For Licensees:

1. If I had a license with the old Tennessee Boxing Commission is it still valid?
2. Do I need a license to fight in an amateur event?
3. Do I need to fill out all forms prior to the event?
4. Are fingerprint reports required?

For Promoters:

1. If I had a license with the old Tennessee Boxing Commission is it still valid?
2. Are the requirements for licensure the same as the previous Commission’s requirements?
3. Are there other changes in regards to holding an event in Tennessee?
4. How do I hold a Professional Event in Tennessee?
5. Are fingerprint reports required?
6. What is required of the Promoter before the Professional event?
7. What are the Promoter's responsibilities at the event site?
8. What is required of the Promoter after the event?

For Amateur Events:

1. Do I need a license or event permit to have an amateur boxing or MMA event?
2. What is required of the Amateur Promoter before the event?
3. What is required of the Amateur Promoter at the event site?
4. What is require of the Amateur Promoter after the event?

Note:  The Commission has the authority to approve other sanctioning bodies and may do so in the future.  We will update this page as others are approved.  It is illegal to have an amateur event in Tennessee that is not sanctioned by one of these organizations.

 

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For Licensees:

1. If I had a license with the old Tennessee Boxing Commission is it still valid?
• No, you must apply for a new license with the Tennessee Athletic Commission.
  
2. Do I need a license to fight in an amateur event?
• No, but see below for more information on amateur events.
3. Do I need to fill out all forms prior to the event?
• Yes. All medical forms (physical exam, eye exam and neurological exam) must be filled out on the State of Tennessee approved forms by a licensed medical professional.

 

4. Are fingerprint reports required?

 

• Promoters, matchmakers, managers, judges and referees will be notified by the office of the Tennessee Athletic Commission if fingerprint reports are required. If you are contacted, your options for obtaining fingerprint reports are:

• Option 1. Fingerprint Scanning - Fee = $48. Call toll free 1-877-862-2425 to schedule an appointment for scanning or register on-line at www.cogentid.com. Forward a copy of your payment receipt from Cogent to the Tennessee Athletic Commission along with your application.

 

• Option 2. Inked Fingerprint Cards - Fee = $60 for processing. Two fingerprint cards are provided with each application. If you use the application printed from our website, contact our office, telephone or email and request the fingerprint cards. (See home-page for our contact list.) Complete each blank space at the top of each card, have your fingerprints rolled by a competent professional and submit the two cards to the Tennessee Athletic Commission with your completed application, your application & license fee, your $60 fingerprint fee and medical forms, etc.

 

For Promoters:

 

1. If I had a license with the old Tennessee Boxing Commission is it still valid?
• No, all promoters must apply for a new license with the Tennessee Athletic Commission and pay all of the associated fees.
2. Are the requirements for licensure the same as the previous Commission’s requirements?
• No, you must fill out the new forms. The new forms, now available on our website contain the correct, updated information. Please read these carefully. The surety bond amount has been increased to $25,000. The application and license fees amounts have changed as well.
3. Are there other changes in regards to holding an event in Tennessee?
• Yes, you must now notify the Commission at least 30 days in advance of an event. Please fill out the “Event Permit Form” in its entirety and attach the required fees.

 

4. How do I hold Professional Event in Tennessee?

• Persons wishing to hold a professional boxing, MMA or kickboxing event in Tennessee must first obtain a "Promoters License." Once the Promoter is licensed , the promoter must apply for and secure the approval of an "Event Permit" by the Tennessee Athletic Commission at least thirty (30) days in advance of the event.
• Once the Promoter is licensed, the Promoter must secure the Commission's approval of an Event Permit application. To assure timely approval of an "Event Permit" by the Commission, a complete Event Permit application and all applicable fees need to be received in the Commission office no less that three (3) days prior to a Commission monthly meeting held at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed event.
• The Commission calendar is posted on the web site.

 

5. Are fingerprint reports required?

• Promoters, matchmakers, managers, judges and referees will be notified by the office of the Tennessee Athletic Commission if fingerprint reports are required. If you are contacted, your options for obtaining fingerprint reports are:
• Option 1. Fingerprint Scanning - Fee = $48. Call toll free 1-877-862-2425 to schedule an appointment for scanning or register on-line at www.cogentid.com. Forward a copy of your payment receipt from Cogent to the Tennessee Athletic Commission along with your application.

 

• Option 2. Inked Fingerprint Cards - Fee = $60 for processing. Two fingerprint cards are provided with each application. If you use the application printed from our website, contact our office, telephone or email and request the fingerprint cards. (See home-page for our contact list.) Complete each blank space at the top of each card, have your fingerprints rolled by a competent professional and submit the two cards to the Tennessee Athletic Commission with your completed application, your application & license fee, your $60 fingerprint fee and medical forms, etc.

 

6. What is required of the Promoter before the Professional event?

A. No later than 35 days prior to the event, submit the completed event permit form; the $300 fee; proof of medical insurance covering the combatants in the amount of not less than $50,000; the contest sheet (list of combatants); and a list of ring officials from which the Commission may assign to the event.

 

B. Submit a Promoter application to include:  $50 application and $500 licensing fee; two photographs; a Surety Bond executed to the State of Tennessee in the amount of not less than $25,000; if requested, fingerprint cards.  (See question 5 for Licensees.)

 

C. Immediately notify the Commission’s director of any change in the contest sheet.  The contest sheet shall be deemed final seven (7) business days prior to the event.

