Regulation of Boxing and Wrestling Contests

Boxing and Wrestling Commission established

Section 1 creates a Boxing and Wrestling Commission consisting of a Commissioner as chairman and two members.
The President appoints the Commissioner and members for such term and at such rate of compensation as the President may determine.
The President may remove the Commissioner and members at his pleasure.
For administrative purposes, Section 1 places the Commission under the executive supervision and control of the Department of the Interior.
Section 3 makes the Commission subject to administrative control of the Secretary of the Interior.

Definitions used in the Order

Section 2(a) defines a “Professional boxer” or “Professional wrestler” as one who competes for a money prize or purse, or teaches, pursues, or assists in boxing/wrestling as a means of livelihood or pecuniary gain.
Section 2(b) defines “Purse” as the prize, percentage, or other remuneration for which contestants compete.
Section 2(c) defines “Commission” to mean the Boxing and Wrestling Commission.

Commission powers and duties

Section 3(1) authorizes the Commission to supervise and regulate boxing contests and training exhibitions in connection with boxing/wrestling for prizes or purses, or where an admission fee is charged or received.
Section 3(2) authorizes supervision of the officials and employees of any person, corporation, association, or group whose duties are connected with such contests or exhibitions.
Section 3(3) authorizes, with Secretary of the Interior approval, the Commission to make and promulgate rules to carry out the law on boxing/wrestling contests/exhibitions.
Section 3(4) requires cooperation with organizations promoting and controlling amateur and collegiate boxing.
Section 3(5) authorizes the Commission to appoint assistants, agents, and other personnel, and fix salaries/compensation, subject to approval of the Secretary of the Interior and the President.
Section 3(6) authorizes the Commission to inspect books, records, and accounts of persons/corporations/associations/groups conducting such contests, and to require books/financial statements in the manner it prescribes.
Section 3(7) authorizes the Commission to do other powers/discharge other duties as later prescribed by law or executive order.

Permits, licensing, and eligibility controls

Section 4 makes it unlawful for any person, corporation, club, association, or group to stage boxing or wrestling contests/exhibitions for a purse unless duly permitted by the Commission.
Section 4 requires each permit to specify: the event, opposing parties, place, date, time, number of rounds, and other details the Commission may deem proper.
Section 4 authorizes the Commission to suspend or revoke any permit for any just cause.
Section 5 requires persons directly or indirectly involved (including judges, referees, physicians, matchmakers, professional boxers and wrestlers, managers, trainers, seconds, timekeepers, announcers, and others included in the classification) to secure a license from the Commission before engaging in such work.
Section 5 requires a yearly license; it authorizes the Commission to prescribe by regulation the qualifications and requisites for applicants, subject to Secretary of the Interior approval.
Section 5 requires that any boxer/wrestler applying for a license be examined by a physician designated by the Commission, who must certify physical and mental fitness before the license is granted and as often as, but at least once a year thereafter, and the Commission may order examination at any time to determine fitness.
Section 6 prohibits contestants under eighteen (18) years of age from participating in any professional boxing or wrestling contest or exhibition.

Scheduling, restricted admission, contest officials

Section 7 allows boxing or wrestling contests/exhibitions not oftener than twice a week, from 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon until not later than 12:00 o’clock midnight, except as otherwise provided in the Order.
Section 8 prohibits admission or remaining in/around the premises for persons under sixteen (16) years of age, persons carrying firearms or deadly weapons of any description except government officials performing their official duties, intoxicated persons, and persons of disorderly nature and conduct apt to disturb peace and order.
Section 8 allows persons under sixteen (16) to be admitted if accompanied by their parents or guardians.
Section 9 requires the Commission to assign, from duly qualified and licensed personnel: a referee or referees, judges, timekeeper, announcer, a physician, and a Commission representative for each contest/exhibition.
Section 9 provides that officials’ compensation is paid by the promoter/entity conducting the contest, except the Commission representative, whose salary/compensation is not placed on the promoter/entity under this clause.
Section 9 requires the referee before the start of each event to ascertain the contestants’ chief second and hold that chief second responsible for the conduct of assistant seconds during the contest.

Promoter duties, commission rules, and conduct standards

Section 10 requires the promoter or entity conducting the contest/exhibition to ensure peace and order in the premises and ensure compliance with the rules in the Order.
Section 12 requires every promoter/entity to have, at its own expense, a licensed physician with not less than three years’ medical practice attend each contest/exhibition to observe physical condition and advise the referees.
Section 12 requires the physician, one hour before contestants enter the ring, to certify in writing to the Commission or representative the contestants’ physical condition to engage in the contest/exhibition.
Section 13 directs the Commission to prescribe additional rules governing: contest conduct/behavior/performance inside the ring and the duties and functions of officials.
Section 13 preserves interim governance: until such rules are promulgated, standard rules established by law or the practices of the profession govern.

