LAWS OF FIJI

CHAPTER 272

BOXING AND WRESTLING CONTESTS

Ordinances Nos. 5 of 1936, 32 of 1937, 
2 of 1945, 37 of 1966, 20 of 1967.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTROL OF BOXING AND WRESTLING CONTESTS.

[27th June, 1936.]

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Boxing and Wrestling Contests Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act -

"boxing contest" means any boxing match, boxing competition or boxing exhibition for admission to which a charge is made, or at which a collection is taken up, or at which those present are invited or permitted to throw money into the ring or otherwise deposit it in the building or elsewhere, or on the result of which any stake, bet, payment or prize depends;

"Commissioner of Police" includes any officer of police authorised by him; 
(Substituted by 32 of 1937, s. 2.)

"officer of police" means any member of the Royal Fiji Police Force with the rank of or above an inspector;
(Substituted by 32 of 1937, s. 2.)

"wrestling contest" means any wrestling match, wrestling competition or wrestling exhibition for admission to which a charge is made, or at which a collection is taken up, or at which those present are invited or permitted to contribute money or to deposit it in the building or elsewhere, or on the result of which any stake, bet, payment or prize depends.
(Amended by 32 of 1937, s. 2.)

Permit for boxing or wrestling contest

3. No boxing or wrestling contest shall be held except in pursuance of a permit granted by the Commissioner of Police.
(Amended by 32 of 1937, s. 3.)

Conduct of boxing and wrestling contests

4. Every boxing contest and every wrestling contest shall be conducted in accordance with any regulations which may be made under section 8.

Copy of permit to be posted at entrance

5. A copy of every permit granted for a boxing or wrestling contest by the Commissioner of Police shall be posted up in a conspicuous position at the main entrance of the building or other place in which the contest is held.
(Amended by 32 of 1937, s. 4.)

Penalties

6. Every person who promotes, holds or is engaged in any boxing or wrestling contest in respect of which any of the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder are not complied with shall be liable to a fine not exceeding forty dollars.
(Amended by 32 of 1937, s. 5, and 2 of 1945, s. 105.)

Officer of police may enter building

7. Any officer of police with such assistance as he may require may at any time of the day or night enter any premises in which he has reason to believe that a boxing or wrestling contest is being held, and may if necessary make such entry by force.
(Amended by 32 of 1937, s. 6.)

Regulations

8. The Minister may make regulations for any of the following purposes:-

(a) prescribing the constitution, powers and functions of all associations or clubs engaged in the promotion or conduct of boxing or wrestling contests;

(b) limiting the number of such associations or clubs;

(c) prescribing rules for the conduct of boxing or wrestling contests;

(d) prescribing rules for the arrangement of all seating accommodation, gangways, doors and exits of any premises upon which boxing or wrestling contests may be held;
(Inserted by 32 of 1937, s. 8.)

(e) prescribing rules for the safety, convenience and control of persons attending boxing or wrestling contests;
(Inserted by 32 of 1937, s. 8.)

(f) generally making any other regulations which he thinks necessary in order to give full effect to the provisions of this Act; and

(g) prescribing penalties for the breach of any such regulation:

Provided that any such penalty shall not exceed the sum of forty dollars.
(Amended by 32 of 1937, s. 8.)

Exemptions

9. The Minister, if satisfied that adequate provision is contained in the constitution or rules of any amateur sporting association or organisation, may, by notice in the Gazette, and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notice, exempt such association or organisation from such of the provisions of this Act and of any regulations made thereunder, as may be specified in such notice.
(Inserted by 20 of 1967, s. 2.)

Controlled by Ministry of Youth and Sport

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Subsidiary Legislation

CHAPTER 272

BOXING AND WRESTLING CONTESTS

SECTION 8.-BOXING CONTEST REGULATIONS

Regulations 17th Nov., 1937 [in force 19th Nov., 
1937], 27th Nov., 1946

Made by the Governor in Council

Short title

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Boxing Contest Regulations.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"building" includes any booth, tent or similar structure;

"permit" means a permit for a boxing contest granted by the Commissioner of Police under the provisions of section 3 of the Act.

