Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
Agency 120 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL REGULATION
Chapter 40 - VIRGINIA PROFESSIONAL BOXING AND WRESTING EVENTS REGULATIONS
Part VII - Event Licensing and Conduct Standards for Boxing
Section 18VAC120-40-240 - Equipment to be provided by boxing promoters

1. A fighting ring, which shall be in the shape of a square, a hexagon, or an octagon. A square ring shall not be less than 18 feet square inside the ropes and shall not exceed 20 feet square inside the ropes. A hexagon or octagon ring shall not be less than 18 feet (from any side to the opposite side) inside the ropes and shall not exceed 32 feet (from any side to the opposite side) inside the ropes.

The ring floor shall be padded with ensolite one inch thick or another similar closed-cell foam. The padded ring floor must extend at least 18 inches beyond the ring ropes and over the edge of the platform with a top covering of canvas or similar material tightly stretched and laced to the ring platform. Material that tends to gather in lumps or ridges or material with a slick covering shall not be used.

The ring platform shall not be more than five feet above the floor of the building and shall have suitable steps for use by boxers in their corners and by the ringside physician in a neutral corner.

Ring posts shall be of metal, not more than three inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a height of 58 inches above the ring floor. The ring posts must be at least 18 inches away from the ropes.

There shall be four ring ropes not less than one inch in diameter, evenly spaced, with the bottom ring rope not less than 18 inches above the ring floor and the top ring rope not more than 52 inches above the ring floor. The ring ropes must be padded with a padding of closed cell padding of not less than 1/2 inch. Ropes are to be connected with soft rope ties six feet apart. All ring ropes are to be tight and approved by the department or its contractor.

All corners must be padded with approved pads. All turnbuckles are to be covered with a protective padding.

A ring stool and bucket shall be provided for each boxer's corner.

The ring shall have bright lights and light all four corners and middle of the ring equally. No lights shall shine into the face of the boxers or ringside judges; lights may only shine downward and not shine at any angle directly into the fighting ring area that may blind the boxers or judges.

The promoter shall provide a ringside restrictive barrier between the first row of ringside seats and the event official's area that will restrict the crowd from confronting either the boxers or event officials and will ensure that the boxers remain free from obstructions or distractions. The ringside barrier must be a minimum of eight feet from the outside edge of the ring.

2. A bell or gong located at the ring no higher than the floor level of the ring. The bell or gong must produce a clear tone easily heard by the boxers.

3. Locker rooms adequate in number and equipment to reasonably facilitate the boxer's activities before and after the contest. Separate locker rooms shall be provided when both male and female boxers are scheduled to compete. Locker rooms shall have restroom facilities available.

4. A fully equipped ambulance with a currently trained ambulance crew at the site of any boxing event for the entire duration of the event and any additional personnel or equipment required by 15 USC § 6304.

5. A notice to the nearest hospital and the persons in charge of its emergency room of the date, time, and location of the boxing event.

6. Boxing gloves of the proper weight that are set by weight classification by 18VAC120-40-295. Boxing gloves must have laces to secure proper fit. Gloves must have an attached thumb to the body of the glove. Gloves must be clean, free of cuts, have good laces, with no displacement or lumping of the padding material. Gloves used in world title fights shall be new and taken from the package just prior to issuing to the boxers. Gloves shall be inspected by the event inspector or his designee before each contest and those found defective shall be replaced before the contest begins. In all championship bouts, the boxers shall be gloved in the ring. A solution of 10% household bleach and water shall be used for cleansing of all gloves prior to and after each bout.

7. A sealed OTC pregnancy test kit, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, for each female boxer that will be given to the event inspector or his designee.

8. A clear plastic water bottle, a bucket containing ice, surgeon's adhesive tape and surgical gauze for each boxer.

9. A solution of one part bleach and nine parts water for disinfecting blood on the ring canvas or ropes shall be available ringside for use by staff stationed ringside to clean the ring canvas and ropes as needed.

10. The promoter shall provide each corner with biohazardous material bags and, after the event, shall discard all regulated medical waste in the proper manner in accordance with the Regulated Medical Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-120) issued by the Virginia Waste Management Board and available from the Department of Environmental Quality.