What conduct rules apply to ring officials?
Rule- South Africa
- Boxing South Africa
- Professional boxing
- 18 and over
- Boxing Regulations 2004 (amended)
- Referees and judges
- 2026
- Ring officials
From regulations 27 to 29 of the Boxing Regulations:
- Referees may not talk to anyone in the audience during a round or interval, publicly criticise the judges' decisions, or show or discuss judges' scorecards with the public. They may not leave the ring until the bout is over and the decision announced.
- Judges may not talk to the audience while officiating, publicly criticise the referee or another judge, or leave their seats until the decision is announced. Scorecards must not be shown to or discussed with the public during or after a fight.
- The exception: in a world title fight, a world title eliminator, or any bout where Boxing SA directs, each judge's (and the referee's, if kept) total points are announced from the ring after the bout.
- Referees and judges must follow Boxing SA's code of ethics for referees and judges.
- No licensee may verbally or physically abuse a referee, judge or timekeeper.
- You may only act in the capacity you are registered for, and only one capacity at a time (regulation 2).
Added 22 Oct 2026