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Boxing Control
BOXING CONTROL ACT

CHAPTER 21:52

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Act
21 of 1933

Amended by
51/1980

120/1980
3 of 1982
246/1988

Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised

(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–19 ..

L.R.O.UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

2 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

Note on Subsidiary Legislation

This Chapter contains no subsidiary legislation.

Note on Adaptation
1. Certain fees in this Chapter were increased by the Commission under paragraph 4 of the

Second Schedule to the Law Revision Act (Ch. 3:03). Where this occurs, a marginal
reference in the form normally indicating an amendment is made to LN 51/1980 (the
Legal Notice by which the President’s approval was signified).

2. Under paragraph 6 of the Second Schedule to the Law Revision Act (Ch. 3:03) the
Commission amended certain references to public officers in this Chapter. The Minister’s
approval of the amendments was signified by LN 120/1980, but no marginal reference is
made to this Notice where any such amendment is made in the text.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 3

CHAPTER 21:52

BOXING CONTROL ACT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION

1. Short title.
2. Establishment of Board of Control.
3. Disqualification of members of the Board.
4. Board may appoint officers and employ and pay other persons.
5. Boxing contests forbidden except with the permission of the Board.
6. Free access.
7. Regulations.
8. Offences and penalties.
9. Saving.

SCHEDULE.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

4 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

CHAPTER 21:52

BOXING CONTROL ACT

An Act to regulate the holding of boxing contests.

[1ST JANUARY 1934]

1. This Act may be cited as the Boxing Control Act.

2. (1) For the purposes of this Act there shall be established
a Trinidad Boxing Board of Control (in this Act referred to as “the
Board”) which shall consist of a Chairman and not less than four
other members to be appointed from time to time by the Minister.

(2) The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a
deliberative vote.

(3) Three members of the Board shall constitute the
quorum necessary to constitute a meeting and may exercise all or
any powers conferred upon the Board by this Act or any Regulations
made thereunder.

3. (1) No member of the Board shall be interested in the
administration or executive of any promoting body of
professional boxing.

(2) No member of the Board shall be interested in any
promoter or receive payment of any kind from such promoter or
promoting bodies.

(3) Any member of the Board disregarding the provisions
of this section shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Board.

4. Subject to any Regulations made under this Act the Board
may appoint such officers and employ and pay such persons and
take such other steps as it thinks necessary and expedient for
properly carrying out its duties.

5. (1) No person shall hold, assist in holding or take any
part whatsoever in any boxing contest, whether held for prizes or
otherwise, unless a permit in writing has been first obtained from
the Board authorising the holding of such contest.

1950 Ed.
Ch. 30. No. 12
21 of 1933.
Commencement.

Short title.

Establishment of
Board of
Control.
[3 of 1982].

Disqualification
of members of
the Board.

Board may
appoint officers
and employ and
pay other
persons.

Boxing contests
forbidden except
with the
permission of
the Board.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 5

(2) The Board may refuse to issue such permit at its
discretion and without assigning any reason or may attach any
conditions it thinks fit as to the holding of any boxing contest or
may cancel any permit after issue.

6. The members of the Board and any police officer detailed
for the purpose shall at all times have free access to any place in
which any boxing contest is being or is about to be held.

7. (1) The Board may prescribe the Rules for boxing and
may from time to time amend or revoke any such Rules, and with
the approval of the Minister may make Regulations as to all or any
of the following matters:

(a) the registration and licensing and the revocation
or suspension of licences of—

(i) promoters of professional boxing contests;
(ii) professional boxers;

(iii) professional seconds;
(iv) referees, judges and timekeepers;
(v) premises in which boxing contests may

be held;
(b) the information to be supplied to the Board in

respect of proposed boxing contests;
(c) the provision of medical certificates by

contestants;
(d) the submission of articles of agreement signed

by contestants;
(e) the provision or deposit of prizes or prize money;
(f) the forms of licences, permits, articles of

agreement and any other documents to be
furnished by or to the Board;

(g) the fees to be charged for any licence or permit
and the accounts to be kept by the Board; and

(h) generally for carrying any of the purposes or
provisions of this Act into effect.

