New York State Athletic Commission

The New York State Athletic Commission or NYSAC, also known as the New York Athletic Commission, is a division of the New York State Department of State which regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of New York, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers. In 2016, the NYSAC was authorized to oversee all mixed martial arts contests in New York.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/15046063/new-york-state-assembly-passes-bill-lifts-ban-mma|title=New York State Assembly passes bill that lifts ban on MMA|last1=Okamoto|first1=Brett|date=22 March 2016|website=ESPN|publisher=ESPN|access-date=11 July 2016}}

The commission is based in New York City.

History

The NYSAC was founded in 1911, when the Frawley Law legalized prizefighting in New York state. The bill was signed on July 26, 1911, and that same day Governor John Alden Dix appointed Bartow S. Weeks, John J. Dixon, and Frank S. O'Neil to serve on the state athletic commission.{{cite news |title=B.S. Weeks Heads Boxing Commission |work=The New York Times |date=July 27, 1911}} Weeks declined to serve on the commission so James Edward Sullivan was appointed for the final seat.{{cite news |title=Dix Names Sullivan |work=The New York Times |date=August 18, 1911}}

The Frawley Law was repealed in 1917 and the state athletic commission was disbanded.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/11/19/archives/membership-plan-refuge-of-boxing-death-of-frawley-law-finds.html|title=MEMBERSHIP PLAN REFUGE OF BOXING; Death of Frawley Law Finds Managers Ready to Return to Former System. GOVERNOR'S WORDS BASIS Whitman's Statement In Buffalo Encourages Test of Holding Bouts Under Glub Auspices. Sport Popular in State. Three Titles Changed Hands.|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 19, 1917}} In 1920 the Walker Law reestablished legal boxing in the state.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LmhFCQAAQBAJ&q=walkers+law+boxing+1920&pg=PA332|title=Combat Sports: An Encyclopedia of Wrestling, Fighting, and Mixed Martial Arts|first=David L. Jr.|last=Hudson|date=May 13, 2009|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313343841|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/featured-boxing-articles-boxing-news-videos-rankings-and-results/63847-re-visiting-the-walker-law-of-1920-which-transformed-boxing|title=Re-visiting the Walker Law of 1920 which Transformed Boxing|first=Arne K.|last=Lang|date=March 28, 2020|website=The Sweet Science}} In 1921, Governor Nathan L. Miller appointed William Muldoon, Frank Dwyer, and George K. Morris to reformed state athletic commission.{{cite news |title=Gov. Miller Names New Athletic Body |work=The New York Times |date=June 7, 1921}} The National Boxing Association (NBA) was established in 1921 by other U.S. states to counter the influence of the NYSAC.

{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |title=The Guinness World Championship Boxing book |publisher=Guinness Publishing |date=1990 |pages=14–15 |isbn=0-85112-900-5}}

Sometimes the NYSAC and the NBA recognized different boxers as World Champion, especially in 1927–40.Morrison, pp.126–137 In 1962, the NBA renamed itself the World Boxing Association, and in 1963 the NYSAC supported the formation of the World Boxing Council.

Cathy Davis sued the NYSAC in 1977 because she was denied a boxing license because she was a woman, and the case was decided in her favor later that year, with the judge

invalidating New York State rule number 205.15, which stated, “No woman may be licensed as a boxer or second or licensed to compete in any wrestling exhibition with men.”{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ErHAwAAQBAJ&dq=%22justice+helman%22+%22cathy+davis%22&pg=PA169|title=A History of Women's Boxing|pages=168, 169|first=Malissa|last=Smith|date=June 5, 2014|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442229952 |via=Google Books}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/22/archives/people-in-sports-hills-football-plans-tied-to-hawaii-deal.html|title=People in Sports|newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 22, 1975}} In his opinion the judge cited the precedent set by Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission (1975), which “found the regulation invalid under the equal protection clauses of the State and Federal Constitutions”. The NYSAC filed an appeal of the ruling, but later dropped it.{{cite web | title=Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission, 82 Misc. 2d 524 (1975) | website=Caselaw | url=https://cite.case.law/set-cookie/?next=%2Fmisc-2d%2F82%2F524%2F | access-date=21 December 2023}}

Rules and Regulations (past and present)

=1929 Weights and classes=

Class !Weight (lbs.) !Weight (kg)
class="wikitable sortable"
Junior Flyweight	109	49.4
Flyweight	112	50.8
Junior Bantamweight	115	52.2
Bantamweight	118	53.5
Junior Featherweight	122	55.3
Featherweight	126	57.2
Junior Lightweight	130	59.0
Lightweight	135	61.2
Junior Welterweight	140	63.5
Welterweight	147	66.7
Middleweight	160	72.6
Light Heavyweight	175	79.4

=Boxing Rules of Athletic Commission of the State of New York=

(As published in Self-Defense Sporting Annual 1929, p. 14.)