Application for permit

3. Every application for a permit shall be made in writing by the person promoting the boxing contest.

Time for application

4. Every application shall be made at least seven days before the date on which it is proposed to hold the boxing contest, and shall be made to the Commissioner of Police:

Provided that the Commissioner may, in his discretion, entertain an application made less than seven days before the date aforesaid.

Contents of application

5. Every such application shall state the precise time when and precise place where it is proposed to hold the boxing contest, and shall state the name of every person to take part therein as a competitor.

Effect of permit

6. Every permit shall, unless otherwise so expressed, operate as a permit to hold a boxing contest at the time and place named in the application and between or amongst the competitors named therein, and not further or otherwise:

Provided that if on account of unforeseen circumstances it is desired by way of alteration to hold the contest at some other time, or place, or between or amongst competitors one or more of whom is not named in the application, the Commissioner of Police may if he shall think fit, on application made at any time prior to the contest, consent to and make such alteration, and the permit shall thereupon operate as a permit to hold a boxing contest in terms of the permit as so altered.

Commissioner may require evidence

7. Before granting a permit the Commissioner of Police may require such evidence as he thinks proper relating to the persons to take part in and control the contest.

Discretion of Commissioner

8. The granting or withholding of a permit shall in all cases be in the discretion of the Commissioner of Police.

Conditions

9. Every permit shall be deemed to be granted subject to the following conditions:-

(a) that the contest shall be conducted in a ring not less than 18 feet and not more than 21 feet square and approved by the Commissioner of Police;

(b) that such ring shall be enclosed by at least three horizontal tightly-stretched ropes so placed as to provide approximately equal intervals between each rope and the next. The top rope shall be covered with cheese cloth or other suitable material;

(c) that the ropes shall be supported by posts to a height of approximately four feet above the floor of the ring, and such posts shall be padded with felt or other suitable material of a thickness of not less than two inches for their full length:

Provided that this paragraph shall not apply where the ropes are supported on what is known as the "stakeless" principle;

(d) that the whole of the floor of the ring shall be padded with felt or other suitable material of a thickness not less than ½ inch and having a top cover of canvas;

(e) that the boxing-gloves shall weigh not less than six ounces and not more than eight ounces, except that competitors who are under eight stone in weight may use gloves weighing not less than four ounces;

(f) that no contest shall exceed fifteen rounds;

(g) that no round shall exceed three minutes in duration and the interval between successive rounds shall be one minute;

(h) that every competitor shall before engaging in a contest produce for inspection to the referee and, if required, to any police officer present, a certificate dated not more than seven days previously and signed by a medical practitioner to the effect that such competitor is physically fit to compete;

(i) no building shall be used for any boxing contest unless it be provided with an adequate number of exits clearly indicated and so placed and maintained as readily to afford the spectators ample means of safe egress;

(j) the doors of all exits shall be so constructed and maintained as easily to open outwards on being pressed from within;

(k) the seating in the building shall be so arranged as not to interfere with free access to the exits;

(l) the gangways, the staircases and the passages leading to the exits shall during the presence of the public in the building be kept clear of any obstructions. No person shall be allowed to stand or sit in any of the gangways intersecting the rows of seats or in the space between the front rows of seats and the ring. The Commissioner of Police may permit persons to stand in any other part of the building provided that sufficient room shall be left to allow persons to pass easily to and fro:

Provided that in so far as they are not inconsistent with these Regulations every contest shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of boxing of the Boxing and Wrestling Association of Fiji as approved by the Commissioner of Police.
(Amended by Regulations 27th November, 1946.)

Police officer may stop contest

10. If at any time in the opinion of any police officer present at any boxing contest one of the contestants is receiving undue punishment or there is undue roughness or persistent wilful breach by either of the contestants of any of the rules under which the contest is conducted, such officer may forthwith order the bout or contest to be stopped and the permit shall then become void.

