Masters Boxing Rules

Here are the rules as stated by USA Boxing. You can also download the Rule book at the bottom of this page.

Master Boxing Division
All boxers in this classification must be a minimum of 35 years of age. The age
difference between contestants shall be no more than ten (10) calendar years. A
boxer may compete against opponents who are no more than ten (10) years
younger or ten (10) years older. All official rules apply to these classifications,
with the exception of those listed below:
(1) Boxers will be limited to boxing three rounds of two-minute duration
or less.

(2) 16 oz gloves and headgear will be used for all weight categories and this
equipment must have been approved and tested by USA Boxing and must
meet or exceed the minimum standards for impact as set by USA Boxing.
This equipment must have a printed label as illustrated in Figure 10.0. The
glove label must be located on the backside of both gloves, and the headgear
label must be located on the back panel.

(3) Boxers must pass an annual medical exam and be declared “fit to box” with
the following elements before being registered to box:
(a) No history of diabetes, high blood pressure or chest pain.
(b) No history of chronic headaches.
(c) Blood pressure less than 145/90.
(d) Graded exercise EKG every five (5) years beginning at age 45.
(e) Normal eye examination by an ophthalmologist every five (5) years.

(4) The passbook of the master boxer must contain the signature of the
examining physician who performed their annual physical and the results
placed on file with the LBC, along with the boxer’s registration application.
The signature shall be entered in the appropriate section under annual
physical examinations.

(5) Pre-bout examinations shall be the same as those performed on all other
classifications of boxers.

(6) Master boxers may not compete against boxers younger than 35 years of
age.

Shaking of hands
As a sign of good sportsmanship, boxers shall touch gloves before the beginning
of the first round.

Medical aptitude
(1) Annual physical. It is recommended that boxers undergo an annual
physical by a qualified doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy
(DO). Purpose of annual physical:
(a) To reduce the risk of serious injury to a boxer before participating in the
sport of amateur boxing.
(b) Annual physical screening may identify a medical problem with the
boxer that has gone undetected or may surface at a later date.
(c) An annual physical done by a personal physician or MD will monitor
more thoroughly specific medical problems; whereas the pre- and postbout
physicals screen isolated areas of medical concern.
(d) Personal physicians have a better background on boxer’s medical
history.
(e) Reduce liability factor.
(f) Exemplify concern for medical fitness of the athlete.
(g) NOTE: BEGINNING WITH THE 2010 REGISTRATION YEAR,
ANNUAL PHYSICALS WILL BE REQUIRED. A copy of the
physical report must be submitted along with the boxer’s
membership application form.

(2) Medical certification. A boxer shall not be allowed to compete in a
sanctioned competition unless said boxer has been certified as fit to do so
by a qualified doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO).

(3) Medical certificate. Every boxer competing outside their own country
must have in their possession a certificate signed by an authorized doctor of
medicine stating that prior to leaving their own country, they were in good
physical condition and not suffering from any injury, infection or disability
liable to affect their capacity to box in the country being visited. Such
certificate may be incorporated in a record or passbook maintained by the
boxer in accordance with the practice of their national association and must
be produced at the medical examination before their general weigh-in.