=Referee=

The referee shall order the power:
(a) To cast the third vote, in which case the three votes shall be of equal value. In the event of two votes coinciding, the result shall be so determined. In the event of all votes disagreeing, the contest shall be declared a draw.
(b) To stop a bout or contest at any stage and make a decision if he considers it too one-sided.
(c) To stop a bout or contest if he considers the competitors are not in earnest. In this case he may disqualify one or both contestants.
(d) To disqualify a contestant who commits a foul and to award decision to opponent.
The referee shall not touch the contesting boxers, except on failure of one or both contestants to obey the "break" command.
When a contestant is "down" the referee and timekeeper shall at once commence calling off the seconds and indicating the count with a motion of the arm. If the contestant fails to rise before count of ten, the referee shall declare him the loser.
Should a contestant who is "down" arise before count of ten is reached and again go down intentionally, without being struck, the referee and timekeeper shall resume count where it left off.
Should a contestant leave the ring during the one-minute rest period between rounds and fail to be in ring when gong rings to resume boxing, the referee shall count him out, the same as if he were "down."
If a contestant is down, his opponent shall retire to the farthest corner and remain there until the count is completed. Should he fail to do so, the referee and timekeeper may cease counting until he has so retired.
Referee shall decide all questions arising during a contest which are not specifically covered by these rules.

=Judges=

The two judges shall be stationed at opposite sides of the ring. The decisions of the judges shall be based primarily on effectiveness, taking into account the following points:
1. A clean, forceful hit, landed on any vulnerable part of the body above the belt should be credited in proportion to its damaging effect.
2. Aggressiveness is next in importance and points should be awarded to the contestant who sustains the action of a round by the greatest number of skillful attacks.
3. Defensive work is relatively important and points should be given for cleverly avoiding or blocking a blow.
4. Points should be awarded where ring generalship is conspicuous. The comprises such points as the ability to quickly grasp and take advantage of every opportunity offered, the capacity to cope with all kinds of situations which may arise; to foresee and neutralize an opponent's method of attack; to force an opponent to adopt a style of boxing at which he is not particularly skillful.
5. It is advisable to deduct points when a contestant persistently delays the action of a contest by clinching and lack of aggressiveness.
6. Points should be deducted for a foul even though it is unintentional and not of a serious nature to warrant disqualification.
7. A contestant should be given credit for sportsmanlike actions in the ring, close adherence to the spirit as well as the letter of the rules and for refraining from taking technical advantage of situations unfair to an opponent.
8. In order to arrive at a true conclusion every point should be carefully observed and noted as the contest progresses, the decision going to the contestant who scores the greatest number of effective points regardless of the number of rounds won or lost.
When neither contestant has a decided margin in effectiveness, the winner should be determined on points scored and aggressiveness.

Miscellaneous

1922-06-01: Adopts rule prohibiting boxers under the age of 20 from participating in bouts of more than six rounds. Wenatchee Daily World (Wenatchee, WA, USA) wire report.
1932-01-08: Secretary Bert Stand announces that Battling Battalino forfeited his World Featherweight Title by stepping onto the scales overweight at 135¾ pounds, causing the first abandonment of a boxing match in the history of Madison Square Garden on the afternoon of the night on which the match was scheduled, and the "only parallel for the situation in modern boxing" since the Charley (Phil) Rosenberg vs. Bushy Graham 1927 title bout. Lew Feldman, Battalino's scheduled opponent, immediately claims the title. New York Times

