Zarika Versus Mercado: A Run Down On WBC Title Fight Rules

NAIROBI, Kenya- The World Boxing Council (WBC) women Super Bantamweight fight between Kenyan veteran and holder, Fatuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika and budding Mexican challenger Yamelith Mercado has been on the lips of an entire nation ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

For some, boxing is a sport where people are allowed to trade punches inside the confines of a rectangular ring with a canvas base with the person who lands the most blows or beats their opponent into submission via knockout is declared the winner.

However, title fights like the affair dubbed ‘Nairobi Fight Night’ at the Comesa Grounds of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) have a set of guidelines that set them apart from other boxing bouts.

Here is a run down of the rules and regulations that govern WBC title fights.

What is the WBC?

Formed 55 years ago and headquartered at Mexico City, Mexico, the World Boxing Council (WBC) is one of four major organisations that sanction world championship boxing bouts.

It operates alongside the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) and one of the two original sanctioning bodies (along with the WBA).

Many historically high-profile bouts have been sanctioned by the organisation with various legendary fighters having been recognised as WBC World champions and Mauricio Sulaiman serves as president of the organisation.

All four organisations recognise the legitimacy of each other, and each have interwoven histories dating back several decades with Kenya one of the 161 member nations of the WBC.

The WBC has nine regional governing bodies affiliated with it, such as the North American Boxing Federation, the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation, the European Boxing Union and the African Boxing Council.

Championship belts

The WBC's green championship belt like the one Zarika holds portrays the flags of all of the 161 member countries of the organization.

All WBC world-title belts look identical regardless of weight class; however, there are minor variations on the design for secondary and regionally themed titles within the same weight class.

WBC rules

Boxers or their authorised representatives must sign these rules before any WBC sanctioned fight where they agree in the case of women’s boxing

1. Ten rounds with three minutes of action and one minute resting period, which belongs to the previously fought round.

2. Three judges using the 10-point must system. Partial rounds will be scored.

3. Referee is the only one authorised to stop the fight. The ring doctor may recommend stoppage by handing the red card on to the referee who will make final decision.

4. Before the fight, the following must be noted; the time the fight will start, when the boxers must be in the dressing room and the time when bandaging will start.

5. Boxers can use any length of crepe or gauze bandage and adhesive tape must not be placed over the knuckles before donning the fighting gloves with the camps of both the champion and challengers supervising the process to ensure no harmful objects are concealed to gain unfair advantage or cause serious injury.

6. The gloves for the fight will be of 8 ounces (0.23kg) from straw weight up to the welterweight and of 10 ounces from super welter to heavyweight. The promoter will provide the gloves unless stated in the contract.

7. The anti-doping test will be performed after the bout. If any medicine was used in the last month it must be reported immediately before the fight.

8. Only water and approved electrolyte (a substance that dissociates into ions in solution to provide instant energy) beverages will be allowed during the fight.

9. Only Vaseline and Adrenaline 1/1000 are accepted in the corner. Avetine (for migraine relief) will be acceptable if both camps agree.

10. The Boxer Trunk Colour Corner must be agreed (red or blue)

11. Knockdowns:

-There is no automatic TKO with 3 knockdowns in one round.

– There is no standing eight count.

– There will be a mandatory 8 count after a knockdown (when 3 parts of the body touch the canvas).

– If the ropes prevent a fighter from going down, the referee will call it a knockdown.

– If a fighter falls outside the ring and ring apron, he will have 20 seconds to come back to the ring without assistance, unless the referee orders it.

12. The bell will not save a knocked down boxer in any round.

Accidental injuries

13. Accidental Injuries from Head Butts, Elbows, or other Accidental or Illegal Actions (injury). The following description applies to injuries from not only head butts and elbows, but from any other accidental or illegal action as well.

a) Unintentional/accidental injury. When a boxer suffers a cut, abrasion, or excessive swelling due to an unintentional/accidental head butt, elbow, etc.

If the bout cannot continue:

• There will not be a point deduction.

• Technical draw if before the start of the 5th round.

• Technical decision, as per the scorecards, if after the start of 5th round.

If the bout continues:

• A point will be deducted from the uninjured boxer. This point deduction will compensate the advantages acquired by the uninjured boxer.

The referee will have the option to consult with the WBC supervisor to waive the point deduction if the cut is on the hairline upwards. If both boxers are injured, there will not be a point deduction.

-If there is an accidental injury and the bout continues and is later stopped after the start of the fifth round due to enlargement of the same cut by legal punch, it will be a technical decision as per the scorecards.

– If there is an injury caused by a legal punch and the bout can continue, and is later stopped after the start of the fifth round due to an accidental injury, it will be a technical decision as per the scorecards.

