[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4753 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4753

To provide for the safety of journeymen boxers, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 1994

   Mr. Torricelli introduced the following bill; which was referred 
    jointly to the Committees on Education and Labor and Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the safety of journeymen boxers, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Professional Boxing Safety Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``boxer'' means a person who participates in a 
        professional boxing match;
            (2) the term ``manager'' means a person or business who 
        helps arrange professional boxing matches for a boxer, and who 
        serves as an advisor or representative of a boxer in a 
        professional capacity;
            (3) the term ``professional boxing match'' means a boxing 
        contest held in the United States between individuals for 
        compensation or a prize, and does not include any amateur 
        boxing match;
            (4) the term ``promoter'' means a person or business that 
        organizes, holds, advertises, or otherwise conducts a 
        professional boxing match; and
            (5) the term ``State boxing commission'' means a State 
        agency with authority to regulate professional boxing;

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to improve and expand the system of safety precautions 
        that protects the welfare of professional boxers; and
            (2) to assist State boxing commissions to provide proper 
        oversight for the professional boxing industry in the United 
        States.

SEC. 4. PROFESSIONAL BOXING MATCHES.

    A professional boxing match may be held in the United States only 
if--
            (1) the State where the professional boxing match is to be 
        held--
                    (A) has a State boxing commission ; or
                    (B) has entered into an agreement with a State 
                boxing commission of another State;
        to oversee the match and to regulate each of its boxing 
        matches; and
            (2) the State boxing commission has established procedures 
        to carry out sections 5, 6, and 7.

SEC. 5. REGISTRATION.

    (a) Requirement.--Each professional boxer shall register with--
            (1) the State boxing commission of the State in which such 
        boxer resides;
            (2) in the case of a boxer who is a resident of a State in 
        which there is no State boxing commission, the State boxing 
        commission described in section 4(1)(B); or
            (3) in the case of a boxer from a foreign country, any 
        State that has a State boxing commission.
    (b) Identification Card.--
            (1) Issuance.--A State boxing commission shall issue to 
        each professional boxer who registers in accordance with 
        subsection (a), an identification card that contains--
                    (A) a recent photograph of the boxer;
                    (B) the social security number of the boxer (or, in 
                the case of a foreign boxer, any similar citizen 
                identification number or professional boxer number from 
                the country of residence of the boxer); and
                    (C) the personal identification numbers assigned to 
                the boxer by the boxing registries certified by the 
                Association of Boxing Commissioners.
            (2) Renewal.--Each professional boxer shall renew his or 
        her identification card at least once every 3 years.
            (3) Presentation.--Each professional boxer shall present 
        his or her identification card to the State boxing commission 
        not later than the time of the weigh-in for a professional 
        boxing match.
    (c) Relation to State Law.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as preventing a State from applying additional registration 
requirements.

SEC. 6. REVIEW.

    Each State boxing commission shall establish procedures--
            (1) to evaluate the professional records of each boxer 
        participating in a boxing match in the State; and
            (2) to ensure that no boxer is permitted to box while under 
        suspension from any State boxing commission for any reason, 
        including--
                    (A) a recent knockout, injury, or unfulfilled 
                requirement for a medical procedure;
                    (B) administrative reasons, such as failure to pay 
                a State fee or fine, or improper conduct;
                    (C) falsification of, or attempts to falsify, 
                official identification cards or documents;
                    (D) failure of a drug test;
                    (E) inadequate boxing skills, or the inability to 
                safely compete; and
                    (F) violation of Federal or State gaming laws.

SEC. 7. REPORTING.

    (a) Boxing Match Results.--Not later than 48 business hours 
(excluding Saturdays and Sundays) after the conclusion of a 
professional boxing match, the results of such match shall be reported 
to the professional boxing registries certified by the Association of 
Boxing Commissioners (ABC) and to the Florida State Athletic 
Commission.
    (b) Suspensions.--Not later than 48 business hours (excluding 
Saturdays and Sundays) after a State boxing commission orders the 
suspension of a boxer, promoter, or manager, such suspension shall be 
reported to the professional boxing registries certified by the 
Association of Boxing Commissioners (ABC) and to the Florida State 
Athletic Commission.

SEC. 8. ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Injunctions.--Whenever the United States Attorney in a State 
has reasonable cause to believe that a person or entity is engaged in a 
violation of this Act in such State, the United States Attorney may 
bring a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United 
States requesting such relief, including a permanent or temporary 
injunction, restraining order, or other order, against the person or 
entity, as the United States Attorney determines necessary to restrain 
the person or entity from continuing to engage in, or to sanction, a 
professional boxing match in violation of this Act.
    (b) Criminal Penalties.--
            (1) Managers and promoters.--Any manager or promoter who 
        knowingly and willfully violates any provision of this Act 
        shall be imprisoned for not more than 1 year or fined more than 
        $20,000, or both.
            (2) Boxers.--Any professional boxer who knowingly and 
        willfully violates any provision of this Act shall be fined not 
        more than $1,000.

                                 <all>