Kan. Admin. Regs. § 128-5-1

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 49, December 5, 2024

Section 128-5-1 - Professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional bare-knuckle fighting, and professional full-contact karate contests

(a) Each ring used for professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional bare-knuckle fighting, or professional full-contact karate contests shall consist of an area that is no smaller than 16 by 16 feet square and no larger than 20 by 20 feet square when measured within the ropes. The apron of the ring platform shall extend at least two feet beyond the ropes. The ring platform shall not be more than four feet above the floor of the building or the grounds of an outdoor arena. Steps to the ring shall be provided for the use of the contestants and officials.

(b)

(1) Except as specified in paragraph (b)(2), each ring shall be fenced in with at least three ropes and not more than four ropes. Each rope shall be at least one inch in diameter. The ropes may be composed of Manila hemp, synthetic material, plastic, or any other similar material. Each rope shall be wrapped securely in soft material. If three ropes are used, the ropes shall extend in triple parallel lines at the heights of two feet, three feet, and four feet above the platform floor. If four ropes are used, the ropes shall be placed in parallel lines at the following heights:

	Height above the ring floor
(A) Lowest rope	18 inches
(B) second rope	30 inches
(C) third rope	42 inches
(D) top rope	54 inches

(2) For professional and amateur mixed martial art contests, a ring may have a fifth-rope conversion to meet the requirements of the act.

(3) The ring platform shall be padded with a one-inch layer of Ensolite®, foam rubber, or an equivalent closed-cell foam material, which shall be placed on a one-inch base of CelotexT or an equivalent type of building board. The padding shall be covered with canvas, duck, or a similar material that is tightly stretched and laced securely in place. Material that tends to gather in lumps or ridges shall not be used for the padding or the covering.

(c) Each ring post shall be at least three inches and not more than four inches in diameter and shall extend from the floor of the building or the ground in an outdoor arena to a minimum height of 58 inches above the ring platform. Each ring post shall be at least 18 inches away from the ring ropes. Each turnbuckle shall be covered with a protective padding.

(d) The promoter shall provide a bell, buzzer, gong, or horn that is sufficiently loud to enable the officials and contestants to hear it clearly.

(e) The spectator seats shall be placed no closer than eight feet from the outside edge of the apron of the ring. A physical barrier shall be placed eight feet outside the ring. The ringside area within that physical barrier shall be under the jurisdiction of the commission and shall be reserved for the sole use of designated working officials and the contestants.

(f) Gloves used in a boxing or kickboxing contest or exhibition shall meet the following requirements and shall be delivered to the commission at least one hour before the commencement of the first match of the event:

(1) Each glove shall weigh at least eight ounces but not more than 16 ounces, except that the weight of the gloves to be used in a championship contest shall be specified by the commission.

(2) The gloves shall be examined by the inspector and the referee. If padding in any glove is found to be misplaced or lumpy or if any glove is found to be imperfect, the glove shall be changed before the event starts. No breaking, roughing, or twisting of any glove shall be permitted.

(3) If the gloves to be used have been used before, they shall be whole, clean, and in sanitary condition. The gloves shall be subject to inspection by the referee and a representative of the commission. If any glove is found to be unfit, it shall be replaced with a glove that meets the requirements of this subsection.

(4) Each promoter shall have an extra set of gloves of the appropriate weight available to be used if a glove is broken or otherwise damaged during an event.

(5) Each glove shall have the distal portion of the thumb attached to the body of the glove to minimize the possibility of injury to an opponent's eye.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 128-5-1

Authorized by K.S.A. 74-50,187; implementing K.S.A. 74-50,186 and 74-50,187; effective April 4, 2008; amended Dec. 20, 2013; amended by Kansas Register Volume 38, No. 41; effective 10/25/2019.