Why Promoters Need Surety Bonds for Boxing, MMA, and Wrestling Events

Written by Staff Writer | Jun 26, 2025

Before promoting a boxing, MMA, or wrestling event, many state athletic commissions require you to secure a surety bond. These bonds protect fighters, staff, vendors, and fans by guaranteeing that you’ll pay everyone on time and comply with all state regulations.

Promoter bond amounts can vary by state, but they typically range from $10,000 to $50,000. Failing to secure the right surety bond can have costly consequences. Luckily, BOSS Bonds can help you secure the best bond for your next event with ease.

Why Surety Bonds are Essential for Fight Promoters and Event Organizers

From boxing to wrestling to mixed martial arts (MMA), combat sports have exploded in popularity in recent years. MMA alone has a dedicated fan base of 640 million people, while the UFC and WWE boast valuations of $11 billion and $7 billion, respectively.

While combat sports are increasingly popular and profitable, they’re also strictly regulated. Event promoters must pay fighters, vendors, and staff on time, as well as follow all relevant state laws and regulations. That’s where surety bonds come into play.

If you’re promoting a boxing, MMA, or professional wrestling event in 2025, there’s a strong chance you’ll need to purchase a promoter surety bond. Below, we’ll explain what these bonds are, how they work, and how to secure one quickly with BOSS Bonds.

What is a Promoter Surety Bond?

A promoter bond is a surety bond that guarantees a combat sports promoter will meet their legal and financial obligations while producing an event. State athletic commissions often require these bonds for boxing, MMA, and professional wrestling events.

Promoter bonds establish a legal agreement between the following three parties:

Principal – The promoter purchasing the surety bond.
Obligee – The state athletic commission requiring the surety bond.
Surety – The surety company providing the bond.

While many people assume that surety bonds operate similarly to insurance policies, this isn’t the case. Promoter surety bonds protect fighters, staff, and the public, as opposed to promoters themselves.

If a promoter fails to pay fighter purses, cover event-related taxes, or comply with state athletic commission rules, affected parties can file a claim against their surety bond to seek compensation. After that, the promoter must repay their surety company for the amount paid out.

Why Most States Require Promoter Surety Bonds

State athletic commissions use surety bonds to protect all parties involved in combat sports events. These bonds serve several purposes, including:

Guaranteeing fighter payouts – Skilled combat fighters can earn a lot of money. For instance, MMA fighters’ compensation can range from $5,000 to over $1 million per fight. Surety bonds ensure fighters receive their contracted purse. If their event promoter fails to pay, they can file a claim against the surety bond to recover their rightful earnings.
Protecting event staff and vendors – While fighters may take center stage, successful combat events rely on a comprehensive team behind the scenes, including referees, ringside physicians, judges, and venue crews. If a promoter fails to pay these professionals, they can file a claim against the promoter’s surety bond.
Ensuring fans get what they paid for – Combat fight fans purchase tickets expecting a well-run event. If an event is canceled, delayed, or misrepresented, the promoter’s surety bond can give fans a reliable avenue for recovering losses.
Enforcing compliance with state rules – Combat fights come with inherent safety risks and ethical considerations. Fortunately, surety bonds give promoters a strong financial incentive to follow their state athletic commission’s safety regulations, licensing requirements, and medical checks.

How Do Promoter Bond Requirements Vary State by State?

While many states require promoter surety bonds, their mandated amounts can vary quite notably. Just take a look at these state’s required bond amounts:

Massachusetts – $50,000
New York:
- $20,000 to guarantee financial obligations
- $10,000 to ensure Athletic Commission compliance
Pennsylvania – $15,000
Nevada – $10,000

Since required surety bond amounts differ, you may need to secure multiple bonds or a single higher-value bond that meets the strictest state requirement to host events across state lines.

Note: In some states, professional wrestling is classified as an entertainment event, excluding it from athletic commission rules. However, these states may still require promoter surety bonds for wrestling promotions. For example, New York mandates the same $20,000 bond for wrestling promoters as it does for boxing and MMA.

What Happens if a Promoter Fails to pay?

If a promoter falls short of their financial or legal obligations, affected parties can file a claim against their surety bond. Here’s how this process works:

The affected party (fighter, vendor, staff member, or fan) files a claim with the athletic commission or surety company.
The surety company investigates the claim, and if it’s valid, they will pay the affected party for their damages up to the surety bond’s amount.
The surety company will seek reimbursement from the promoter for the payout amount, plus fees.

Bond claims carry more than financial consequences—they can also damage your reputation, put your promoter license at risk of suspension or revocation, and make it harder to obtain bonds in the future.

By creating such a strong incentive structure and holding promoters accountable, surety bond requirements reduce the risk of nonpayment, misconduct, and regulatory violations.

How to Get a Promoter Surety Bond

Now that you know how surety bonds work, you may be wondering how to purchase one as a combat sports event promoter. You can secure the right bond for your state by following these steps:

#1 Research Your State's Requirements

Every state’s required bond amount varies, so you should check with your state’s athletic commission or visit the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) to clarify your requirements. Along with the bond amount, take note of your state’s bond application deadlines and renewal schedules to stay compliant and avoid coverage gaps.

#2 Apply Online

Next, you can fill out an application with BOSS Bonds. Our online application only takes a few minutes to complete. You just need to provide some basic information about your event, state, and business history.

#3 Get a Quote

After submitting your application, you’ll typically receive your quote the same day. Surety bond premiums can range from 1% to 10% of the total bond amount, depending on your credit and financials. Thus, if you need a $20,000 bond and qualify for a 3% rate, your annual premium would be $600.

#4 Purchase and File Your Bond

Once you pay your bond premium and get approved, you’ll receive your bond documents shortly after. You can then file these documents with your state's athletic commission.

#5 Keep Your Bond Active

Surety bonds must be renewed periodically (annually, bi-annually, etc.) to stay active. To avoid coverage gaps, mark your renewal deadline on your calendar and submit your renewal application on time.

Why Choose BOSS Bonds for Your Promoter Surety Bond?

At BOSS Bonds, we specialize in helping combat sports promoters secure the bonds they need to host compliant events. Some benefits that set our bonding agency apart include our:

Nationwide licensing – We’re licensed in all 50 states.
Access to 25+ surety markets – We can help you secure the most competitive rates from leading surety providers across the country.
Quick turnaround times – We typically offer quotes and issue promoter surety bonds the same day you submit your application.
Attentive customer support – Our surety experts can walk you through the process and assist with the nuances of bond renewals and multi-state compliance.

BOSS Bonds: Promote Your Next Combat Sports Event With Confidence

Promoting combat sports events can bring profitable rewards. However, it also comes with big responsibilities. By obtaining the right surety bonds, you can satisfy your regulatory requirements and strengthen trust with fighters, vendors, staff, and fans.

Ready to start the process? Apply online with BOSS Bonds today.

Key Takeaways

Promoter bonds are required by most state athletic commissions for boxing, MMA, and wrestling events.
These surety bonds guarantee fighter compensation, vendor payments, and compliance with state rules.
Promoter surety bond amounts can range from $10,000 to $50,000+, depending on the state.
Promoters who fail to pay their fighters, vendors, or staff may face costly bond claims, legal action, and reputational damage.
BOSS Bonds offers fast, reliable promoter bonds in all 50 states with expert support.