants shall only fight contestants in their own weight category unless permission is granted by the office. In no instance may the office waive the weight category requirements, when the contestant's weight span exceeds ten (10) pounds excluding the weight classifications in subsections (L) and (M) of this section. Following is the schedule of weight classification:

(5) Boxing Contestants.

(6) If a contestant claims to be injured due to an accidental foul during the bout, the referee, at their discretion, may stop the bout and request the physician to make an examination. If the physician decides that the contestant has been injured and should not continue, s/he should so advise the referee. If the physician decides that the injured contestant may be able to continue, s/he may order up to a five- (5-) minute recovery period, after which s/he will make another examination and again advise the referee of the injured contestant's condition.

(7) If a contestant falls due to fatigue, or is knocked down by his/her opponent, s/he will be allowed ten (10) seconds to rise unassisted. Following a contestant's fall, his/her opponent shall go to the farthest neutral corner and remain there during the count. The referee shall stop counting if the opponent fails to go to the neutral corner, then resume the count where it was left off when the opponent goes to the neutral corner. A contestant who is knocked out or falls out of the ring and on to the floor is allowed up to twenty (20) seconds to return to the ring.

(8) In case of a knockdown, the eight (8)-count is mandatory.

(9) The office may require a contestant to submit to any physical examination it deems necessary to determine if the contestant is in a physical condition that would allow him/her to participate as a boxing contestant in the future.

(10) Preliminary contestants should be ready to enter the ring immediately after the finish of the preceding bout. Any contestant causing a delay by not being ready to immediately proceed when called may be subject to discipline or may be denied the right to compete in the scheduled bout.

(11) Any boxing contestant who has participated in a professional bout anywhere will not participate in a boxing bout in Missouri for at least seven (7) days after the previous bout. Any boxing contestant who is currently on suspension or revocation from any boxing commission, domestic or foreign, shall not participate in any bout in Missouri until the suspension or revocation is lifted.

(12) No person other than the contestants and the referee shall enter the ring during a bout. There should be no standing or other distractions by seconds while the bouts are in progress. Offenders may be removed from the corners and their license may be subject to discipline. The physician may enter the ring if asked by the referee to examine an injury to a contestant.

(13) Handwraps shall not exceed the following restrictions: one (1) winding of surgeon's adhesive tape, not over one and one-half inches (1 1/2") wide, placed directly on the hand to protect the hand near the wrist. The tape may cross the back of the hand twice but shall not extend within one inch (1") of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist. Contestants shall use soft surgical bandage not over two inches (2") wide, held in place by not more than two feet (2') of surgeon's adhesive tape for each hand. One (1) twenty-(20-) yard roll of bandage shall complete the wrappings for each hand. Bandages may be adjusted in the presence of an inspector and both contestants. Either contestant may waive the privilege of witnessing the bandaging of opponent's hands.

(14) Gloves shall not be twisted or manipulated in any way by the contestants or their seconds. If a glove breaks or a string becomes untied during the bout, the referee will instruct the timekeeper to take time-out while the glove is being adjusted. All gloves shall be at least eight (8) ounces, with the thumb attached.

(15) Contestants must wear proper athletic attire and appropriate protective devices including mouthpiece and protective foul-proof cup. If the mouthpiece comes out during the fight, the referee may have the second replace the mouthpiece at the first lull in the action.

(16) Only discretional use of petroleum jelly, and nothing else will be allowed on the face, arms, or any part of the body.

(17) Twenty (20) points may be the maximum number scored in any round. The round winner will receive ten (10) points and his/her opponent proportionately less. If the round is even, each contestant will receive ten (10) points.

(18) A boxer will be deemed down when any part of the body other than the feet is on the floor or when s/he is hanging helplessly over or on the ring ropes (but even then s/he is not officially down until so pronounced by the referee, who may count him/her out on the ropes, on the floor or while rising from a down position).

(19) The following tactics or actions shall be fouls:

(20) For the fouls listed in section (19), the referee may penalize a contestant by warning the contestant, taking a point(s) or disqualifying the contestant.

(21) Injuries sustained by fouls include:

(22) In case of a cut, the referee may consult the physician to determine if the bout should be stopped or can continue. If the physician steps on the ring apron, the referee must have the injured contestant examined by the physician. Final authority rests with the referee. If the boxer who is cut by legal blows cannot continue, that boxer loses by technical knockout.

(23) The office may discipline the license of any contestant, matchmaker, judge, second, or any official who is guilty of unfair dealings, unsportsmanlike conduct, protesting the decisions of the officials in an unsportsmanlike manner, or violating any rules. Any boxing second who acts in an unsportsmanlike manner may immediately be removed from their contestant's corner.

(24) Before a felled contestant resumes fighting after slipping, falling or being knocked to the floor, the referee shall wipe the contestant's gloves free of any foreign substance.