NORTH AMERICAN BOXING FEDERATION FEMALE DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP RULES
These regulations shall govern the championships of professional boxing as these shall be determined and recognized by the NORTH AMERICAN BOXING FEDERATION (“NABF”).
Enforcement of these regulations shall be the responsibility of the Championship Committee of the NABF. This committee shall be composed of the President and Chairman of the Championship Committee of the NABF and such additional members as the President may appoint, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The members of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the President until the next election of officers of the NABF after their respective appointments, and thereafter until the appointment and approval of their successors. Vacancies occurring within the committee shall be filled through appointment by the President, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
Every decision of the Committee within the scope of these regulations shall be final and universally binding throughout the NABF unless the Grievance and Appeals Committee shall vote to hear an appeal therefrom, and having heard such appeal, shall vote to amend or reverse the decision of the Committee. No appeal shall be considered unless the appeals procedures established by the Grievance and Appeals Committee are strictly observed.
The Committee shall meet at such times and places as the Chairman shall designate, provided however, that majority of members of the committee may call a meeting by forwarding to the Chairman a written decision to do so signed by the majority of members setting forth the purpose or purposes and the proposed time and place of such meeting. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Committee and the vote of a majority of the members present and voting on any motion shall be sufficient for a decision. The Committee shall be empowered to reach decisions by mail, facsimile, e-mail, or telephone vote when so requested by the Chairman. In the event of voting by mail, facsimile, e-mail or telephone, a majority vote of the entire Committee membership shall be required for a decision and, if the vote shall be by telephone, it shall be confirmed in writing by the respective voting members.
Eligibility requirements for championship bout are as follows:
(a) The promoter of championship contests must be a member of the NABF and pay such sanction fees as are required based upon the then-current NABF sanction fee schedule as may be promulgated by the Executive Committee in its discretion. In the event the championship changes hands or the title is vacant, the promoter shall also pay the cost of the championship belt. In addition, each of the champion and challenger (or in the event of a vacant or interim title, each challenger) shall pay a sanction fee based upon a percentage of his contracted purse as required pursuant to the then-current NABF sanction fee schedule, and each shall agree to the withholding of such amounts by the promoter for payment directly to the NABF. For the purposes of this Section, “purse” shall be defined as including all payments due the boxer for his services in respect to the championship contest except for transportation, lodging and meal expenses. The promoter’s sanction fee and the minimum fees for the champion and the challenger must accompany the sanction request.
(b) To be eligible for an NABF championship, both boxers must be members of the NABF, and in addition the referee and three judges officiating the contest must be members of or otherwise approved by the NABF.
(a) MANDATORY DEFENSES. Within ninety (90) days after first winning the championship, each NABF champion shall be required to defend against the highest available contender, and must make a mandatory defense every six months thereafter. An exception to this rule above may be granted by a petition from the champion and approved by the Championship Committee.
(b) OPTIONAL DEFENSES. Each champion may defend his NABF championship against a challenger rated in the most recent NABF ratings. Should no challenger be available from the most recent NABF ratings, a champion may request consent from the NABF Championship Committee to defend his title against a challenger who is not rated by the NABF. A champion, or his promoter, seeking approval of such a contest must be able to document and prove that they have contacted at least four (4) available boxers listed in the most recent NABF ratings and each of the boxers contacted became subsequently unavailable or would not box for the NABF championship. The boxer or promoter must provide updated information as to the non-rated challenger’s complete and accurate ring record. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no boxer will be approved as a challenger unless the boxer is otherwise meets the criteria for a rating in the NABF.
Should an optional defense result in the challenger winning the title, the new champion is responsible to box any mandatory obligation of the previous champion. A ninety (90) day grace period will be allowed.
(c) VACANT CHAMPIONSHIPS. In accordance with Rule 6(a) above, after winning a vacant championship, the new champion shall be required to defend his title in a mandatory bout within ninety (90) days, and must make a mandatory defense every six months thereafter. In furtherance of this rule, each challenger for a vacant title shall execute a written agreement that upon winning such title, he will make a mandatory title defense of such title within ninety (90) days.
(d) JURISDICTIONAL REQUIREMENTS. Residents of Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America may be approved as challengers or champions for an NABF championship; alternatively, other boxers may be approved as challengers or champions for an NABF championship provided that they agree to defend their NABF championships in such time and place as may be required or approved by the NABF.
