The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) on Wednesday issued a press release by which it expressed being “concerned with the definition of a boxing match,” specifically the difference between skilled and exhibition fights.
In a day and age where celebrity boxing, catalyzed by the rise of influencers akin to Jake Paul and KSI, has grow to be all-time popular, the ABC is asserting what it deems knowledgeable boxing match – and what it doesn’t.
“It’s the sense of the Association of Boxing Commissions that, for a pugilistic match to be called ‘skilled boxing,’ an event must meet certain criteria that might include minimum medical requirements, round length, judging standards, glove size and weight classifications,” the ABC said in its statement.
“… The term ‘boxer’ means a person who fights in knowledgeable boxing match and since the ABC, within the published Unified Rules has defined a boxing match as one by which: Each round shall consist of a 3 (3) minute duration, with a one (1) minute rest period between rounds and since member boxing commissions within the ABC and regulators throughout the world specify minimum medical requirements, drug testing procedures, glove sizes, weight divisions, scoring and age limits, when variations are made akin to shortened rounds, non-standard glove sizes and the like, the competition is not any longer skilled boxing.”
One such example of knowledgeable fight that didn’t meet the above criteria was last 12 months’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, which was regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in November.
Paul and Tyson used 14-ounce gloves (slightly than the usual 10 ounces for heavyweights) and fought for eight two-minute rounds (slightly than the male standard of three-minute rounds.
“The Association of Boxing Commissions believes that regulatory commissions should regulate all combative sports for the protection of the participants, but celebrity feature fights and other events that deviate from true boxing rules shouldn’t be known as ‘skilled boxing,’ the ABC said. “Whether it is known as an exhibition or non-conventional fighting, by which no decision is rendered, or a fight where one is decided, unless standard boxing rules are utilized, it’s a sham if billed as knowledgeable boxing event. It’s fraught with evils akin to the chance of mismatches, gambling manipulation and dangers to participants. The term ‘skilled boxer’ is one which is held in high esteem for those few athletes who compete within the sweet science and follow all the foundations set forth.”
Tuesday’s statement was signed by a ABC president Mike Mazzulli (Mohegan Sun), first vp Scott Bowler (Utah), past president Brian Dunn (Nebraska), second vp Matt Schowalter (Minnesota), treasurer Dennis Reno (North Carolina), and secretary Tim Shipman (Florida).
The ABC added that it will not be against modified standard bouts happening but said commissions must achieve this under an exhibition designation. Mazzulli is regulating the KSI vs. Dillon Danis match on March 29 in Manchester, England, which might be an exhibition – not knowledgeable contest.
“If commissions, sanctioning bodies or promoters are allowed to change the foundations to suit particular weaknesses or strengths of competitors, the integrity that continues to be in the game of boxing might be destroyed,” the ABC said. “Promoters claiming that this event needs one-minute rounds, claiming one other event needs six-ounce gloves, claiming that other events are just for three rounds, or promoters using only two judges slightly than three, or a promoter who wants an event scored on points, not on a ten point must. None of this implies a commission or regulatory body must refuse consideration of the event, but by no means it ought to be titled ‘skilled boxing’ no matter opponents on the cardboard.”
The ABC’s full statement will be viewed here.
Make sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to debate this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