Free access.

Regulations.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

6 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

Until varied or revoked by any such Rules or Regulations the
Rules and Regulations contained in the Schedule shall be in force.

(2) All Regulations when so approved by the Minister shall
be published in the Gazette and shall come into operation on the
date of such publication. Any amendment to or revocation of the
Rules for boxing made by the Board shall be published in such
manner as the Board may determine.

8. Any person who—
(a) without being duly licensed in accordance with this

Act and any Regulations made thereunder, holds,
assists in holding or takes part in any boxing
contest;

(b) holds, assists in holding or takes any part in a boxing
contest, unless it be held under and in accordance
with this Act and any Regulations made thereunder;

(c) refuses to grant to any police officer free access as
provided above to any premises in which any
boxing contest is being or is about to be held, or
obstructs any police officer in the course of his duty
under this Act,

is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars
and to imprisonment for three months.

9. The Board may by permit in writing either generally or in
respect of any specific context exempt any scholastic institution
or any amateur athletic or any other organised association or body
from all or any of the provisions of this Act or any Regulations
made thereunder and may in its discretion revoke any such permit.

Schedule.

Offences and
penalties.

Saving.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 7

Section 7.
[51/1980
246/1988].

SCHEDULE

PART I

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Boxing Regulations.

2. In these Regulations “the Board” means the Trinidad Boxing Board
of Control.

3. (1) The Board shall register and issue licences annually in respect of
all premises approved by the Board for the holding of boxing contests and to
all approved—

(a) promoters of professional boxing contests;
(b) professional boxers;
(c) referees, judges and timekeepers;
(d) managers, trainers, seconds, announcers and doctors.

(2) Every licence so issued shall expire on the 31st of December
following the date of issue unless previously revoked.

(3) The fees payable to the Board in respect of such licences shall be
as follows:

Licence Fee
$

Promoter … … … … 100.00
Manager … … … … 100.00
Trainer … … … … 10.00
Second … … … … 10.00
Boxer … … … … 10.00
Referee … … … … 50.00
Judge … … … … 50.00
Timekeeper … … … … 50.00
Announcer … … … … 50.00
Doctor … … … … 100.00
Amateur Premises … … … 20.00
Professional Premises … … 50.00
Ring Inspection … … … 20.00

4. Applicants for referees’ and judges’ licences may be required to pass a
test or otherwise satisfy the Board as to their qualifications for being so licensed.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

8 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

[51/1980
246/1988].

5. A boxer’s licence shall not be issued to any applicant who is under
seventeen years of age.

6. Applicants for licences shall supply such information as may be
required by the Board in respect of their qualifications to hold a licence.

7. The Board may in its discretion and without assigning any reason
therefor refuse to issue any licence or revoke or suspend any licence after
its issue.

8. (1) Every application for a permit to hold a boxing contest shall be
made in writing to the Board not less than fourteen days prior to the proposed
date for the holding of the contest and shall be accompanied by the following
information:

(a) the date and place of the boxing contest;
(b) the contest proposed and the names of the contestants;
(c) the names of the referees and judges for each contest;
(d) details of and the arrangements made as to prize money;
(e) any other information that the Board may require.

(2) Articles of agreement signed by contestants must be submitted to
the Board with the application for the permit.

9. (1) A fee of $20.00 shall be paid to the Board prior to the issue of
any permit for the holding of a boxing contest.

(2) The following fees shall be paid to the Board in respect of a local
boxing contest:

(a) a fee of $500.00 or one per cent of gate receipts, whichever
is greater;

(b) a sanction fee of $500.00 for championship contests; and
(c) a deposit of $2,000.00 which shall be forfeited if changes are

made on an approved card.
(3) The following fees shall be paid to the Board in respect of an

international boxing contest:
(a) a fee of $500.00 United States currency or its equivalent in

Trinidad and Tobago currency or two per cent of the total gate
receipts, whichever is greater;

(b) a sanction fee of $500.00 United States currency or its
equivalent in Trinidad and Tobago currency for any contest
including championship contests; and

(c) a deposit of $2,000.00 United States currency or its equivalent
in Trinidad and Tobago currency which shall be forfeited if
changes are made on an approved card.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 9

(4) The Board may remit any fees payable in respect of boxing contests
held in aid of any charitable objects.