Members

James Edward Sullivan (1911, chair 1911){{cite news |title=J.E. Sullivan Quits Boxing Commission |work=The New York Times |date=September 6, 1911}}
Frank S. O'Neil (1911–1915, chair 1913–1915)
John J. Dixon (1911–1915){{cite news |title=New Boxing Board |work=The New York Times |date=November 24, 1915}}
James R. Price (1913–1915){{cite news |title=J. R. Price Placed on Boxing Commission |work=The New York Times |date=January 10, 1913}}{{cite news |title=Six Clubs Receive Boxing Licenses |work=The New York Times |date=October 12, 1915}}
Fred A. Wenck (1915–1917, chair 1915–1917){{cite news |title=Whitman Removes Wenck from Office |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=March 17, 1917}}
John Franey (1915–1917){{cite book |last1=Murlin |first1=Edgar L. |title=The New York Red Book |date=1916 |publisher=J. B. Lyon Company |location=Albany |page=82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MHruAHWnZR4C&pg=PA82 |access-date=18 January 2022}}
Frank Dwyer (1915–1917, 1921–1924){{cite news |title=Muldoon Reappointed, Farley Named for New York Commission |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=January 31, 1924}}
William Muldoon (1921–1933, chair 1921–1924){{cite news |title=William Muldoon: ' Iron Duke' of Athletics, Idol of Boxing World, Was John L. Sullivan's Trainer |work=The New York Times |date=June 4, 1933}}
George K. Morris (1921–1923){{cite news |title=Boxing Board Now Has One Vacancy |work=The New York Times |date=January 2, 1923}}
George E. Brower (1923–1929, chair 1924–1925){{cite news |title=Governor Appoints License Committee |work=The New York Times |date=April 11, 1923}}{{cite news |title=Brower Appointed District Attorney |work=The New York Times |date=December 31, 1929}}
James Farley (1924–1933, chair 1925–1933){{cite news |title=Gen Phelan N Y Athletic Commission Chairman: Farley Resigns to Enter Cabinet--D. Walker Wear Becomes Member of State Board--Schaaf Report Sent to Governor |work=The New York Times |date=March 1, 1938}}
John J. Phelan (1930–1946, chair, 1933–1945){{cite news |title=Gen Phelan Named as Boxing Solon |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=January 23, 1930}}
Bill Brown (1933–1943){{cite news |title=Brown Appointed to Boxing Board |work=The New York Times |date=June 27, 1933}}{{cite news |title=Brown to Resign as Boxing Official |work=The New York Times |date=November 8, 1942}}
D. Walker Wear (1933–1944){{cite news |title=Wear Quits Boxing Board |work=The New York Times |date=October 13, 1944}}
C. B. Powell (1943–1955){{cite news |title=Powell Gains Post on Athletic Board |work=The New York Times |date=August 12, 1943}}
Eddie Eagan (1945–1951, chair 1945–1951){{cite news |title=Eddie Eagan, Former Chairman Of Boxing Commission, Is Dead |work=The New York Times |date=June 15, 1967}}
Leon F. Swears (1947–1955){{cite news |title=Swears Appointed to Athletic Board |work=The New York Times |date=April 24, 1947}}{{cite news |title=Swears Resigns From Ring Board |work=The New York Times |date=October 2, 1955}}
Robert K. Christenberry (1951–1956, chair 1951–1955){{cite news |title=Sports Roundup |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=January 1, 1955}}
Julius Helfand (1955–1960, chair 1955–1959){{cite news |last1=Smothers |first1=Ronald |title=Julius Helfand Is Dead at 84; Led New York Boxing Inquiry |work=The New York Times |date=August 18, 1987}}

