Section 36 Necessity of referee and judges; powers and duties; vote; decision; forfeitures; fees of officials; payment - Massachusetts Statutes

[ Text of section effective until February 28, 2010. For text effective February 28, 2010, see below.]

  Section 36. At every boxing or sparring match or exhibition there shall be in attendance a referee, duly licensed under the provisions of sections thirty-two to forty-seven, inclusive, who shall direct and control the same. There shall also be in attendance two duly licensed judges, and each of said judges and the referee shall, at the termination of every such match or exhibition, vote for the contestant in whose favor the decision should, in his opinion, be rendered, or for a draw if, in his opinion, neither contestant is entitled to a decision in his favor, and the decision shall be rendered in favor of the contestant receiving a majority of said votes or if neither receives a majority as aforesaid a decision of a draw shall be rendered. Upon the rendering of said decision, the vote of each judge and the referee shall be announced from the ring. The referee shall have full power to stop the match or exhibition whenever he deems it advisable because of the physical condition of the contestants or one of them, or when one of the contestants is clearly outclassed by his opponent, or for other sufficient reason. The referee shall declare forfeited any prize, remuneration or purse or any part thereof belonging to the contestants or one of them if, in the judgment of a majority of the judges and the referee, such contestant or contestants are not or were not competing in good faith. The fees of the referee and other licensed officials shall be fixed by said commission, and shall be paid by the licensed organization prior to the match or exhibition.

Chapter 147: Section 36. Necessity of referee and judges; powers and duties; vote; decision; forfeitures; fees of officials; payment

[ Text of section as amended by 2009, 169, Sec. 6 effective February 28, 2010. For text effective until February 28, 2010, see above.]

  Section 36. At every boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts or other unarmed combative sporting event, sparring match or exhibition there shall be in attendance a referee, duly licensed under this section and sections 35 and 35A. There shall also be in attendance at least 3 duly-licensed judges, each of whom shall, at the termination of a match or exhibition, vote for the contestant in whose favor the decision should, in his opinion, be rendered or, for a draw if, in his opinion, neither contestant is entitled to a decision in his favor and the decision shall be rendered in favor of the contestant receiving a majority of the votes or, if neither receives a majority as aforesaid, a decision of a draw shall be rendered. Upon the rendering of a decision, the vote of each judge shall be announced from the ring. The referee shall have full power to stop the match or exhibition whenever he deems it advisable because of the physical condition of a contestant or when 1 contestant is clearly outclassed by his opponent or for other sufficient reason. The commission shall declare forfeited any prize, remuneration or purse or any part thereof belonging to a contestant if, in the judgment of a majority of the commissioners after consultation with the judges and the referee, the contestant was not competing in good faith. The fees of the referee and other licensed officials shall be fixed by the commission and shall be paid by the licensed organization prior to the match or exhibition.