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Public Meeting Notice

Public Meeting Notice  Massachusetts State Athletic Commission Meeting - 6.15.26

Meeting start time: 12:00pm
Posted: June 10, 2026 11:19 a.m.

Overview

This is a remote meeting. Please see the Meeting Agenda for information on joining via phone or video conference.

You will need

Microsoft Teams meeting 

Join: Join Microsoft Teams Meeting 

Meeting ID: 261 369 186 171 851 

Passcode: Xj7nL3EW 

Dial in by phone 

Dial In By Phone United States, Boston

Phone conference ID: 968 747 232# 

In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that a remote meeting of the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission will be held on June 15, 2026, at 12:00 pm. 

If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in the meeting, please contact Cheryl Yebba at 617-701-8711. While the Board will do its best to accommodate you, certain accommodations may not be available if requested immediately before the meeting.

Meeting Minutes

In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that a remote meeting of the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission was held on June 15, 2026, at 12:00 pm. 

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting 

  1. Roll Call

Name Present Absent 
Josh Zakim, Chair  X 
John Navien X 
Brett Miller X 
Melissa Kelly X 
Sean Pierce X 

  1. Applications

  • Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, August 29, 2026, Fenway Boxing Event
    • After a brief conversation with the applicants, including discussion of the applicants’ background and medical data from their prior events, Commissioner Kelly made a motion to approve Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship as a new type of unarmed combat in the state of MA pursuant to 523 CMR 17 and to adopt the ABC bare-knuckle unified rules as submitted by BKFC, which was seconded by Commissioner Navien. A roll-call vote was conducted, and the motion passed unanimously, 5-0. Commissioner Zakim made a motion to approve the BKFC Event on August 29, 2026, which was seconded by Commissioner Pierce, and the motion passed unanimously, 5-0. 
  1. Variance Request 

  • Variance Request from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship for their proposed event on 8/29/2026. Requesting variance from 523 CMR 17.02 and 523 CMR12.05 (4) regarding the use of official rules and the use of gloves during events. 

    Because BKFC is considered a new unarmed combat sport, the variance request was moot; the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship rule set was adopted and approved in conjunction with the event approval.

4. Open session for topics not reasonably anticipated by the Chair 48 hours in advance of the meeting. 

  • A motion was made by Commissioner Pierce to adjourn the public meeting, which was seconded by Commissioner Navien. The motion passed unanimously, 5-0.
  • The public meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

Agenda

  1. Roll Call
Name Present Absent 
Josh Zakim, Chair   
John Navien   
Brett Miller  
Melissa Kelly  
Sean Pierce  
  1. Applications
    1. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, August 29, 2026, Fenway Boxing Event
  2. Variance Request 
    1. Variance Request from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship for their proposed event on 8/29/2026. Requesting variance from 523 CMR 17.02 and 523 CMR12.05 (4) regarding use of official rules and the use of gloves during events. 
  3. Open session for topics not reasonably anticipated by the Chair 48 hours in advance of the meeting. 
  4.  Investigatory Conference – CLOSED per M.G.L.c112, § 65C 
  5.  Quasi-Judicial Session – CLOSED per M.G.L.c30A, § 18(d)

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