What boxing services require a State of Florida license?
This page provides helpful information and examples about the types of services that must be performed by a DBPR-licensed individual or business
Florida Athletic Commission
The function of the Florida Athletic Commission is to license and regulate professional boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts within the State of Florida. The statutes and rules governing this profession are in Chapter 548, Florida Statutes, and Rule 61K-1, Florida Administrative Code. The Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over every match held within the state which involves a professional. The Commission also has exclusive jurisdiction over approval, disapproval, suspension of approval, and revocation of approval of all amateur sanctioning organizations for amateur boxing and kickboxing matches held in this state.
Amateur: A person who has never received nor competed for any purse or other article of value, either for the expenses of training or for participating in a match, other than a prize of $50 in value or less.
Professional: A person who has received or competed for any purse or other article of a value greater than $50, either for the expenses of training or for participating in any match.
A participant, promoter, manager, trainer, second, time-keeper, referee, judge, announcer, physician and match-maker all require a license.
These items are offered as examples of services you do need to hire a person with a Florida license and services you do not need to hire a person with a Florida license. The list is not all inclusive. If you have specific questions, please contact the Commission at 850.488.8500 or review the rules for the profession at www.myfloridalicense.com. Please visit our Unlicensed Activity page to learn more about how you can help us combat Unlicensed Activity.
Example of services needing a license:
| Needs a License or Approval | Does not need a License |
| A participant, manager, trainer, second, time-keeper, referee, judge, announcer, physician, match-maker, directly or indirectly acting in any match involving a participant. | A match conducted or sponsored by a bona fide nonprofit school or education program whose primary purpose is instruction in the martial arts, boxing, or kickboxing, if the match held in conjunction with the instruction is limited to amateur participants who are students of the school or instructional program. |
| A promoter who, directly or indirectly, promotes matches involving a professional. No promoter may be associated with any foreign co-promoter in promoting any match unless the foreign co-promoter has been issued a license. | A match conducted or sponsored by any company or detachment of the Florida National Guard, if the match is limited to participants who are members of the company or detachment of the Florida National Guard. |
| A foreign co-promoter who, directly or indirectly, participates in the promotion of, receives any remuneration from, or renders any services in connection with any match involving a professional. | A match conducted or sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police, if the match is limited to amateur participants and is held in conjunction with a charitable event. |
| Any match involving amateurs which utilizes, but is not necessarily limited to, strikes or blows to the head must be sanctioned and supervised by an amateur sanctioning organization approved by the commission. |
Quick Links
Need Help?
All requests for publications, documents, forms, applications for licenses, permits and other similar certifications can be obtained by contacting the Commission.
Timothy L. Shipman, Executive Director
Gregory L. Pitt, Assistant Executive Director
Florida Athletic Commission
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1016
Media Inquiries: 850.922.8981
Telephone: 850.488.8500
Facsimile: 850.922.2249