(e) WEIGHT CLASSES. Weight limits for championship contest classes are as follows:
CLASS WEIGHT LIMIT
Atomweight 102 pounds or less
Strawweight 105 pounds
Light Flyweight 108.1 pounds
Flyweight 112.1 pounds
Superflyweight 115.1 pounds
Bantamweight 118.1 pounds
Super Bantamweight 122.1 pounds
Featherweight 126.1 pounds
Super Featherweight 130.1 pounds
Lightweight 135.1 pounds
Welterweight 140.1 pounds
Middleweight 147.1 pounds
LtHeavy Weight 160.1 pounds
Heavyweight 175.1 pounds
A Champion shall not hold a NABF championship in more than (1) weight class; therefore, should an NABF Champion of one division win the NABF title in another division, the Champion must declare within fifteen (15) days after winning the second NABF championship which divisional title he intends to defend, and the other title shall be vacated.
If any NABF champion shall fail to comply with the requirements of Regulation 6 above, the Championship Committee may declare his title to be forfeited, in which case the championship in his weight class shall become vacant. However, if because of injury, illness or other bona fide, sufficient cause beyond the control of such NABF champion, duly established to the satisfaction of the Committee, he shall be prevented from such compliance, he may be granted a grace period by a vote of the Committee. Further, the application of Regulation 6 may be suspended by the Committee if it finds sufficient cause to do so.
The weigh-in for an NABF bout shall be held from 24 to 30 hours prior to the start of the boxing event. The local commission shall select the best-certified scale and flooring place to ensure maximum accuracy in the weights. shall be retained by the defending champion. Each boxer will not exceed the official weight limit. If one of the boxers exceeds such weight, he will be allowed two (2) hours to make the weight by weighing-in as many times as he desires.
Due to the possible adverse results of dehydration and subsequent rehydration of a boxer who is required to lose more than a safe amount of weight to make the required weight limit for the bout, the NABF expects extra official weigh-ins to be held 30 and 7 days prior to the official 30-24-hour weigh-in.
The 30-day weigh-in: 4 weeks prior to the bout, the boxer’s weight must not exceed 10% of the weight limit for the bout, and
The 7-day weigh-in: 7 days prior to the bout, the boxer’s weight must not exceed 5% of the weight limit for the bout.
Boxers, managers, trainers, and promoters are solely responsible for the pre-fight safety weigh-ins and medical examinations required by the NABF and the failure by the boxer, manager and trainer to comply with this rule, is their sole responsibility and not that of the NABF.
In the event that the boxer exceeds the weight qualifications stated above, the NABF may, for the safety of the boxer, refuse to sanction the bout.
(a) OVER-THE-WEIGHT CHAMPION. If an NABF champion shall fail to make the prescribed weight for the championship contest at the official weigh-in, his title shall be forfeited. The bout, however, may be held as scheduled, and if the challenger, having made the prescribed weight, shall win, he shall succeed to the championship, but if the champion shall win, the championship shall be vacant.
(b) OVER-THE-WEIGHT CHALLENGER. If the challenger for an NABF champion shall fail to make the prescribed weight for the championship contest at the official weigh-in, the bout may be held as scheduled, and if the champion should retain his title and the bout was a mandatory bout, the champion will be considered to have fulfilled his obligations to box a mandatory contest. If the champion should lose the bout, he shall retain his title but remain subject to whatever requirement for an additional mandatory bout the Championship Committee may determine in its discretion.
(c) BOTH BOXERS OVER-THE-WEIGHT. If both the champion and challenger shall fail to make the prescribed weight for the championship contest at the official weigh-in, the championship may be declared vacant.
If an NABF championship shall become vacant, the Committee shall, from the rated boxers in the pertinent weight class, determine the highest two (2) ranked available boxers.
No contract for an NABF championship contest shall contain any clause or provision whatsoever guaranteeing or anywise assuring or promising either contestant a return NABF championship contest, it being the definite purpose of this Regulation to limit the legal scope, effect, and pertinence of every such contract strictly to the single contest for which it primarily provides; nor shall any such contract contain any clause or provision whereby any interest whatsoever in the future earnings or management of either contestant shall pass to the other contestant or to any other designee named or unnamed in the contracts; nor shall any such contract contain any clause or provision whereby the services of either or both contestants shall be guaranteed, promised or otherwise assured to any promoter, promotional group or corporate enterprise for any future contest or contests after the completion of the contest primarily provided for by the contract. This Regulation shall apply with equal force to written and oral contracts as well as to written and oral supplemental contracts and collateral agreements, regardless of whether or not any such contract, agreement or supplement thereto shall have been filed with, brought to the attention of or approved by any athletic commission, boxing commission or other authority affiliated or unaffiliated with the NABF. Any NABF member who shall violate or shall collaborate in the violation of any provision of this Regulation shall be subject to dismissal from membership in the NABF. Upon violation of this Regulation, the NABF championship involved shall be forthwith declared by the Committee to be vacant.