10. The Board may call upon any contestant to be examined in order to
satisfy itself as to the fitness of the contestant.

11. All contestants must be medically examined to the satisfaction of the
Board within three days of the date of the proposed contest.

12. The permit of the Board shall be in writing addressed to the promoter
of the boxing contest and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or in his
absence by two members of the Board and such permit shall specify the
conditions under which the contest may take place.

13. The Board at its discretion may require a deposit of a sum of money or
an approved guarantee for payment of such sum sufficient to cover the estimated
amount of the prizes and any other commitments in connection with the holding
of a boxing contest for which a permit is required.

14. All programmes and advertisements of boxing contests shall include
the words “By permission of the Trinidad Boxing Board of Control”.

15. All boxing contests shall be held under the Rules of Boxing prescribed
for the time being by the Board.

16. The Board shall keep proper accounts of all fees and other moneys
received by the Board which accounts shall be audited annually by the
Auditor General and a summary of the accounts so audited shall be published
in the Gazette.

17. The funds of the Board may be applied as follows:
(a) in payment of the salaries and wages of the secretary and other

clerks and servants for the time being of the Board;
(b) in defraying all expenses of or connected with the printing,

publication, sale and distribution of the publications of the Board;
(c) in payment of the current expenses and other disbursements

of the Board in the conduct of the business of the Board or in
relation thereto;

(d) in providing championship cups or medals or other prizes for
boxing contests;

(e) in making grants or donations to any amateur boxing
association or in furtherance of professional boxing, or to such
charitable objects as it may think fit.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

10 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

18. The Board shall keep a register of all permits and licences issued by
the Board and shall enter or cause to be entered therein such details as may be
determined by the Board.

19. The promoter of any boxing contest shall within seven days of the
holding of such contest make a return to the Board of the results of such contest
in such form as the Board may determine.

20. If any contestant is disqualified the referee shall report such
disqualification and the reasons therefor to the Board within twenty-four hours
of the contest taking place.

21. (1) In the event of a contestant being disqualified he shall only be
entitled to receive his bare travelling expenses, and any prize money that such
contestant may be entitled to shall be withheld pending the decision of the Board.

(2) The Board may, after inquiry, order the forfeiture of such prize
money and may at its discretion award any prize money so forfeited between
the promoter (if his claim is found reasonable and correct), the manager, the
trainer and sparring partners or partners of the contestant so disqualified, in
such shares as the Board thinks fit.

22. (1) The Board may, upon complaint or upon its own initiative,
invite any licence holder to appear before it in reference to any alleged
misconduct on the part of such licence holder or otherwise. Misconduct in
this connection will include amongst other things, conduct detrimental to
the interests of the public.

(2) In the event of any licence holder, either after being heard, or
if he declines to appear, in his absence, being adjudged guilty of misconduct
or in the event of any other licence holder failing to appear before the
Board upon being invited to do so, the Board may revoke or suspend the
licence of any such licence holder for such period and between such dates
as the Board thinks fit.

23. No intoxicating liquor of any description shall be sold for
consumption on any premises during the progress of any boxing contest which
may be held thereon.

24. No betting shall take place during the progress of any boxing contest
and any member of the Board may request the removal of any person
offending in this manner and his request must be complied with by the
promoter of the contest.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 11

PART II

THE TRINIDAD BOXING BOARD OF CONTROL

RULES OF BOXING
SECTION 1—EQUIPMENT

1. The Ring.—All boxing contests shall be decided in an area termed
“the ring”, measuring not less than 14 feet nor more than 20 feet square, inside
measurement. The ring floor must not be more than four feet above the floor
level of the venue and suitable steps giving access to the ring must be provided.
Three ropes, drawn as taut as possible, of not less than one inch in diameter
each and covered in soft material shall surround the ring. The top rope shall be
placed 52 inches, the middle rope 35 inches, and the bottom rope 17 inches
above the ring floor. At each of the four corners of the ring the ring ropes shall
be connected by loops of other rope or other suitable fastenings to a post placed
18 inches outside the ring ropes. Such corner posts shall be properly secured
and suitably padded throughout. The ring floor, which shall project at least two
feet beyond the ring ropes, shall be well covered to within six inches of its outer
edges with canvas, duck or similar material, tightly stretched and securely
fastened and extended beyond the ring ropes for a distance of 18 inches.

