REFEREE & REPRESENTATIVES
DECISION OPTIONS FOR A FOUL

• INTENTIONAL FOUL
  • If a fighter is guilty of an INTENTIONAL FOUL, points could be deducted from his/her score card and the referee may, at his discretion, disqualify him/her from the match.
  • The referee shall have the discretion to determine the following along with the assistance of the IAB official representative at ringside.
    1. Give the fighter who has fouled a warning.
       
       
    2. Deduct 1-2 points from the fighter who has fouled. The amount of points deducted would be determined by the Referee and or the IAB Event representative.
       
       
    3. Disqualify the person who has fouled.
       
       
  • IF A PRO BOUT: The foul could result in the holding of any purse and the fighter automatically suspended.
  • The IAB shall rule in such a case.

• ACCIDENTAL OR UNINTENTIONAL FOUL
  • If a fighter commits an ACCIDENTAL FOUL, points could be deducted from his/her score card.
  • The referee shall have the discretion to determine the following along with the assistance of the IAB official representative at ringside.
    1. Give the fighter who has fouled a warning.
       
       
    2. Deduct 1-2 points from the fighter who has fouled. The amount of points deducted would be determined by the Referee and or the IAB Event representative.
       
       
    3. IAB does not believe a fighter should be "Disqualified" for an "ACCIDENTAL' Foul UNLESS it occurs more than once, such as a low blow or head butt.
       
       

• UNINTENTIONAL OR NON-FOUL RELATED INJURY
  • If a fighter becomes injured by something other than a foul or legal strike (Example: Twisted or Dislocated Knee, Dislocated Shoulder, Twisted Ankle, Getting hit by something flying into the ring from the crowd, fall to the ring floor and floor causing an injury etc.) the decision of the bout would be one of two outcomes.
    1. If the injury occurs in the *FIRST ROUND, the bout shall be declared a "NO CONTEST".
       • (*) This includes if the determination "Not to continue" is made during the break of rounds 1 & 2.
       
       
       
    2. If the injury occurs after the start of the bell in round "2", the Official IAB Representative at ringside will do the following:
       1. If the injury occurs PRIOR TO THE HALFWAY POINT IN ROUND 2, revert back to number 1 above.
          
          
       2. If the injury occurs AFTER THE FIRST ROUND, all 3 judges will be asked to score the portion of the round fought.
          
          
       3. If the bout has went more than 2 rounds and the injury occurs AFTER THE MIDDLE OF THE ROUND they are fighting in, all 3 judges will be asked to score the portion of the round fought.
          • All 3 judges cards will be collected and tallied by the IAB Representative.
          • If the INJURED Fighter is ahead on the score cards, the round shall be declared a TECHNICAL DRAW.
            
            
          • If the non injured fighter is ahead on the scorecards, he/she will be awarded a win by TKO. (Technical Knock out)

RULINGS FOR FOULS THAT END BOUTS

• INTENTIONAL FOUL
  1. If an intentional foul causes an injury, and the injury is severe enough to terminate the bout immediately, the boxer causing the injury shall lose by disqualification.
  2. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee shall notify the authorities and deduct two (2) points from the boxer who caused the foul. Point deductions for intentional fouls are MANDATORY.
  3. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured boxer will win by TECHNICAL DECISION if he is ahead on the score cards; and the bout will result in a TECHNICAL DRAW if the injured boxer is behind or even on the score cards.
  4. If the boxer injures himself while attempting to intentionally foul his opponent, the referee will not take any action in his favor, and this injury shall be the same as one produced by a fair blow.
  5. If the referee feels that a boxer has conducted himself in an unsportsmanlike manner, he may stop the bout and disqualify the boxer.
     
     

• ACCIDENTAL FOUL
  • IF AN ACCIDENTAL FOUL HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST ROUND
    • If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout DURING THE FIRST ROUND - OR AT THE BREAK BETWEEN ROUNDS 1 & 2, the bout will result in a "NO CONTEST".
      
      
  • IF AN ACCIDENTAL FOUL HAPPENS AFTER THE SECOND ROUND BEGINS
    • If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout AFTER THE SECOND ROUND BEGINS, the bout will result in a TECHNICAL DECISION awarded to the boxer who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped.
      • Partial or incomplete rounds will be scored. If no action has occurred, the round should be scored as an even round. This is at the discretion of the judges.
  • LOW BLOW
    • A fighter who is hit with an accidental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time but no more than five (5) minutes, or he/she will lose the fight.