NABF championship contests shall be of scheduled duration of eight (06) rounds, with ten (08) rounds optional (if mutually agreed upon by both opponents), each round being of a two (2) minute duration, provided, however, that the Championship Committee or Executive Committee may approve bouts of lesser duration if required by the laws and regulations in effect within the jurisdiction in which the bout is to occur, or under other special circumstances. Each such contest shall be to a decision as determined under the laws and regulations in effect within the jurisdiction in which the bout shall be held. Prior to promoting an NABF championship contest, the promoter of such contest shall notify the President of the NABF of such proposed contest and must obtain a sanction letter from the President or Chairman of the Championship Committee.
NABF championship contests shall be of scheduled duration of eight(8) or ten (10) rounds, provided, however, that the Championship Committee or Executive Committee may approve bouts of lesser duration if required by the laws and regulations in effect within the jurisdiction in which the bout is to occur, or under other special circumstances. Each such contest shall be to a decision as determined under the laws and regulations in effect within the jurisdiction in which the bout shall be held. Prior to promoting an NABF championship contest, the promoter of such contest shall notify the President of the NABF of such proposed contest and must obtain a sanction letter from the President or Chairman of the Championship Committee. Notwithstanding the provision above, in the event that no commission exists, or the laws or regulations in effect within the jurisdiction fail to meet the minimum requirements of the NABF and the commission refuses to permit the minimum requirements of the NABF to be enforced, in the interest of participant safety the sanction for a championship contest may be withheld or revoked, as the case may be, without liability to the NABF.
If the champion cannot defend his title for reasons satisfactory to the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee by majority vote may allow an interim championship bout.
If an NABF champion shall fail, without having a reason sufficient and satisfactory to the Committee, to fulfill on schedule his contractual obligation to engage in an NABF championship contest, the committee may declare his title to be forfeited and the championship in his weight class to be vacant.
If an NABF championship contest shall be declared a draw, or if for any reason both contestants shall become simultaneously unable to continue, or if for any reason beyond the control of the contestants the contest shall be prematurely terminated while both contestants remain able to continue as so adjudged by the referee of the contest, or if for any reason the official or officials duly appointed for such purpose shall fail to render or shall be prevent from rendering a decision after the contest, the championship shall be retained by the defending champion.
The cornermen shall use only: a) water and/or electrolytes; b) Vaseline; c) ice; d) adrenaline 1/1000, Avetine if both parties and the local commission agree, or a WBC approved hemostatics; e) gauze pads; f) cotton tips; g) blunted scissors; h) adhesive tape; i) towels; j) cotton wads, or soft bandages; k) eye swell, during the bout.
Only Vaseline, used under the supervision of the referee, will be allowed to be applied to the face, arms or any part of the body of a boxer during a bout. No smelling salts, ammonia nor other substances may be administered to revive a boxer, or for any other reason, during a bout.
It is absolutely prohibited for a boxer to drink anything but water and electrolytes (like Gatorade), during the bout, and any use of drugs, stimulants, or other prohibited substance, during or prior to the bout will be cause for disqualification of a boxer of other disciplinary measures. No boxer shall be permitted to use any substance during or prior to the bout, that would make him psychologically or physically superior or inferior to his opponent. Any boxer taking any medication must report same to the local commission and the WBC no later than at the weigh-in ceremony.
Whenever practicable, antidoping tests shall be administered in conjunction with the local commission where the bout is to be held. The Championship or Executive Committee shall determine appropriate sanctions, in accordance with the NABF Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, in the event of a failed antidoping test.
In case of a cut, only a solution of adrenaline 1/1000 shall be used in the corner to heal the cut. Avetine could be used if both parties and the local boxing commission agree. Containers with adrenaline 1/1000 solution and water shall be provided to the cornermen by the local doctor or brought by handlers, under strict supervision and authorization of the WBC representative and/or the local affiliated commission, and no other bottle or container shall be allowed or used in the corners during a bout.
Electrolytes are also allowed at the boxer’s choice, but are not mandatory, as well as water. Any other solution or substance is prohibited.
In order to prevent a tactic used by some boxers who intentionally spit out their mouthpiece to gain extra rest time, subject to the local rules where an NABF bout is being conducted, the NABF shall permit a referee to immediately pick up and replace a spit-out mouthpiece, rather than call time out to have the mouthpiece washed and replaced by the boxer’s corner.
The NABF Championship Committee shall have such further, unspecified power and authority as shall be necessary to enable it to discharge fairly and reasonably its responsibilities under these Regulations.
