Boxing is a major spectator sport in North Carolina and is closely watched and regulated by the state's Boxing Authority to keep participants safe and to sanction organizations that promote live boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and toughman bouts.

North Carolina normally ranks in the top ten in the country for event nights bouts, holding boxing and toughman events each year, including professional, amateur, sanctioned amateur and toughman boxing.

In 2006 the NC Boxing Authority issued 1082 licenses to promoters, matchmakers, managers, cornermen, judges, referees, timekeepers, knockdown timekeepers, announcers and fighters, and issued 81 federal identification cards to professional boxers. The Boxing Authority keeps records on over 500 professional boxers and approximately 2,500 toughman contenders who live in North Carolina.

The supervisor of the Boxing Authority has the power to monitor, investigate and use judicial injunctions, suspensions, fines and criminal prosecution to prevent corruption such as economic exploitation of fighters, unlicensed or illegal events, or fatalities.

The Boxing Authority works with the national Association of Boxing Commissions, (ABC) a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and safety of contestants but has no enforcement authority over its members.

« this page last modified 02/12/09 »