ROACH, FORTUNE OKAY WITH BAYLESS AS REF OF #MAYPAC
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Apr 2015
LOS ANGELES, Cal . ? Manny Pacquiao?s handlers ? chief trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, both gave referee Kenny Bayless passing grades to be the third man in the ring when the Filipino World Boxing Organization welterweight belt-owner fights American Floyd Mayweather Jr., the unbeaten holder of the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association versions of the 147-pound division.
Pacquiao, the only man in the universe to win 10 world titles in eight weight divisions, and Mayweather, a five-division title-holder himself, decide who between them will be declared the undisputed kingpin of the category when they clash head-on on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Arena in the sin city of Las Vegas in Nevada.
?Bayless is the best referee in the world, and I?m happy with the choice,? Roach told this writer after presiding over Pacquiao?s eight-round work in the mitts with him on Wednesday.
?I have no problem with him, Roach said. ?He?s a long-time friend. It?s good that he was selected. He has refereed many of my boxers, including Manny himself and he accounted himself well.?
?Bayless is a good guy, the selection is good,? Justin, for his part said. ?Freddie knows the guy, who?s been his friend for quite sometime. I?m sure he?s happy with the development.?
?The whole world will watch the confrontation and I don?t think he will be foolish to disappoint all those who want to see a fair fight between two best fighters on earth.?
Bayless was one of the six licensed ring officials recommended to the five-man Nevada State Athletic Commission for the appointment. He was voted upon a 5-0 vote of the commission at its monthly meeting in Las Vegas.
The appointment of three judges, who will be under intense scrutiny as the eyes of the sports world will be on their scorecards should the fight go all 12 rounds, were also unanimously approved. They were Burt Clements and Dave Moretti, both of Las Vegas, and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.
The 64-year-old Bayless of Las Vegas, has also passed the intense scrutiny of the prizefighting world standing as the third man in the ring in many major fights, including the two biggest-selling pay-per-view bouts in history, both of which, incidentally involved.
These were Mayweather against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 and Canelo Alvarez in 2013. Both records expected to be broken by the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight which is expected to be the biggest and greatest showdown in the history of boxing.
Judges Clements, Moretti and Feldman will each receive $20,000 for their short but challenging 48-hour job on fight night. Bayless will be richer by $25,000 after the 12-round encounter.
Bayless, who grew up in Berkeley in California, officiated in seven of Pacquiao?s previous fights, three of them ending via stoppage ? TKO in 10th of Erik Morales 2 in 2006, KO in 2nd of Ricky Hatton in 2009, and KO in 12th of Miguel Cotto, also in 2009.
He also called the shots in Pacquiao?s split decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in the second of their historic quadrilogy in 2006, in the Filipino ring icon?s unanimous decision win over Shane Mosley in 2011 and in the Fighter of the Decade?s unanimous decision triumph over Timothy Bradley in 2014 that gave the Sarangani Clongressman back his 147-pound diadem the erstwhile undefeated American robbed him via a controversial verdict in 2012.
It was also Bayless who refereed Pacquiao?s near career-ending sixth round KO loss to Marquez, also in 2014.
Besides the Mayweather-DeLa Hoya and the Mayweather-Alvarez encounter, Bayless also officiated two more of the 47-0 record holder?s fights -- agasints Mosley in a unanimous decision in 2010 and a similar win over Marcos Maidana last year.
Bayless expressed delight over his appointment, saying: ?I feel blessed to have such a significant role in the sport I love. I never lose sight of my responsibility to ensure the safety of the brave athletes who enter the ring.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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