Virginia Law

Part II. General Provisions

18VAC120-40-20. Definitions.

A. Section 54.1-828 of the Code of Virginia provides definitions of the following terms:

Boxer

Boxing

Cable television system

Contractor

Department

Director

Event

Manager

Martial artist

Martial arts or mixed martial arts

Matchmaker

Person

Promote

Promoter

Regulant

Trainer, second, or cut man

Wrestler

Wrestling

B. The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Assistant event inspector" means the individual assigned to assist the event inspector.

"Boxer registry" or "martial artist registry" means any entity certified by the Association of Boxing Commissions for the purposes of maintaining records and identification of boxers and martial artists.

"Charity event" means an event where all or a portion of the proceeds are donated to a charitable organization that is tax-exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Contest," "bout," or "match" means the portion of an event wherein specific individuals (two boxers, two martial artists, or two or more wrestlers) engage in boxing or wrestling which ends when a decision is reached.

"Event," as defined in § 54.1-828 of the Code of Virginia, begins when a promoter takes possession or control of a facility or area as specified in the contract between the promoter and the facility and lasts until the promoter releases control of the facility or area. One event shall not exceed one 24-hour period.

"Event inspector" means the individual assigned to be in overall charge of the conduct of an event to assure compliance with this chapter.

"Event license" means a method of regulation whereby any promoter arranging or conducting a boxing or wrestling event is required to obtain a prior authorization from the department.

"Event officials" means those individuals assigned to carry out the duties of an event inspector, assistant event inspector, inspector, referee, timekeeper, judge, or ringside physician as established by this chapter.

"Firm" means any sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, or other business entity.

"Inspector" means the individual assigned to assist the event inspector as provided for in this chapter.

"Judge" means an individual assigned to score a boxing or martial arts contest as provided for in this chapter.

"Licensed event" means an event that has been issued a license from the department in accordance with this chapter.

"Rabbit punch" means a blow delivered by a boxer or martial artist against his opponent that strikes the back of the opponent's neck or head with a chopping motion or punch.

"Referee" means the event official assigned to a boxing or martial arts contest to assure the proper conduct of the contest and the safety of the contestants or the licensed wrestler assigned to a wrestling contest to assure the safety of the spectators as provided for in this chapter.

"Responsible management" means the following individuals:

1. The sole proprietor of a sole proprietorship;

2. The partners of a general partnership;

3. The general partners of a limited partnership;

4. The officers of a corporation;

5. The managers of a limited liability company; or

6. The officers and directors of an association.

"Ringside physician" means the medical doctor assigned to assure the medical health and safety of each boxer or martial artist as provided for in this chapter.

"Task force" means the professional boxing, martial arts, and wrestling task force.

"Ten point must system" means the winner of the round must receive 10 points.

"Timekeeper" means the individual assigned to time each round and the interval between rounds, and to count for knockdowns as provided for in this chapter.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-831 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003; Volume 23, Issue 24, eff. September 5, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 25, eff. September 7, 2016.

18VAC120-40-30. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1999; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003.

18VAC120-40-40. License expiration and renewal.

A. Except as set out in subsection B of this section, each license, other than an event license or a limited boxer, martial artist, or wrestler license, shall expire on December 31 of the year in which the license was issued, except that licenses issued during the last 45 days of any calendar year shall expire on December 31 of the following calendar year.

B. Each license to conduct a boxing, martial arts, or wrestling event issued to a licensed promoter shall be valid only for the duration of the event described in the application for licensure. Each limited license issued to a boxer, martial artist, or wrestler shall be valid only for the duration of one specifically identified event or two specifically identified events held on consecutive days at the same location.

C. Prior to the expiration date shown on the license, each licensee desiring to renew the license shall cause the department or its contractor to receive a photocopy of his license and the fee specified in 18VAC120-40-50.

D. The department may deny renewal of a license for the same reasons as it may refuse initial licensure or discipline a current licensee.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-831 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003; Volume 22, Issue 11, eff. April 23, 2006; Volume 32, Issue 25, eff. September 7, 2016.

18VAC120-40-50. Fees.

A. Each applicant shall submit the following fee along with the application for licensure:

B. Each application for a boxing event license shall be accompanied by the following fee:

1. Scheduled events of 42 rounds or fewer, with no more than one nontitle 10-round or 12-round bout—$1,500.

2. Scheduled events exceeding 42 rounds, with more than one nontitle 10-round or 12-round bout or any event with a title bout—$2,000.

C. Each application for a wrestling event license shall be accompanied by a fee of $125.

D. All fees are nonrefundable.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-831 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003; Volume 21, Issue 20, eff. August 1, 2005; Volume 22, Issue 11, eff. April 23, 2006; Volume 32, Issue 25, eff. September 7, 2016.

18VAC120-40-60. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 3, eff. December 29, 2007.

18VAC120-40-70. Application requirements.

A. Applicants shall apply on forms supplied by the department or its contractor.

B. Individual applicants shall be at least 18 years of age.

C. The applicant shall disclose the following information about himself, in the case of an individual, or about the firm and every member of the responsible management of the firm, in the case of a firm:

1. Any guilty finding by the department, or by a court of any competent jurisdiction, of any material misrepresentation while engaged in boxing, martial arts, wrestling, or other athletic activities, or any conviction, guilty plea, or finding of guilty, regardless of adjudication or deferred adjudication, of any felony or non-marijuana misdemeanor;

2. Any disciplinary action taken by the department or another jurisdiction in connection with the applicant's participation in or promotion of professional athletic contests or activities including monetary penalty, fine, suspension, revocation, or surrender of a license in connection with a disciplinary action; and

3. Any currently or previously held boxing, martial arts, or wrestling licenses issued by this Commonwealth or any other jurisdiction.

Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this subsection. A certified copy of a final order, decree, or case decision by a court or regulatory agency with the lawful authority to issue such order, decree, or case decision shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such conviction or discipline. Subject to the provisions of § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, the department may deny an application for a license if, in its judgment, the actions disclosed in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection would render the applicant unfit or unsuited to engage in boxing, wrestling, or other athletic activities.

D. Each individual applicant shall disclose his physical address and each firm applying for licensure shall disclose the physical addresses of the firm and the firm's responsible management. A post office box shall not be accepted in lieu of a physical address.

E. The fee established by 18VAC120-40-50 A shall accompany the application and shall not be refunded.

F. The receipt of an application and the deposit of fees in no way indicate approval by the department.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-831 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 21, eff. August 5, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003; Volume 32, Issue 25, eff. September 7, 2016; Volume 38, Issue 4, eff. December 1, 2021.