USA: Ohio Laws

History of Ohio Boxing Legislation, Rules & Regulations

(Enter material chronologically)

• 1903-11-19: Governor Nash cancels scheduled prizefights. [1]
• 1909-02-03: Gov. Harmon proclaims that there will be no prizefighting in Ohio as long as he is governor. [2]
• 1911-12-29: Cincinnati Mayor-elect Henry T. Hunt announces that he will allow non-debasing boxing in the city. [3] [4]
• 1912-02-26: The Andrew Bezenah vs. Danny Goodman bout is the first legalized boxing contest held in Cincinnati in ten years. [5]
• 1913-01-09: A bill to legalize boxing in Ohio is drawn up by Cleveland lawyers. In April, it passes the lower house of the state legislature. [6]
• 1914-11-29: Cleveland mayor appoints a boxing commission to draw up rules under which professional boxing will be legalized there. Tacoma Times wire report. [7]
• 1915-01-16: 10-rounds, no decision, in effect at this time.
• 1921-02-21: Lima Mayor F. A. Burckhardt grants permission for decisions to be rendered in bouts held this day.
• 1922-03-03: Washington Court House Mayor V.J. Dahl issues an order permitting boxing in his city under the direct of the local boxing commission. Dahl had halted boxing several weeks prior. Cincinnati Enquirer
• 1925-01-16: The Newark City Council votes to authorize the naming of a boxing and wrestling commission. Cincinnati Enquirer, January 17, 1925
• 1928-08-18: The Cincinnati Boxing Commission rescinds it previous ruling barring decision bouts under the jurisdiction of the commission. Hereafter, it would be up to the promoter whether bouts would be to a decision or no-decision. Preliminary bouts had been decision bouts for the most part, since the opening of the Ohio National Guard Armory in the fall of 1926, and would remain so. Cincinnati Enquirer, August 19, 1928
• 1929-01-01: The City of Toledo and their local boxing commission announces they will have bouts that go to decision beginning in 1929. The commission felt that going to official decisions, might revive interest in the sport, as promoters lost heavily in 1928. Cincinnati Enquirer, January 2, 1929.
• 1929-01-30: After a month long dispute in Cincinnati over which commission had authority, it is agreed that Hamilton County boxing commission will supervise all bouts in Hamilton County, while the City of Cincinnati commission will regulate boxing in the city proper. Cincinnati Enquirer, January 30, 1929
• 1930-03-04: The Cincinnati Boxing Commission announces that referees will no longer rule in decisions, as that role will be served by the three judges. Cincinnati Enquirer, March 4, 1930
• 1931-05-25: The Cleveland City Boxing Commission decides that no draw decisions in boxing matches will be allowed in the future, and that each of the two judges and referee must name one of the boxers the winner. New York Times
• 1935-04-21: Montgomery County reappoints their commission, after being largely in disuse because of the Great Depression. The County commission will also supervise semi-pro boxing in the city which had been comprised of the Dayton Gym Club and Dayton Eagles' club, which had formerly only been under the purview of the City of Dayton's commission.
• 1936-07-30: The Montgomery County and Dayton boxing commissions announce that they are merging, providing one commission that would have jurisdiction in this area. The combined commission retained it's franchise with the Ohio Boxing Commission. Dayton Daily News