Nevada commission makes two major rule changes to impact boxing

The Nevada State Athletic Commission made two major rule changes during its meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com. The commission now allows for the use of instant replay in boxing and mixed martial arts bouts, and fighters who previously suffered a cerebral hemorrhage are now allowed to apply for a license in the state.

Both rules will go into effect in September—assuming they are cleared by Nevada's Legislative Counsel Bureau, which will ensure that neither violates state statutes—with the Floyd Mayweather, Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez fight on Sept. 19 being the first significant bout in the state where replay may be used.

The use of replay will only be used on a limited basis and at the "sole discretion of the referee," according to the article. It will only be used when an injury forces a fight to be stopped, such as the recent bout between Nate Campbell and Timothy Bradley, Jr. Though the referee stopped the fight at the end of the third round due to a cut by Campbell's eye, it was later revealed to be the result of a headbutt, not a punch. Referees can now refer to replays to help make sure their decisions in situations such as these are accurate.

Cases in which replay will not be used, however, include determining whether a knockdown was the result of a slip or a punch.

Nevada has had a rule in place since 1972 that has prevented fighters who have suffered a head injury—such as subdural hematoma—from applying for a license in the state, but recent medical advances caused the commission to revisit and ultimately overturn the rule.

Source: ESPN