Fees, bonds, contracts, payments, and ticket controls

Section 11(a) imposes license fees for promoters/entities:
- PHP 200 each annually or PHP 50 quarterly if the seating capacity is not more than 4,000 persons; and
- PHP 400 annually or PHP 100 quarterly if the seating capacity is more than 4,000 persons.
Section 11(b) imposes license fees for professionals and officials:
- PHP 10 each annually for professional boxers, professional wrestlers, boxing or wrestling managers, matchmakers, physicians, and referees; and
- PHP 5 each annually for timekeepers, announcers, trainers, and seconds.
Section 11 directs that these license fees accrue to the funds of the city or municipality where the contest/exhibition is held.
Section 11 keeps existing ordinances prescribing higher fees in force until otherwise provided for by the President of the Philippines.
Section 11 authorizes a city/municipal council or board to impose by ordinance a higher fee than those fixed, subject to approval of the President of the Philippines.
Section 15 requires any promoter/entity applying for a boxing/wrestling license to furnish a surety bond to the Commission equal to 25% of the total estimated receipts from the full seating capacity of the venue.
Section 15 conditions the surety bond on reimbursement through the Commission in these cases:
- failure to hold the main event on the advertised date unless later held at a postponed date with consent of the Commission or its representative; and
- failure to hold the main event on subsequent dates fixed by the Commission or its representative.
Section 15 requires payment of the bond amount within fifteen (15) days after default to reimburse ticket purchasers.
Section 16 requires an additional surety bond equal to 25% of the total estimate of receipts from full seating capacity, to guarantee payment of services of boxers, wrestlers, referees, judges, physician, timekeeper, announcer, and other persons entitled to payment as determined by the Commission.
Section 17 requires the Commission or its representative to be furnished with a copy of all contracts between promoters/entities and boxers/wrestlers (and their managers and other officials) and mandates filing at least seven (7) days before the contest/exhibition.
Section 17 provides that if two or more promoters/entities file disputed claims on a boxer/wrestler’s services, the boxer/wrestler is automatically suspended until the claims are adjusted or legally adjudicated.
Section 18 requires payment of purses immediately after the contest/exhibition, or if on a percentage contract, immediately after the percentage is determined by the auditor of the Commission.
Section 18 requires the promoter/entity to pay in cash or check, and in the presence of a Commission auditor, and to take a receipt for payments and give a copy to the Commission representative.
Section 19 requires the Commission, through its duly authorized representative, to supervise the sale of admission tickets.
Section 19 prohibits ticket sales until seating and venue plans showing seating arrangements, aisle, spacing, existing facilities, and location of fire appliances are approved by the Commission or its duly authorized representative.
Section 19 requires tickets (except complimentary tickets) to plainly show: the price, name of the promoter/entity, and the date of the show.
Section 19 prohibits selling tickets for more than the printed price and requires any change in ticket price or show date to receive Commission approval.
Section 19 requires promoters/entities to set aside from daily gross ticket receipts one per centum (1%) to defray the Commission’s general expenses and personnel expenses relating to boxing/wrestling contests/exhibitions and other authorized expenses, apportioned by the Commission with Secretary of the Interior approval.
Section 20 requires the Commission to assign an inspector to ensure strict observance of the Order and rules issued thereunder, with necessary assistants and employees.
Section 20 requires the Commission to assign an auditing officer at each contest/exhibition to supervise and verify ticket sales, assisted by employees as necessary.

Admission exemptions and amateur event coverage

Section 21 exempts amateur boxing or wrestling exhibitions held by and under the auspices of schools, colleges, and universities recognized by the Government or generally recognized amateur athletic societies or federations when there is no purse to compete for from the Order’s governing provisions.

Appeals, budgeting, and forfeiture rules

Section 22 requires that expenditures of funds received by the Commission be made pursuant to a budget approved by the President and audited by the Auditor General or a duly authorized representative.
Section 23 authorizes appeals from any Commission action to the Secretary of the Interior, whose decision stands unless modified or revoked by the President of the Philippines.
Section 24 deems all sums paid to the Government for license fees or taxes or permit required under the Order forfeited upon cancellation or revocation of the corresponding permit or license for violation of the corresponding provision.

Prohibited fraud, revocation, and suspensions

Section 14 authorizes license revocation by the Commission for any promoter/entity conducting or participating in any sham, fake, or fraudulent boxing or wrestling contest/exhibition, and bars that promoter/entity from receiving another license thereafter.
Section 14 imposes sanctions on contestants who participate in any sham or fake or fraudulent contest/exhibition:
- for the first offense, suspension from participating in any boxing/wrestling contest/exhibition conducted or held by a licensed promoter/entity for one year, beginning immediately after the offense; and
- for the second offense, total disqualification from further admission or participation in any boxing/wrestling contest/exhibition.