2. Accessories.—The promoter of any contest shall provide a sufficient
number or quantity of chairs, buckets, bottles, gloves, spittoons, sponges, small
tables, facilities for the announcement of rounds by means of numbers visible
throughout the venue, scoring tablets for the use of referees and judges, powdered
resin, clean water, a gong or electric bell which must be securely adjusted on a
level with the ring floor, and some suitable means for (a) the sounding or
signalling by the timekeeper of seconds of time in case of a contestant being
“Down”, (b) announcements by the M.C.

3 Gloves and Bandages.—Each glove shall not be less than six ounces
in weight. Contestants may use bandages of soft cloth of not more than
11/2 inches in width and the length of each hand’s bandage shall not exceed
six feet. Bandages may be held in position by thin, adhesive tape, not more than
two feet long by one inch wide for each hand. Gloves and bandages shall be
adjusted by the seconds to the satisfaction of the referee.

SECTION 2—CONTESTANTS: COSTUME,
CONDITION, WEIGHING

4 Costume and Inspection.—Contestants must box in light, heelless,
spikeless boots or shoes or in socks and loose-fitting, dark-trunk-drawers, secured
at the hips and with the bottom hems thereof reaching at least half-way between
the knees and thighs. Tights are prohibited. A “Protector Cup or Shield”, may
be worn. (The medical officer shall, at the same time, satisfy himself with regard

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

12 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

to the character of any markings visible in that region). Shields for the
gums may be worn also but not ear-guards or any other protection. The
use of grease or other substance likely to handicap an opponent is
prohibited also.

Weighing.—Contestants shall weigh in on the day of the contest at 10:00 a.m.
for an afternoon tournament and at 2:00 p.m. for an evening tournament,
unless, with the approval of the Board, another time is mutually agreed
upon by the contestants.

Any contestant who fails to be present at the time of weighing or who
neglects to be present at the time agreed upon for a contest, is liable to
disqualification or to such other penalty as the Board may consider fit
and adequate.

SECTION 3—DURATION AND NUMBER OF ROUNDS

5. In all contests the number of rounds shall be specified and no contest
shall exceed fifteen rounds and no round shall exceed three minutes in duration.
There shall be an interval of one minute between each round. All championship
contests shall be of fifteen rounds of three minutes each. Time occupied by
stoppages ordered by the referee during the progress of a round shall not count
as part of the time of such round.

The number of rounds of a contest agreed to by the contestants, and
contained in the articles of agreement submitted to the Board with the
application for a permit under regulation 8, shall not be changed without the
approval of the Board.

SECTION 4—OFFICIALS AND THEIR DUTIES

6. At any contest the following officials shall act:

A referee;

Two judges;

A timekeeper;

An M.C. or announcer;

Seconds.

None of these officials shall be personally pecuniarily interested in the contest
whether as promoter or otherwise. This proviso shall, however, not debar any
person from officiating at a contest merely because he happens to be a member
of a club promoting the contest, provided that such club is approved of by the
Board as a purely sporting club, nor shall this proviso apply to seconds.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 13

The duties for these officials shall be as follows:

REFEREE

He shall be the chief official during a contest and shall take his position in or
near the ring and shall exercise general supervision over a contest. He alone
shall inform the M.C. what verdict to announce and his decision shall be final.

Prior to the start of a contest he shall—
(a) ascertain the names of each contestant’s chief second and hold

them responsible for the conduct of their assistants during a
contest and for the proper tying-on of the gloves;

(b) see that the terms of clause 3 of Section 1, and clause 4 of
Section 2 of these Rules are observed.