Form of permit

11. A permit shall be in the form set out in the Schedule or to the effect thereof.

SCHEDULE

PERMIT TO HOLD A BOXING CONTEST

I, ........................, [rank], at ..........................., hereby grant to ................. of ........................... permission to hold a boxing contest at ..................., on the ..........day of........................., 19....... , at ..............o'clock in the...................

This permit is granted subject to the provisions of the Boxing and Wrestling Contests Act and the Boxing Contest Regulations.

Dated this ......... day of ............................, 19.........

Signature:........................
[rank]

The attention of the holder of this permit is particularly directed to the provisions of regulation 10 of the Boxing Contest Regulations, which runs as follows:-

"10. If at any time in the opinion of any police officer present at any boxing contest* one of the contestants is receiving undue punishment or there is undue roughness or persistent wilful breach by either of the contestants of any of the rules under which the contest is conducted such officer may forthwith order the bout or contest to be stopped, and the permit shall then become void."

*"Boxing contest" has the same meaning as in section 2 of the said Act, namely –

"Any boxing match, boxing competition or boxing exhibition for admission to which a charge is made or at which a collection is taken up or at which those present are invited or permitted to throw money into the ring or otherwise deposit it in the building or elsewhere or on the result of which any stake, bet, payment or prize depends."

SECTION 8-WRESTLING CONTEST REGULATIONS

Regulations 17th Nov., 1937 [in force 
19th Nov., 1937], 27th Nov., 1946.

Made by the Governor in Council

Short title

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Wrestling Contest Regulations.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"building" includes any booth, tent or similar structure;

"permit" means a permit for a wrestling contest granted by the Commissioner of Police under the provisions of section 3 of the Act.

Application for permit

3. Every application for a permit shall be made in writing signed by the person promoting the wrestling contest.

Time for application

4. Every application shall be made at least seven days before the date on which it is proposed to hold the wrestling contest, and shall be made to the Commissioner of Police:

Provided that the Commissioner may in his discretion entertain an application made less than seven days before the date aforesaid.

Contents of application

5. Every such application shall state the precise time when and precise place where it is proposed to hold the wrestling contest, and the name of the person appointed to control the conduct thereof as referee, and the name of every person to take part therein as a competitor.

Effect of permit

6. Every permit shall, unless otherwise so expressed, operate as a permit to hold a wrestling contest at the time and place named in the application under the control of the person named therein in that behalf and between or amongst wrestlers named therein, and not further or otherwise:

Provided that, if on account of unforeseen circumstances it is desired by way of alteration to hold the contest at some other time or place, or under the control of some other person, or between or amongst wrestlers one or more of whom is not named in the application, the Commissioner of Police may, if he shall think fit, on application made at any time prior to the contest, consent to make such alteration and the permit shall thereupon operate as a permit to hold a wrestling contest in terms of the permit as so altered.

Commissioner may require evidence

7. Before granting a permit the Commissioner of Police may require such evidence as he thinks proper relating to the persons to take part in the contest or the wrestling rules under which the contest is to be conducted, and may require an undertaking from the applicant or the person or persons appointed to control the conduct of the contest, or from any other responsible person, that such wrestling rules will be observed and enforced.

Discretion of Commissioner

8. The granting or withholding of a permit shall in all cases be in the discretion of the Commissioner of Police.

Conditions

9. Every permit shall be deemed to be granted subject to the following conditions irrespective of the terms of any wrestling rules under which the contest is to be conducted:-

(a) that the contest shall be conducted in a ring not less than 18 feet square:

Provided that the Commissioner of Police may require such ring to be increased to a size not exceeding 24 feet square if the same can in his opinion be reasonably provided;

(b) that such ring shall be enclosed by at least four horizontal tightly-stretched ropes. The top one shall be covered with cheese cloth or other suitable material;

(c) that the bottom rope shall be not less than 12 inches or more than 18 inches above the floor of the ring, and the top rope shall be not less than 4 feet 6 inches or more than 5 feet above the floor of the ring, and the intervening ropes shall be so placed as to provide approximately equal intervals between each rope and the next;

