R.I. Gen. Laws § 41-5-7: License required for participants and officials in professional matches.

(a) No person shall act, except at a purely amateur match or exhibition, directly or indirectly, as physician, first-aid instructor, referee, judge, timekeeper, professional boxer, or as manager, trainer, or second of a boxer, at a boxing or sparring match or exhibition unless licensed by the division of gaming and athletics licensing. For the purposes of this chapter, a “professional boxer” is defined as one who competes for a money prize or teaches or pursues or assists in the practice of boxing as a means of obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain.

(b) In addition to the license requirements set forth in the preceding paragraph, the division of gaming and athletics licensing shall have the authority to select referees for boxing, sparring, or exhibition matches.