During a contest he shall—
(c) keep an independent score of each round and at the end of a

contest give a decision if the judges disagree;
(d) order whenever necessary, by the command “Stop”, a cessation

of boxing during a round and thereafter order, by the command
“Box-on”, a resumption of boxing. He shall see that during
such stoppage the contestant or contestants standing in the
ring do so without any support whatsoever;

(e) order, by the command “Break”, the contestants to separate
when in a “clinch” and, at his discretion, to separate them
himself should they fail to obey promptly;

(f) regard as an acknowledgement of defeat a contestant’s inability
to resume boxing at the timekeeper’s signal;

(g) stop a contest and order the retirement of a second for the
remainder of a contest in the event of that second’s
misbehaviour;

(h) stop a contest if he considers it to be one-sided and award the
decision to the better man;

(i) stop a contest if a contestant is accidentally disabled or is unable
to defend himself and award the decision to his opponent;

(j) stop a contest in the event of a contestant being “Down” and,
immediately start announcing audibly the number of each
second of time as it passes. He shall count up to ten seconds
and indicate the end of the contest by the word “Out” and
award the decision to the opponent if by that time the “Down”
contestant has not arisen;

(k) stop a contest for the commission by a contestant of any one
of the acts mentioned below classed as a “Class B Foul” and
warn such contestant that further commissions of such foul
would result in disqualification and the decision being given
to his opponent;

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

14 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

(l) stop a contest and disqualify without warning a contestant who
commits any one of the acts mentioned below classed as a
“Class A Foul”, and award the decision to his opponent;

(m) stop a contest if he considers the contestants are not in earnest,
in which case he must disqualify one or both of them;

(n) decide (1) the interpretation of any one of these Rules or
all of them, and (2) any questions not provided for in these
Rules. (The Board shall, however, decide these matters at
all other times.)

After a contest he shall—
(o) send immediately to the Board his own and the judges’

scoring tablets;
(p) report in writing to the Board within forty-eight hours of their

happening all cases of disqualification under clauses (l) and
(m) above as well as any case of a contestant retiring from a
contest without sufficient cause, all three of which acts render
contestants found guilty thereof liable to forfeiture of their
prize money.

JUDGES

The judges shall be stationed on two sides of the ring opposite each other
apart from the referee or timekeeper. Independently they shall assign marks to
the contestants and be ready at all times to assist when requested by the referee
to decide whether any foul has been committed. They may also bring any other
point to the notice of the referee at the end of any round. At the end of a contest
that lasts the scheduled number of rounds they shall hand their scoring tablets
to the referee.

TIMEKEEPER

He must be seated at the side of the ring close to the gong or electric bell. He
shall provide himself with a suitable stop-watch or clock which shall permit of
his making due allowances for stoppages ordered by the referee. He shall indicate
the beginning and end of a round by sounding the gong or bell. Five seconds
before the beginning of a round he shall call “Seconds Out” and the number of
the round.

M.C. OR ANNOUNCER

He shall announce in a satisfactory manner (preferably by microphone) the
names of boxers; their weights; the title at stake, if any; the number and duration
of the rounds; the names of the referee, judges, timekeeper. He shall announce
the decision when authorised by the referee to do so. At the request of the
promoter and/or the referee he shall make any other announcements.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 15

SECONDS

Each contestant shall be permitted to have not more than three seconds in his
corner in a contest of ten rounds or more, nor more than two seconds, in a
contest of less than ten rounds and all seconds must be suitably attired. A chief
second must be nominated to the referee by each contestant and such chief
second alone of the seconds can declare the retirement of his principal by
throwing a towel into the ring and orally drawing the referee’s attention to the
fact. Seconds shall not coach principals during the progress of rounds and they
must remain seated and silent. They shall not throw, spout nor spray water or
other substance on a principal nor in any other way assist him during a round.
They shall leave the ring enclosure at the timekeeper’s call and they shall remove
all obstructions such as chairs, buckets, etc., the instant the sound signal indicates
the beginning of a round, and none of these articles shall be placed on the ring
floor again until the gong or bell signals the end of the round.