(d) that the ropes shall be supported by posts rising to a height of approximately 5 feet 3 inches above the floor of the ring, and such posts shall be padded with felt or other suitable material of a thickness of not less than 2 inches for their full length:

Provided that this paragraph shall not apply where the ropes are supported on what is known as the "stakeless" principle;

(e) that the whole of the floor of the ring shall be padded with felt or other suitable material of a thickness not less than 1 inch and having a top cover of canvas;

(f) that every competitor shall, before engaging in a contest, produce for inspection to the referee and, if required to any police officer present, a certificate dated not more than seven days previously, and signed by a medical practitioner to the effect that such competitor is physically fit to compete;

(g) that no contest shall exceed eight rounds of ten minutes each with an interval of not less than one minute between successive rounds;

(h) that no contest other than one between professional wrestlers shall exceed three rounds of five minutes each with an interval of not less than one minute between successive rounds, save that in such a contest if each competitor has obtained one fall the referee, if he is unable to come to a decision on points, may order an extra round;

(i) no building shall be used for any wrestling contest unless it be provided with an adequate number of exits clearly indicated and so placed and maintained as readily to afford the spectators ample means of safe egress;

(j) the doors of all exits shall be so constructed and maintained as easily to open outwards on being pressed from within;

(k) the seating in the building shall be so arranged as not to interfere with free access to the exits;

(l) the gangways, the staircases and the passages leading to the exits shall during the presence of the public in the building be kept clear of any obstructions. No person shall be allowed to stand or sit in any of the gangways intersecting the rows of seats or in the space between the front rows of seats and the ring. The Commissioner of Police may permit persons to stand in any other part of the building provided that sufficient room shall be left to allow persons to pass easily to and fro:

Provided that -

(i) when a wrestling contest other than one between professional wrestlers is held on good turf outside any building the Commissioner of Police may in granting a permit, or subsequently, dispense with compliance with the requirements of any one or more of the foregoing paragraphs (a) to (h) both inclusive;

(ii) in so far as they are not inconsistent with these Regulations every contest shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of wrestling of the Boxing and Wrestling Association of Fiji as approved by the Commissioner of Police.
(Amended by Regulations 27th November, 1946.)

Police officer may stop contest

10. If at any time in the opinion of any police officer present on duty at any wrestling contest one of the contestants is receiving undue punishment or there is undue roughness or persistent wilful breach by either of the contestants of any of the wrestling rules under which the contest is conducted, such officer may forthwith order the contest to be stopped and the permit shall then become void.

Form of permit

11. A permit shall be in the form set out in the Schedule or to the effect thereof.

SCHEDULE

PERMIT TO HOLD A WRESTLING CONTEST

I,....................., [rank], at ........................, hereby grant to ...................... 
of ............................, permission to hold a wrestling contest at ............., on the ............day of ............................., 19..........., at .............o'clock in the ...............................

This permit is granted subject to the provisions of the Boxing and Wrestling Contests Act and the Wrestling Contest Regulations.

Dated this ............. day of .........................., 19............

Signature:..........................
[rank].

The attention of the holder of this permit is particularly directed to the provisions of regulation 10 of the Wrestling Contest Regulations which runs as follows:-

"10. If at any time in the opinion of any police officer present on duty at any wrestling contest* one of the contestants is receiving undue punishment or there is undue roughness or persistent wilful breach by either of the contestants of any of the wrestling rules under which the contest is conducted, such officer may forthwith order the bout or contest to be stopped, and the permit shall then become void."

*"'Wrestling contest" has the same meaning as in section 2 of the said Act, namely –

"Any wrestling match, wrestling competition or wrestling exhibition for admission to which a charge is made or at which a collection is taken up or at which those present are invited or permitted to contribute money or to deposit it in the building or elsewhere or on the result of which any stake, bet, payment or prize depends."

Controlled by Ministry of Youth and Sport