Section 1370.530  Intentional and Accidental Fouls and Injuries

a)         Fouls

1)         If one of the contestants falls to the ring floor, or otherwise indicates an unwillingness to continue because of a claim of a low-blow foul, and the referee does not agree, the contest may be terminated, and the referee may award the contest to the opponent.

2)         In the case of a referee determined accidental foul, the referee shall determine whether the contestant who has been fouled can continue.  If the contestant's chances have not been seriously jeopardized as a result of the foul, the referee may order the bout continued after an interval of not more than 5 minutes rest.

3)         The following actions in a boxing bout or contest shall be considered fouls:

A)        Hitting below the belt;

B)        Hitting an opponent who is down;

C)        Holding an opponent with one hand while hitting with the other;

D)        Holding or clinching after the referee orders the contestants to break or hitting on the break;

E)        Wrestling or kicking;

F)         Butting with the head or shoulder;

G)        Hitting with open gloves, hitting with the butt of the hand, wrist or elbow, and all back hand blows;

H)        Roughing on the ropes;

I)         Hitting in the back or kidney area;

J)         Hitting on the back of the head or neck;

K)        Jabbing the opponent's eyes with the thumb of the glove;

L)        Hitting after the bell has sounded ending a round; and

M)       Conduct that in the opinion of the referee is unsportsmanlike.

b)         Injuries

1)         The referee, at his or her discretion, may request that the physician examine a contestant during the bout.  Should the examination occur during the course of a round, the clock shall be stopped until the examination is completed.  The physician may recommend that the referee stop the bout, in which case the referee shall render the appropriate decision.

2)         In the event of serious cuts or injuries, the referee shall summon the physician who shall advise whether the bout should be stopped.

3)         A referee shall consider the decision of the physician.

4)         The referee shall be authorized to determine if injuries were produced by a foul, and if the foul was intentional or accidental.

c)         Injuries Sustained as a Result of Fouls

1)         Intentional Fouls

A)        If an intentional foul causes an injury, and the injury is severe enough to terminate the bout immediately, the contestant causing the injury shall lose by disqualification.

B)        If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee will notify the Division representative and may deduct points from the contestant who caused the foul.  Point deductions for intentional fouls will be mandatory.

C)        If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured contestant will win by technical decision if he or she is ahead on the score cards, or the bout will result in a technical draw if the injured boxing contestant is behind or even on the score cards.

D)        If a contestant injures himself or herself while attempting to intentionally foul his or her opponent, the referee will not take any action in his or her favor, and this injury will be the same as one produced by a fair blow.

E)        If the referee believes that a contestant has conducted himself or herself in an unsportsmanlike manner, the referee may stop the bout and disqualify the contestant.

2)         Accidental Fouls

A)        If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a no decision if stopped before 4 completed rounds.  Four rounds are complete when the bell rings signifying the end of the fourth round.

B)        After four rounds have occurred, if an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a technical decision, awarded to the contestant who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped.

C)        Partial or incomplete rounds will be scored.  If no action has occurred, the round should be scored as an even round.  This is at the discretion of the judges.

3)         A contestant who is hit with an accidental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time, but no more than 5 minutes, or he or she will lose the fight.

d)         Loss of mouthpiece.  When a mouthpiece is knocked out of a contestant's mouth, the referee may call time when he or she deems that there is a lull in action (not in the heat of battle).  The referee may have the second replace the mouthpiece.  The referee may call a time out based on loss of a mouthpiece one time per contestant during the bout without points being deducted from the contestant whose mouthpiece came out, at the discretion of the referee