SECTION 5—MARKING

7. At the end of each round of a contest marks to the maximum number
of five shall be awarded to the better man and a proportionate number of marks
to the other contestant or, when equal, the maximum number to each. Halves or
other fractions shall not be used in marking. At the conclusion of a contest if
the total marks awarded the contestants by the referee and/or by a judge or
judges are equal such official or officials may award an additional mark to the
contestant who does the most leading, or if equal also in this respect, to the one
who displays the better style.

Marks shall be awarded for—
(a) Attack—Direct, clean hits with the knuckle part of either gloved

hand on any part of the front or sides of the head or body
above the “belt”, and for conspicuous endeavours to sustain
action by leading repeatedly and by general aggressiveness.

(b) Defence—“Guarding”, “slipping”, “ducking” and
“blocking”, and in general cleverly evading blows, and for
“countering”. Marks given for defence shall not outweigh
those given for attack.

(c) Conduct—Displays of courage; refusing to take a mean
technical advantage; ability to take advantage of every
legitimate opportunity offered; style; and generalship.

Marks shall not be awarded for—
(a) Tapping;
(b) Hits with the knuckle part of the gloved hand at the back of

the head, neck or body.
Marks shall be deducted for—
Lack of initiative and general ineffectiveness, persistent clinching, fouling,

though not serious enough to warrant disqualification.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

16 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

SECTION 6—DECISIONS

8. At the conclusion of a contest that goes the full scheduled number of
rounds the winner shall be determined by the higher total number of marks and
not by the greater number of rounds won. When judges’ decisions agree in a
contest that goes the full number of rounds scheduled the referee shall authorise
the M.C. to announce their verdict. When the judges’ decisions do not agree
the referee shall give his decision and if two of the three decisions shall then
agree the result shall be so announced. When all three decisions disagree the
result shall be announced as a “draw”. In contests that do not go the full number
of rounds scheduled, the referee only shall give a decision.

SECTION 7—FOULS

9. The following acts are deemed foul and the referee shall have power
to disqualify contestants for committing any one of them:

CLASS A. (WITHOUT WARNING)

(a) Hitting below the “belt”.
(b) Hitting an opponent who is “down” or who is getting up after

having been “down”.
(c) Hitting with the inside of butt of the hand, the wrist or the

elbow.
(d) Butting with the head.
(e) Use of the “kidney-punch”.
(f) Use of the knee.
(g) Use of the “pivot-blow”.
(h) Use of the “rabbit-punch”.
(i) Purposely going “down” without having been hit.
(j) Not trying or not being in earnest.
(k) Retiring from a contest without sufficient cause.
(l) Committing any unfair physical action which may injure

an opponent.
(m) Refusal to obey the referee in general, or wilfully obstructing

the referee in the execution of his duties.

CLASS B. (AFTER WARNING)

(n) Hitting or “flicking” with the open glove.
(o) Holding an opponent.
(p) Holding an opponent with one hand and hitting with the other.
(q) Holding the ropes with one hand for the purpose of obtaining

greater power when hitting an opponent.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 17

(r) Boring or lying-on an opponent.
(s) Wrestling or roughing at the ropes.
(t) Not breaking promptly when ordered to do so.
(u) Resting on the ropes during a stoppage.
(v) Resuming or attempting to resume boxing after a stoppage

without being ordered to do so.
(w) Use of profane, obscene or abusive language.

SECTION 8—DEFINITIONS AND NOTES

10. (a) “Stop” and “Box on”.—Excepting only when the referee has
given the order “Stop” contestants must protect themselves at all times whilst
in the ring and on their feet, but they shall not resume boxing after a stoppage
(“breaking” excluded) without the order “Box on”.

(b) “Break”.—Contestants when ordered by the referee to “break”
must break contact to the satisfaction of the referee, and be on the defensive
while doing so. Having moved in this manner a contestant may immediately
resume boxing without being told to do so by the referee.

(c) “Clinch”.—A “clinch” is a locking-together of the contestants
for which both are responsible.

(d) “Down”.—A contestant shall be deemed “down” when—
(i) any part of his body other than his feet is on the

ring floor;
(ii) hanging over the ropes in a helpless condition.

Notes.—A contestant hanging over the ropes in a helpless conditon is not
officially “Down” until so pronounced by the referee, who can count the boxer
out either on the ropes or on the floor.