 

D. If the Commission’s director determines that a proposed event would not be appropriate, the director shall so advise the promoter within five (5) days after receipt of the application submitted.  Unless the director is offered evidence or argument which causes him or her to reverse that determination, such event shall not be utilized and the applicant may appeal the director’s decision to the Commission.

 

E. File with the Commission’s director, a copy of any and all contracts entered into for the sale, lease, or other exploitation of broadcasting, television or motion picture rights for any professional contest at least seventy-two (72) hours before the event.

 

F. Inform all prospective participants that it will be necessary for them to be duly licensed by the Tennessee Athletic Commission.

 

7. What are the Promoter's responsibilities at the event site?

A. Assure that the ringside physician is seated so as to have immediate access to the ring.

B. Ensure that acceptable sanitary standards are met with dressing rooms, water bottles, towels or other equipment.  

C. Assure that the ring is swept, dry-mopped or otherwise adequately cleaned before the event and prior to each fight. Assure that emergency equipment and procedures are provided for each combat contest.

D. Furnish an accurate scale for the weigh-in and available to contestants at least eight (8) hours prior to the weigh-in time.

E. All weigh-ins shall be under the supervision and control of the Commission’s director and/or his or her designee.

F. Provide sufficient ringside area for commission officials and ring officials to carry out their official duties.

G. The promoter shall not issue complimentary tickets for more than two percent (2%) of the seats in the house, equally distributed between or among the price categories for which complimentary tickets issued without the commissions written authorization.

 

8. What is required of the Promoter after the event?

A. At the show settlement, the promoter and venue personnel must sign off on and submit to the director or commission member, on a form approved by the commission, a preliminary report on ticket sales.

1.If not paid at show settlement, no later than ten (10) days after the contest, the promoter shall pay professional contest fees and taxes. (Click on “forms and downloads” for a copy of the “Gross Receipts Tax Report.”)  Fees are to be paid at:

a. 4% of the total gross receipts from admission fees as shown by the preliminary report on ticket sales or $500, whichever is greater, and;

2. No later than thirty (30) days after the completion of any professional contest for which an admission fee is charged, the promoter shall furnish the commission a final report showing:  1.)  The amount of tickets sold or issued for the professional contest and the 4% gross receipts.  2.)  The broadcasting fees.  (Click on “forms & downloads for a copy of the “Broadcast Revenue Fees Report.”) Fees are to be paid at:

a. 3% of the first one million dollars ($1,000,000) and;

b. 1% of the next two million dollars ($2,000,000) of the total gross receipts from the sale, lease or other exploitation of broadcasting, television and motion picture rights for that contest without any deductions for commissions, brokerage fees, distribution fees, advertising, combatant’s purses or any other expenses or charges. 

3. P romoters who fail to make reports and pay the full amounts of reportable tax or broadcast fees will be charged a specific penalty fee, added to the tax or fee due.  Late fees will be charged at:

a. 5% of the tax or fee if payment is less than thirty (30) days late and;

b. an additional 5% for each additional thirty (30) days or fraction of 30 days during which the failure continues, not to exceed 25% in aggregate. 

4. Keep and preserve for a period of three (3) years, all books and records of taxable gross receipts and broadcasting fees payable to the commission.  These records are to be open to inspection at all reasonable hours to the commission.

 

For Amateur Events:

 

1. Do I need a license or event permit to have an amateur boxing or MMA event?
• Yes, beginning July 1, 2009 all amateur boxing or MMA events must obtain an event permit from the Tennessee Athletic Commission.
2. What is required of the Amateur Promoter before the event ?
   • No later than 30 days prior to the event, submit the completed event permit form; the $50 fee.
   • Choose a sanctioning body recognized by the state of Tennessee.
     • For boxing the only approved sanctioning body is USA Boxing.
     • For MMA,  I.S.K.A,  I.S.C.F., and   W.K.A. are approved.
     • For Kickboxing, I.S.K.A., I.K.F. and W.K.A. are approved.
   • Contact a representative of the sanctioning body and apply for sanctioning with the organization. Follow all rules, regulations and guidelines of the sanctioning body.

    

   • If the Sanctioning Bodies director determines that a proposed event would not be appropriate, the director shall so advise the promoter within five (5) days after receipt of the application submitted.  Unless the director is offered evidence or argument which causes him or her to reverse that determination, such event shall not be utilized and the applicant may appeal the director’s decision to the Sanctioning Body.

    

3. What is required of the Amateur Promoter at the event site?

1. Inform all prospective participants that it will be necessary for them to be registered by the sanctioning body.
2. Ensure that all medical requirements of the sanctioning body are met.
3. Ensure that all emergency requirements of the sanctioning body are met.
4. Ensure that that required sanitary standards of the sanctioning body, including cleanliness of the ring or cage are met.
5. Furnish an accurate scale for the weigh-in scheduled by the sanctioning body.
6. All weigh-ins shall be under the supervision and control of the representative of the sanctioning body or their designee.
7. Provide sufficient ringside area for sanctioning body officials and ring officials to carry out their official duties.

4. What is required of the Amateur Promoter after the event?

1. No later than 10 days after the event the promoter must file the second page of the event permit along with the final fight card bout sheet.
2. Promoters who fail to make reports may not be granted permits for future events.

 

Note: The Commission has the authority to approve other sanctioning bodies and may do so in the future. We will update this page as others are approved. It is illegal to have an amateur event in Tennessee that is not sanctioned by one of these organizations.