Any member of the North American Boxing Federation who shall violate or shall collaborate in the violation of these NABF Championship Regulations shall be liable to suspension and/or expulsion from the NABF.
If an NABF Champion enters into a 8 or 10-round contest for any other sanctioning organization within his weight class and is defeated, the NABF title shall be declared vacant, with the exception of world championships recognized by the NABF. Should the NABF Champion win in the above situation, he shall have fifteen (15) days to declare his intent as to which title he wishes to represent, subject to the approval of the NABF.
In the event that the NABF finds that the offers by the promoter are fair to both boxers, then the purse offer provisions of this Article may be declared unnecessary.
When a champion has been notified in writing by the Chairman of the Championship Committee to meet the designated challenger as provided for in the NABF rules, or a championship has been vacated and the contenders so named and notified in writing, there shall be a free negotiations period of thirty (30) days following such notice to permit the parties to negotiate and finalize the contest. Upon special circumstances, the NABF may shorten or lengthen the 30-day free negotiation period with notice to the parties.
Should the deadline for submission of contracts not be met, the Chairman of the Championship Committee will provide notice that purse offers will be held. The notification will establish the date, time and place for the submission of promoters’ bids.
Each promoter shall send his bid directly to the Office of the President prior to the purse bid deadline.
Applicant promoters wishing to participate in bidding for the Championship contest shall include in their bids the total offer for the participants, with the acknowledgment that the total purse offer shall be net and free of any local taxes for the participating boxers.
A licensed promoter making the highest specific dollar amount offer shall be awarded the championship contest. The interested boxers, both champion and challenger, or co-challengers in the case of a vacant championship, are compelled to either accept the offer or forfeit their rights as champion or challenger, respectively. It shall be understood that a purse bid shall be deemed to consist of only the specific dollar amount guaranteed to the boxers; no percentage of gate, television, or any other contingent income will be considered by the NABF in selecting the winning bid over the bids of other promoters.
The promoter winning the purse offer must, within ten (10) calendar days after the purse offer has occurred, deposit with the NABF ten percent (10%) of the total amount of his offer.
In the event that the winning promoter does not promote the contest as required hereunder, said promoter will forfeit the ten percent (10%) deposit, which shall be distributed in favor of the boxers in the same percentages as the purse split established hereunder.
The winning promoter must, within fifteen (15) days of the opening of the sealed bids, forward to the NABF the final bout contracts executed by or on behalf of both boxers in the contest. The contracts shall specify the date, time and place on which the contest will be held and the boxer’s purse in accordance with the winning bid.
If the champion does not sign the contract and/or does not accept the bout within fifteen (15) days upon receipt of notification, the championship may be declared vacant. If the challenger refuses, the Championship Committee may designate a substitute based upon the highest ranking available contender. The promoter shall have the right to withdraw his bid if either of the boxers from the original purse offer are not involved in the Championship bout.
The net purse offer shall be divided as follows: seventy-five percent (75%) to the Champion and twenty-five percent (25%) to the challenger, unless otherwise approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee prior to a purse offer.
In the case of only one (1) promoter presenting a bid, he will be allowed to promote the contest unless the NABF finds the offer too low and detrimental to the boxers, in which case efforts will be made by the NABF to improve the boxers’ purse.
If for any reason the winning promoter cannot promote the contest, the promotion will be approved for the promoter who made the second highest offer. If it is too low and there are no other bidders, the NABF shall order another purse offer procedure.
The contest shall take place within sixty (60) days of the opening of the purse offers, unless an extension of time is granted by the NABF.
The NABF Executive Committee reserves the right to refuse any offer if deemed to be too low. In the event of identical high bids, the successful bidder will be determined by lottery.
The President and/or the Chairman of the Championship Committee will have the right to resolve all problems and matters not included in these Regulations or any other circumstances as necessary.
The purse offer Regulations will not be effective in special cases when it is so agreed by vote of at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the NABF Executive Committee.
Any notices required to be given hereunder may be made in writing via posting to the NABF website, via press release, letter, fax, email, or such other means as the NABF may deem appropriate.
Any exception to these Regulations must be approved by two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the members of the NABF Championship Committee or two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the members of the Executi•
Medical Exam provisions in accordance to the NABF- approved format:
• Pregnancy test of maximum 14 days prior to the bout
• Chest and pelvis protection (use of sports protective brassiere and pelvis cup)
If any provision hereof should be deemed invalid for any reason, it shall have no effect on the remainder of the provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
Last Updated ( Monday, 17 July 2006 )