The ratings will be issued each month, with exceptions being allowed for holidays and attendance of ratings committee members at NABF and WBC conventions.

During the last week of each month, the Committee Chairman will advise each member of the committee when their recommendations will be due.  Each member should either fax or e-mail their suggestions to the Chairman by the date requested.

The Chairman will then compile the information submitted and issue a draft of the ratings to the NABF President for his review.  After the President and Committee Chairman confer, a final copy of the ratings will be forwarded to the Membership Committee for printing and distribution.

In addition to the distribution of the ratings by the membership committee, the monthly ratings will be posted on the official NABF website.  A report indicating the reasons for changes in the top ten rating positions will be compiled and posted on the website, as well.

The Ratings Committee shall consist of the Chairman, the NABF President and such additional members as the President may appoint, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.  The members of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the President until the next election of officers of the NABF after their respective appointments, and thereafter until the appointment and approval of their successors.  Vacancies occurring within the committee shall be filled through appointment by the President, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

Keeping in mind that the rating of boxers is a very subjective matter, the Ratings Committee members should use the following guidelines and criteria in their work:

A boxer’s overall record and the level of his competition should be of primary concern.  

Emphasis should be great as to whom a boxer has fought in his recent matches, and the outcome of those contests.  It is entirely possible that a boxer who was competitive in losing bouts against high-level competition will be rated higher than one who may be undefeated but who has faced only hand-picked low-level opponents.

A boxer’s activity will be considered.  A boxer should fight at least once per year to be eligible for the ratings.  Boxers who go nine (9) months without fighting should typically be lowered in the ratings absent special circumstances.  If there are special circumstances whereby a boxer, through no fault of his own, is inactive, it is the responsibility of the boxer or his representative to notify the NABF.  Such special circumstances may be, but are not limited to, injury, legal dispute, contracted bouts being cancelled, etc.

The NABF will not rate boxers who are considered world champions of recognized championship sanctioning organizations.  Boxers considered world champions of non-recognized organizations may be considered for the NABF ratings on a case-by-case basis.

If a boxer has a contracted and publicized bout scheduled for the world title of a recognized organization, the ratings committee may, at its discretion, temporarily remove that boxer from the NABF ratings.  This is based upon the premise that this boxer will be unavailable to fight for the NABF title and that other boxers should be given consideration for rating.  Should the removed boxer lose in his world championship contest, he may be reconsidered for the NABF ratings at that time.

The NABF will not rate boxers who are incarcerated as the result of being convicted of a crime.  Such boxers may be considered for the NABF ratings following their first bout after release from incarceration.

The NABF will not rate boxers who are under disciplinary suspension by any boxing regulatory body.  At such time as the boxer is no longer under suspension, he may be considered for rating following his first bout.

The NABF will not rate boxers who are under medical suspension, other than the standard suspension given following a contest, by any boxing regulatory body.  Should the boxer be removed from suspension, he may be considered for rating following his first bout.

Boxers who hold other regional or intermediate titles, such as those sanctioned by the NABF, may be rated by the NABF.  However, the ratings committee should use its judgment as to the likelihood of such boxers wishing to vacate their title to compete for the NABF title before placing these boxers in a mandatory challenger’s position.

No boxer shall be considered for a top-ten rating until such time as he has had a minimum of twelve (12) contests, at least one of which was scheduled for ten (10) rounds or more.

Exceptions may be made, upon the majority vote of the ratings committee, for boxers who have had outstanding amateur careers, such as Olympic medalists, etc.

If a rated boxer in one division requests to be considered for rating in another division, he should have at least one (1) contest in the new division prior to being rated there.  No boxer may be rated in more than one division.

Boxers rated in one division may be allowed to challenge, in optional defenses, for NABF titles in divisions other than the one in which they are rated.

In the instance where a boxer turns down a LEGITIMATE offer to compete for the NABF title, the ratings committee should take such action into consideration in its assessment of where to rate the boxer.  The true legitimacy of the offer (adequate purse, proper time to prepare, other obligations on the boxer’s behalf, etc.) should be considered in making this determination.

Ratings committee members should recognize that there are certain “big name” boxers who, while technically eligible for the NABF ratings, are not likely to be interested in challenging for the NABF title for financial reasons.  Boxers such as this should not be rated, as to do so will deprive deserving boxers of a position in the ratings as well as limit the options of promoters when they attempt to stage a NABF title contest.

It is the responsibility of a boxer, or his representative, to inform the NABF of the boxer’s activities.

The President of the NABF may select a ratings appeal committee, consisting of three members of the Executive Committee.  If a boxer rated in the top ten of his division appeals his rating, the appeal will be reviewed by this committee.  Seven (7) business days after receiving the appeal, the committee will inform the boxer of the decision of the committee.  

Meetings of the committee mentioned above may be by telephone and voting may be by fax or e-mail.

A boxer who is not satisfied with the decision of the ratings appeal committee may appeal to the Executive Committee of the NABF under such guidelines for appeal as may be promulgated by the NABF.

V.    The Ratings Committee shall meet each year, during the time of the annual NABF convention.  The time and place of said meeting shall be determined by the Committee Chairman, the NABF President, and the Convention Coordinator, and shall be listed in the official program for the convention.  This meeting shall be open to all attendees of the convention.  The Committee shall have the right to hold a private meeting or meetings, also, if needed, for the purposes of promoting free discussion regarding the relative merits of boxers and their ratings.

In addition to the annual meeting, as indicated above, the Committee may have special meetings as determined by the NABF President and the Committee Chairman.

VI.    These standards and criteria should be reviewed no less than bi-annually and amended as needed.