Should a contestant arise fully but be unable to defend himself the contest
shall be stopped and the decision given to the opponent.

Should a contestant who is “Down” arise before the count of ten seconds of
time be reached and then at once go “Down” again without being struck, the
referee shall resume the count where it left off provided that in his opinion such
going down is the aftermath of the original knock-down blow and that the
contestant’s action does not warrant disqualification.

A contestant sent “Down” by a blow may remain “Down” until nine seconds
of time have been counted without being disqualified but after an accidental
fall he must rise instantly failing which the referee may stop the contest and
award the decision to the opponent.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

18 Chap. 21:52 Boxing Control

(e) “Counting Out”.—The order “Stop” shall precede the
beginning of any count. When counting the referee shall move
either one of his arms in unison with his count. Immediately
a contestant is “Down” the opponent shall retire to the corner
farthest from the man who is “Down”, and should he fail to do
so, or having done so come out of that corner during the count,
the referee shall suspend his count until the opponent returns
to that corner, when the referee shall resume the count where
it left off. A contestant counted “Out” shall be the loser of the
contest irrespective of the number of marks awarded up to
that time.

(f) “Double Knock-out”.—In the event of a double knock-out the
referee shall declare the contest to be a “Draw”.

(g) “Tapping”—Direct, light blows are not regarded as “tapping”
but a succession of taps, usually employed at close quarters,
which have no effect upon an opponent are to be considered
as such.

(h) “Back-hand Blow”.—A “ back-hand blow” is not a foul when
it is delivered with the knuckle part of the gloved hand.

(i) “Holding”.—Holding may be done with one or both hands
and is the act of one of the contestants. Whilst it is not
permissible for a contestant to hold an opponent with one hand
and hit with the other, yet it is permissible for the opponent if
he be so held and has one hand free, to hit with his free hand.

(j) “Hitting Below the Belt”.—Hitting below the “belt” is hitting
below an imaginary line drawn across the abdomen at the level
of the tops of the front edges of the hip bones.

Note.—This includes the groins.
(k) “Kidney-Punch”.—The “kidney-punch” is a blow delivered

deliberately at that part of the body over the kidneys. The
referee will not protect a contestant who, in his opinion,
deliberately exposes the body to such blows.

(l) “Pivot-Blow”.—A “pivot-blow” is made when a boxer pivots
round on one foot swinging his arm with him and as he
completes his revolution delivers a blow of any kind.

(m) “Rabbit-Punch”.—The “rabbit-punch” is a downward chop
on the back of the neck with the side of the glove or hand.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Boxing Control Chap. 21:52 19

SECTION 9—CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS

11. The Board may declare the winner of an approved contest between
contestants for a championship of a particular class to be the champion of
that class.

No contestant shall be permitted to engage in a championship contest unless
he was born in Trinidad and Tobago or has been continuously resident therein
for a period of not less than three years.

The winner of a championship contest shall retain his possession of the
championship title unless he loses the same by being defeated in a championship
contest, or by default, or by his inability to make the weight; Provided that a
championship can only be won in a contest.

The claim of a champion to a championship title may be forfeited on any of
the following grounds:

(a) if the champion has failed to defend his championship title
within a period of time specified by the Board after a
challenge which has been approved by the Board has been
issued to him;

(b) if the champion has ceased, of his own accord, to be licensed
as a professional boxer for three years or more;

(c) if the champion is proved to the satisfaction of the Board to be
guilty of gross misconduct as a boxer;

(d) if the licence of the champion has been revoked or
suspended by the Board, or the Board has refused to issue a
licence to him.

Except when a championship title is won in a contest, the Board shall decide
whether, and declare when, a championship title is lost or forfeited and may
sanction a contest between contestants selected by the Board for any
championship which is lost or forfeited.

SECTION 10—CLASSIFICATION OF CONTESTANTS

12. Contestants shall be classified as follows:
Flyweight 112 lb. and under.
Bantamweight 118 do.
Featherweight 126 do.
Lightweight 135 do.
Welterweight 147 do.
Middleweight 160 do.
Light Heavyweight 175 do.
Heavyweight Over 175 lb.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt