Facility and Equipment Requirements

PURPOSE: The purpose of this rule is to define the minimum facility requirements for the conduct of a professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional martial arts, or wrestling contest, except where the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) The ring may not be less than sixteen (16) nor more than twenty feet (20') inside the ropes. The apron of the ring floor shall extend beyond the ropes not less than two feet (2'). The ring shall not be more than four feet (4') above the floor of the building or grounds of an outdoor arena and shall be provided with suitable steps for the use of contestants, seconds, and officials. (2) The ring shall be equipped with at least three (3) ropes and not more than four (4) ropes. The ropes shall be not less than one inch (1") in diameter. These ropes shall be manila ropes, synthetic, plastic rope, or any similar material and shall not be made of metal of any type. All ropes shall be wrapped securely in soft material. If three (3) ropes are used they shall extend in triple parallel lines, two feet (2'), three feet (3') and four feet (4') above the ring floor. If four (4) ropes are used, the lower rope shall be eighteen inches (18") above the ring floor, the second rope thirty inches (30"), the third rope fortytwo inches (42"), and the fourth rope fiftyfour inches (54") above the ring floor. The ring floor shall be padded with a one-inch (1") layer of Ensolite or foam rubber (or equivalent) which is placed on a one-inch (1") base of Celotex (building board). The padding shall be covered with canvas, duck, or similar material tightly stretched and laced securely in place. (3) Ring posts may not be less than three inches (3") or more than four inches (4") in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to the height fifty-eight inches (58") above the ring floor. The ring posts shall not be closer than eighteen inches (18") to the ring ropes. The turnbuckles must be covered with a protective padding. (4) Requirements. The fighting area shall be constructed in a manner that does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or health of any person. The fighting area shall be no smaller than eighteen by eighteen feet (18'×18') and no larger than thirty-two by thirty-two feet (32'×32') and shall meet the following requirements: (A) Floors. The floor of the fighting area must have a canvas, vinyl, or plastic rubberized covering that shall be padded with at least a one inch (1") layer of foam padding extending over the edge of the platform of the fighting area. Materials that may gather in lumps or ridges during the bout or contest may not be used. The platform of the fighting area canvas shall be no more than four feet (4') above the floor of the building and shall have suitable steps or ramps for use by officials and the contestants; (B) Posts. All posts in or around the fighting area shall be made of metal not more than six inches (6") in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of fifty-eight inches (58") above the fighting area floor and shall be properly padded in a manner approved by the office; (C) Fencing. The fighting area shall be enclosed. The enclosure shall— 1. Be made of materials that will not allow a contestant to easily fall out of the space or break through it onto the floor or spectators, such as vinyl-coated chain link fencing; 2. Provide two (2) separate entries onto the fighting area canvas that are sufficient to allow easy access to the fighting area by officials and emergency personnel; 3. Not obstruct or limit the supervision and regulation of the bout by the officials or office representatives; and 4. Not inhibit the official judging of the bout in any manner; (D) All metal parts of the enclosure and fighting area shall be covered and padded in a manner approved by the office and shall not be abrasive to the contestants; (E) Tables immediately surrounding the fighting area shall be no higher than the fighting area platform level; and (F) The fighting area will be approved by the inspector, including, all padding or enclosures. Fighting areas that are not approved by the inspector may not be used for any mixed martial arts bout or contest. (5) The gong, bell, buzzer, or horn which is used must be sufficiently loud so that the officials and contestants can hear it clearly. The ten- (10-) second warning may be by whistle or buzzer. (6) Spectator seats shall not be closer than eight feet (8') from the outside edge of the apron of the ring. A physical barrier shall be placed designating eight feet (8') from the ring. The ringside area shall be under the jurisdiction of the office for the use of designated working officials, contestants, their seconds, judges, referees, physicians, and medical representatives. Promoters are responsible for seeing that the working area is controlled and free of nonessential individuals. The promoter is also responsible for ensuring that no person is smoking within eight feet (8') of the ring. (7) All gloves will be furnished by the promoter and shall be new or in good condition. (8) Promoters must have an extra set of gloves for each size glove used during the contest, to be used in case gloves are broken or in any way damaged during the course of a bout. (9) Scales shall be furnished by the promoter and shall be thoroughly tested and approved by the inspector prior to use in connection with any contest. AUTHORITY: section 317.006, RSMo Supp. 2018.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 406.010. Original rule filed April 30, 1982, effective Sept. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed March 2, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 15, 2001, effective May 30, 2002. Moved to 20 CSR 2040-6.010, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Sept. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007, 2018.