– All rounds will be scored even if it is partial round.

14. Intentional Injury. When a boxer suffers a cut, abrasion, or excessive swelling due to an intentional head butt, elbow, etc.

If the bout cannot continue:

• The offending boxer will lose by disqualification. If the bout continues:

Two (2) points will be deducted from the offending boxer.

– If the offending boxer is injured by his own action he will still be deducted 2 points. If the bout continues, but must later be stopped due to the same injury, it will be a technical decision as per the scorecards. This rule applies even if the injury’s severity is increased by legal punches after the initial injury, in the sole discretion of the referee. 

Possible results

Legal Punch TKO

Accidental Injury TDRAW Before 4

TDEC after 4

Intentional Injury DQ

Legal + Accidental Technical Decision WC-32

Accidental + Legal Technical Decision WC-32

Accidental + Intentional DQ WC-32

Intentional + Legal Technical Decision WC-33

Legal + Intentional DQ WC-33

Intentional + Accidental Technical Decision WC-33

15. Fouls

– The referee may deduct points at his discretion at any time for flagrant intentional fouls.

– The referee will warn boxers and may deduct points for continuous fouls.

– In case of a low blow or accidental hit after the bell, a fouled boxer may be given up to 5 minutes to recover from the foul.

– If a fouled boxer decided not to continue, he will lose by abandonment, unless the referee decides to disqualify the offending boxer at his discretion and the doctor’s opinion.

– The referee may disqualify the offending boxer after warnings, point deductions and for continuous fouls.

– If a boxer is injured by any action by himself or his corner men, he will lose by abandonment.

Common fouls

A list of common fouls that may be committed by boxers (or seconds, where the context is appropriate) that may be cause for penalty or disqualification is as follows:

1. Low blows (being a line encircling the body at the level of the navel). 6

2. Use of elbows, shoulders or forearms.

3. Butting with the head.

4. Hitting in the back of the head (rabbit punch).

5. Striking the kidneys or back.

6. Hitting with the inside of the glove (slapping).

7. Hitting with the back of the hand.

8. Striking with the knees, feet or any part of the legs.

9. Holding the ring ropes to hit with the other hand.

10. Hitting the opponent when part of his body is out of the ropes.

11. Hitting an opponent when he is down or getting up from the canvas.

12. Leaving the neutral corner and striking the opponent before the referee’s instructions.

13. Excessive holding the opponent or maintaining a clinch.

14. Striking after the referee’s order to “break” or “stop”.

15. Stepping on the opponent.

16. Holding the opponent’s head or body with one hand while hitting with the other.

17. Using the open hand to position or rub the glove on the opponent’s face.

18. Thumbing the opponent’s eyes.

19. Striking after the bell.

20. Crouching the body below the opponent’s belt defensively or to strike.

21. Biting or spitting on the opponent.

22. Abusing an official or using abusive or profane language.

23. Throwing objects.

24. Failing to obey the referee’s commands.

25. Turning one’s back on and walking or running away from the other boxer.

26. Spitting out the mouthpiece.

27. Cutting or mutilating the gloves.

28. Any rough tactics other than clean punches.

29. During a round, a boxer’s seconds entering the ring or stepping on the ring apron.

Unexpected events

16. Unexpected events

If it becomes impossible to continue the fight at the discretion of the referee, the fight will be a technical draw or a technical decision depending on the round of the stoppage, (as per point 13).

17. Four seconds are allowed in the corner, only one inside the ring. If the chief corner wishes the fight to be stopped, he must climb to the ring apron and call the attention of the referee. The referee will have the final decision.

18. Both fighters must wear a mouthpiece at all times. A spare mouthpiece must be available at all times. If a boxer loses the mouthpiece the referee must stop the action and replace it immediately. The referee may deduct points if the mouthpiece is spat out intentionally.

19. If the fight has turned into a mismatch the referee may terminate the bout at his discretion.

20. The champion is recommended to wear the world champion logo in his trunks and the challenger is recommended to wear the WBC logo as well.

21. The WBC champion must enter the ring wearing the WBC green belt and hand it to the WBC supervisor prior to the start of the fight.

22. Authority of Referee. The referee has the discretion and authority to: 1) interpret and enforce these rules; 2) instruct and supervise the corner men in their duties and responsibilities during the match, and 3) supervise all medical care of the boxers. He shall have the authority to inspect and confiscate any substance, material, or equipment used in a corner that he believes might violate these rules.

23. Instant Replay. In major controversies regarding uncertainty of origin of a cut, punches landed after the bell or any major situation that can change the outcome of the bout, the following procedure will be applied.

-Material from www.wbcboxing.com used to compile this report