Boxing & MMA History

State of Arizona authorizes first, limited boxing and sparring matches.

The Arizona Legislature establishes the Arizona State Athletic Commission to regulate all professional boxing, sparring and wrestling matches and exhibitions.

The Arizona State Athletic Commission is renamed the Arizona State Boxing Commission.

The Arizona Legislature transfers responsibility to collect license fees, taxes on gross receipts, and cash and surety bonds from the Boxing Commission to the Arizona Department of Racing. The Department of Racing and the Boxing Commission enter into an intergovernmental agreement to provide office space, communication services and administrative and clerical support to the Commission.

Tough man and non-traditional fighting contests are authorized and the Commission is allowed to enter into intergovernmental agreements with Tribes to regulate boxing contests on Indian reservations.

Commission is renamed the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Commission.

The Arizona Legislature modifies requirements, exemptions and licensing requirements pertaining to boxing and mixed martial arts.

The Arizona State Boxing and MMA Commission, which is under the Division of Racing, merges under the ADG giving regulatory authority to the Department of Gaming.