(4) Prohibited conditions and/or conditional circumstances.
(a) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (AIDS). Any boxer and/or
non-athlete member known to have a positive HIV test shall be
prohibited from participating in the sport of amateur boxing.
Note: All members are encouraged to receive annual HIV tests.
(b) Hepatitis B and C Virus. Any boxer and/or non-athlete member
known to have active Hepatitis B or C Virus shall be prohibited from
participating in the sport of amateur boxing.
Note: All boxers and/or non-athlete members are encouraged to be
vaccinated for Hepatitus B, unless there is proof of natural or acquired
immunity.
(c) A physician may disqualify from competition any boxer who
demonstrated by physical examination of the face, orbital or oral, a
lesion that in the judgment of the physician presents an active herpetic
lesion (fever blister or cold sore).
(d) Vision. The wearing of glasses by boxers in the ring is prohibited. A
boxer totally unsighted (uncorrected vision worse than 20/400) in one or
both eyes, or possessing only one eye is prohibited from boxing. In
addition, a boxer with corrected visual acuity of worse than 20/60 in
either eye, regardless of its cause, shall be disqualified. Any boxer with
uncorrected vision between 20/20 and 20/400 may be permitted to wear
soft contact lenses. If the lens comes out and the boxer cannot continue;
the boxer losing the lens will lose by RSC. Any boxer possessing a
cataract in either eye which reduces corrected vision to 20/60 or worse,
or a boxer possessing the presence or history of retinal detachment or
tear, whether or not such condition has been effectively treated, or
presence of any other ocular pathology that may result in permanent
vision dysfunction, shall be disqualified.
(e) Deaf and/or mute boxers who can pass a physical exam are eligible to
compete. NOTE: Notice to officials is encouraged.
(f) Cuts and abrasions. No boxer shall be allowed to take part in any
contest if said boxer wears a dressing (bandage, band-aid) on a cut,
wound, abrasion, laceration or blood swelling on the scalp or face
including the nose and ears. A boxer is allowed to box if an abrasion is
covered with collodion. The decision to box should be made by the
doctor who examines the boxer on the day of said boxer’s competition.
A cut occurring during a bout in an advancing tournament should be
evaluated in regard to the elimination of the boxer from the tournament.
If the physician at ringside disqualifies the boxer from further
advancement, the other boxer, regardless of score, should advance. This
should also hold true at the pre-bout physical examination the following
morning.
(g) Braces. Boxers who wish to compete with braces are required to have
attached to their passbooks a completed Release to Compete With
Braces form. This form requires the written approval of their dentist or
orthodontist, parent and/or guardian (if under the age of 18) and a
- 15 -
dentist-molded mouthpiece. This includes upper and/or lower braces.
Boxers competing with braces waive the right to dental coverage under
the USA Boxing insurance program.
(h) Banned substances. See Constitution and By-laws, Article XXI, Antidoping.

Restricted participation
(1) Professional boxers. Professional boxers and other individuals who have
competed as professionals in combat sports, including, but not limited to
mixed martial arts, Tough-Man events, kick-boxing, and cage fighting, are
prohibited from competing in amateur boxing.

(2) Foreign athletes. Foreign athletes are barred from participation in
advancing local, regional and national tournaments or any box-offs that
would lead to international competition.

(3) Incarcerated athletes. Inmates are not authorized to register or participate
in USA Boxing.

(5) Professional contests.
(a) Professional/amateur contests. No competition may be held between
an amateur and a professional. An amateur boxer shall not compete
against a professional boxer or professional athlete of another combat
sport. Pro-am cards are permitted provided they are strictly
overseen/controlled by the LBC in which they take place and in
accordance with guidelines set for pro-am boxing.
Note: Pro-am cards are those where professionals appear on the same
card as amateurs.
(b) Competition and professionals in other sports. Competition with or
against professionals in sports other than boxing during a tryout in which
the amateur boxer is not paid more than expenses allowed by USA
Boxing, Inc. shall not be construed as a violation of this article.
(c) Promotion for personal profit. No boxing promoter, manager or any
other person shall be allowed to promote or conduct any amateur boxing
show solely for personal profit. Appropriate personnel may be
employed to direct a program of boxing for the benefit of the sport. All
individuals or organizations may receive a proportionate share from an
investment made by them, provided the entire conduct of the meet or
competition is under the strict control of USA Boxing, Inc.

(6) Any member of USA Boxing shall be permanently disqualified from USA
Boxing if they are:
(a) Convicted of a felony involving a rape or a sex crime against any
person; or
(b) Is required under applicable state or federal law to be a registered sex
offender or the equivalent thereof.

USA Boxing 2011_Rulebook_FINAL_Letter_from_CEO