• NOTE: Most State or Province Boxing Commissions require a minimum of either THREE (3) or FOUR (4) Rounds to be fought before a decision other than a "No Contest" can be given. However, most Amateur bouts (MMA & Kickboxing) as well as Pro MMA bouts are only "3" Rounds. We believe even "1" round fought is important to both fighters, ESPECIALLY in a "3 Round Bout" and that even "1" round should be scored accordingly.

THE FOLLOWING ARE CONSIDERED FOULS

ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES

1. Headbutts.
2. Punches to the back of the Head.
3. Striking to the Spine Area. (Kidneys are OK.)
4. Slapping. (Striking with the LACE Side of the Gloves)
5. Spitting.
6. Biting.
7. Holding your opponents head or arm and Hitting.
8. Striking with your feet, legs or knees in any way.
9. Striking with any part of the body other than the fist of the glove.
10. Takedowns, Sweeps, Throwing or Grappling of any kind.
11. Clubbing (Hammerfist Karate Style Strikes) OR Karate Chopping Style Strikes.
12. Strikes to the Groin.
13. Striking opponent when he/she has slipped or fallen to 1 knee or more. An opponent is down when any part of his/her body other than the bottom of their feet touches the floor of the ring.
14. Abusive language in the ring.
15. Attacking when the referee is breaking the fighters apart.
16. Fighting after the bell has indicated the end of the round.
17. Pushing or shoving an opponent through the ropes or out of the ring.
18. Grabbing or holding onto an opponents leg, foot or any other part of the body is not allowed
19. If the bout Referee or IAB Representative feel that a fighter has acted unsportsmanlike.
20. The "REFEREE" has several options after a foul:
    1. To give a Warning.
    2. To deduct 1 point from the fighter fouling.
    3. If the fighter "STRUCK" is greatly injured, ( Cut, Can't Continue because of the blow or Knocked Out) the Referee "MAY" choose to disqualify the fouling Fighter.
    4. In addition, If the bout continues after the "Illegal" strike without any point deduction, the NEXT Illegal Strike Will "ALWAYS" result in a MINIMUM of a 1 point deduction or, if deemed necessary by the Referee, disqualification of the Fouling Fighter.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

1. RING BORDER
   • If a fighter has fallen through or become entangled in the ropes of the ring with any part of his/her body, his/her opponent CANNOT strike him/her. If they do, a decision will be made that will depend greatly upon what actually occurred which will vary from how long the fighter was entangled in the ropes to if or not the attacking fighter had a good view of such or not.
     
     
   • If a fighter purposely slides through the ropes to hope his opponent will stop attacking, he will be charged with a standing 8 count and it "Could" be a disqualification.
     
     
   • If a fighter falls through the ropes and out of the ring, the referee must call time and allow the fighter time to return to the ring.
     
     
   • If the fighter is injured from the fall out of the ring, the IAB representative at ringside will determine the decision for the moment. (Recovery period, Disqualification, Technical Draw, Knockout etc.)
     
     
   • If the fighter is injured from the fall out of the ring, the IAB representative at ringside will determine the decision for the moment. (Recovery period, Disqualification, Technical Draw, Knockout etc.) see "UNINTENTIONAL OR NON-FOUL RELATED INJURY" Above.
     
     
2. If a fighter drops his mouthpiece 3 times during 1 round, that fighter will be disqualified from the match and lose by a technical knockout.
   
   
3. Spitting (Intentional abusive conduct, not just loss of saliva) and biting could all be reasons for disqualification.
   
   
4. ALCOHOL & DRUGS
   • Any fighter found fighting under the influence of any drugs or alcohol will be immediately disqualified from their match and given a loss.
     
     
   • Any PRO fighter found under the influence of ANY drug within 24 hours before or during the match shall be fined by the IAB a MINIMUM of $500.00 and be disqualified from their match and not receive their purse.
     
     
   • Any AMATEURS fighter found under the influence of ANY drug within 24 hours before or during the match shall will be disqualified from their match, suspended for a minimum of 90 days and given a Technical loss.
     
     
   • If the fighter holds any IAB titles, they will lose them immediately.
     
     
   • Any fighter fighting for the IAB shall give permission to the IAB for drug testing before or after any bout, amateur and pro.

HOME - JOIN - NEWS - EVENTS - RANKINGS - SANCTIONING - RULES & REGULATIONS - ABOUT IAB - WEIGHTS - LINKS - CONTACT