There is no private organization that administers and regulates the sport of boxing as the NCAA does for college sports or as the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB do for professional sports. For many decades, there has been a wide range of rules and policies governing boxing competition. States, boxing federations, fight promoters and TV networks have all influenced boxing regulations for their own benefit. This sport has long been associated with the exploitation of boxers, corrupt judges and self-serving unscrupulous promoters. Critics claim the questionable outcomes of many matches and the inexplicable rankings of some contenders, apparently designed to push the careers of certain fighters, are examples of this corruption. Boxing critics say this sport lost credibility with the public long ago. They say boxing is long overdue for regulations which set uniform standards for fight contracts, contender rankings, qualifications of referees and judges, and requiring states to accept each other’s decisions. They also say that more must be done to protect the health of practitioners of the Sweet Science.

Proposed Legislation: H.R.1065 - United States Boxing Commission Act (109th Congress 2005-2006)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Janice Schakowsky (IL)

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