New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) head Larry Hazard has just reinstated the use of instant replays for combat sports event, including boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA).

In a recent interview with mma journalism website, MMAJunkie, Hazard said that he reinstate it in the interest of fairness. Using instant replays can be relied upon to rectify decisions that have direct effects on the outcomes of the fight.

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The previous commissioner, Aaron Davis, voted against the use of instant replays. Hazard though has made it a permanent fixture for events.

Hazard says that this will require promoters to shoulder the cost and provide monitors readily available for the commission to view.

This monitor can show instant replays of the action, but can only be used during the one-minute rest periods in between rounds and at the conclusion of the bout for calls that are immediately correctable.

It will already in action during the upcoming boxing title fight between Bernard Hopkins and Sergey Kovalev on HBO, taking place on November 8 at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall.

The NJSACB takes its cue from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

The NSAC has already utilized instant replays since 2009.

One notable usage of it is when current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was disqualified in a previous match against Matt Hamill. He was disqualified for the use of 12-to-6 elbows.

Hazard, who returned to his post as head of the NJSACB after a seven year hiatus, pushed for instant replays to be used after the commission used it for a boxing event back in 2007.

It was also made available for an MMA event, but was not utilized at all.

He also said that he wanted to keep up with other major sporting organizations such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and Major League Baseball (MLB).

TagsLarry Hazard, New jersey State Athletic Control Board, NJSACB, instant replays