Francis J. Souhan (1956–1959)
James A. Farley Jr. (1956–1965, 1975–1977, chair 1975–1977){{cite news |title=Name Farley To Boxing Board Of N. Y. |work=Daily Defender |date=March 13, 1956}}
Melvin Krulewitch (1959–1966, chair 1959–1966){{cite news |title=General Appointed Helfand Successor |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=January 7, 1959}}
Raymond J. Lee (1962–1971){{cite news |last1=Hopkins |first1=John J. |title=Community supporter Raymond Lee dies |url=https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/community-supporter-raymond-lee-dies/article_3ebcb551-1663-5326-ac78-6dac8fb7e9d7.html |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=Lockport Union-Sun & Journal |date=August 17, 2012}}
Albert Berkowitz (1965–1973)
Edwin B. Dooley (1966–1975, chair 1966–1975){{cite news |title=Dooley Named Chairman of N. Y. Board |work=The Boston Globe |date=May 4, 1966}}
Jackie Robinson (1971–1972){{cite news |title=Robinson Is Appointed To Athletic Commission |work=The New York Times |date=May 6, 1971}}
Kenneth N. Sherwood (1972–1976){{cite news |title=Personalities: Laver Bypassed |work=The New York Times |date=November 30, 1972}}
Manuel A. Gonzalez (1973–1977)
Floyd Patterson (1976–1983, 1995–1998, chair 1995–1998){{cite news |title=Lord of the ring |work=Times Union |date=September 24, 1995}}{{cite news |title=Floyd Patterson resigns as NY State Athletic Commission chairman citing memory loss |work=Jet |date=April 20, 1998}}
Luis Rios (1977–1983)
John M. Prenderville (1978–1983, chair 1978–1983){{cite news |title=Prenderville Succeeds Farley |work=The New York Times |date=July 8, 1978}}
John R. Branca (1983–1984, chair 1983–1984) {{cite news |title=John Branca Heads Sports Commission |work=The New York Times |date=July 13, 1983}}{{cite news |title=Comings and Goings |work=The New York Times |date=November 15, 1984}}
James Dupree (1983–1990){{cite news |title=Sportsline |work=USA Today |date=March 2, 1990}}
José Torres (1983–1988, chair 1984–1988){{cite news |title=Torres Will Head State Commission |work=The New York Times |date=November 27, 1984}}
Rose Trentman (1985–2000)
Randy Gordon (1988–1995, chair 1988–1995){{cite news |title=Dealing with Bill Cayton and Don King makes Randy Gordon . . . The Man in the Middle |work=Newsday |date=April 9, 1989}}

Herb Washington (1990–1995){{cite news |title=Gordon Accused In Tyson Quarrel |work=Newsday |date=March 2, 1990}}
Mel Southard (1995–2001, chair 1998–2001){{cite news |title=Former Yankees lawyer to lead sports commission |work=Times Union |date=June 22, 1998}}
Marc Cornstein (1999–2007)
Raymond Kelly (2001–2002, chair 2001–2002){{cite news |last1=Whisler |first1=John |title=Poor eye for talent cooked Teflon-coated Goossen |work=San Antonio Express-News |date=September 2, 2001}}
Jerome Becker (2001–2007)
Bernard Kerik (2002–2003, chair 2002–2003){{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=William |title=Kerik Quits as Boxing Boss |work=The New York Daily News |date=April 12, 2003}}
Ron Scott Stevens (2003–2009, chair 2003–2008){{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Tim |title=Stevens Perfect Pick as Commission Chief |work=New York Daily News |date=April 16, 2003}}
Melvina Lathan (2007–2015, chair 2008–2015){{cite news |last1=Rafael |first1=Dan |title=Thomas Hoover takes NYSAC job |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/12155921/thomas-hoover-appointed-chairman-nysac |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=ESPN |date=January 12, 2015}}
Edwin Torres (2008–present){{cite news |title=Commissioners |url=https://dos.ny.gov/commissioners |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=New York Department of State}}
Tom Santino (2010–2013)
John Signorile (2013–2018){{cite news |last1=Tedesco |first1=Richard |title=Gov taps EW resident for state boxing post |url=https://theislandnow.com/news-98/gov-taps-ew-resident-for-state-boxing-post/ |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=The Island Now |date=July 18, 2013}}
Thomas Hoover (2015–2016, chair 2015–2016){{cite magazine |title=New York inspector general faults state boxing commission |url=https://www.si.com/uncategorized/2016/07/25/ap-box-boxing-probe-1st-ld-writethru |access-date=12 January 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=July 25, 2016}}
Ndidi Massay (2016–2021, chair 2016–2021){{cite magazine |last1=Woods |first1=Madelyne |title=Ndidi Massay is Driving Diversity and Transformation at CBS Sports |url=https://www.si.com/tech-media/2021/11/11/ndidi-massay-cbs-sports-culture-diversity-initiatives-100-influential-black-women |access-date=12 January 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=November 11, 2021}}
Philip Stieg (2018–present){{cite news |title=Dr. Stieg Appointed to the NYSAC |url=https://weillcornellbrainandspine.org/in-the-news/dr-stieg-appointed-nysac |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center |date=August 13, 2018}}
Don Patterson (2018–present){{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Miguel |title=Golden Gloves President Patterson appointed to state Athletic Commission |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/golden-gloves-president-patterson-appointed-to-state-athletic-commission/article_74dec3bf-7b1b-570c-b246-535895e4cada.html |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=Buffalo News |date=June 21, 2018}}
James Vosswinkel (2018–present)
Lino Garcia (2021–present)