The Boxing Act in California

The Boxing Act ( 18600 et seq.) accords the State Athletic Commission sole jurisdiction over professional boxing in the state ( 18640), and authorizes the Commission to adopt and amend rules and regulations "necessary to enable it to carry out the laws relating to boxing" ( 18611). The Boxing Act also authorizes the State Athletic Commission to license professional boxers ( 18642) and to revoke a license "for any violation or attempted violation of the Act, any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, or for any cause for which a license may be denied" ( 18841). The Boxing Act mandates that in carrying out these statutory responsibilities, the Commission must make protection of the public its highest priority: "Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the State Athletic Commission in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount." ( 18602.1.) Pursuant to this statutory authority, the State Athletic Commission has adopted professional boxing rules. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 4, 201.) Rule 323 specifies the materials that may be used to wrap a boxer's hands during a contest and prescribes the manner in which those materials may be applied. It states: "Bandages shall not exceed the following restrictions: One winding of surgeon's adhesive tape, not over one and one-half inches wide, placed directly on the hand to protect that part of the hand near the wrist. Said tape may cross the back of the hand twice but shall not extend within one inch of the knuckles when hand is clenched to make a fist. Contestants shall use soft surgical bandage not over two inches wide, held in place by not more than ten yards of surgeon's adhesive tape for each hand. Not more than twenty yards of bandage may be used to complete the wrappings for each hand. Bandages shall be applied in the dressing room in the presence of a commission representative and both contestants. Either contestant may waive his privilege of witnessing the bandaging of his opponent's hands." California Code of Regulations Rule 390 governs enforcement. It authorizes the Commission to revoke a license under any of three circumstances: (1) the licensee violates state law; (2) the licensee violates the rules of the Commission, or (3) the licensee conducts himself or herself in a manner deemed to discredit boxing. Rule 390 states: "Any licensee who violates the laws of the State of California, with the exception of minor traffic violations, or the rules of the Athletic Commission, or who fails or refuses to comply with a valid order of a commission representative, or who conducts himself or herself at any time or place in a manner which is deemed by the commission to reflect discredit to boxing, may have his or her license revoked, or may be fined, suspended or otherwise disciplined in such manner as the commission may direct."