Pacquiao vs Thurman: Supervisor Jose Oliver Gomez, Referee Kenny Bayless; Will the Fight Go the Distance?
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 20 Jul 2019
L-R: Gibbons, Gomez and Ellerbe in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao's battle to enhance even further his spectacular, stellar career reaches its climax tomorrow Saturday, July 20, when the hugely popular fighting senator battles unbeaten fellow champion Keith "One Time" Thurman for the WBA Welterweight Super World Championship at the famed MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with the officials assigned to work the blockbuster event ready for action.
The supervisor for the WBA will be the experienced Jos? Oliver G?mez of Panama, a man of boxing who has been attached to the WBA since the times of former WBA presidents Dr. Elias Cordoba and Rodrigo Colon Sanchez. Just days ago, Gomez was in Osaka, Japan, for the title clash in which Japanese Ryota Murata stopped American Rob Brant to regain his WBA middleweight crown.
Jose Oliver Gomez.
Educated at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Jos? Oliver G?mez has worked as supervisor for several of the Pacman's fights, including the legendary 2004 draw between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, in which Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in their war's opening round, though the amazing "Dinamita" Marquez came back strong to secure a 12-rounder draw. Many fans still perceive the highly talented Marquez edging a win in that classic battle for the ages.
Jos? Oliver G?mez has also been fight supervisor for Keith Thurman. G?mez supervised the Florida's fighter come-back rumble against tough-as-nails, fully-committed warrior Josesito Lopez of Riverside, CA. That was the intriguing battle that marked Thurman's return to action mode after painful elbow surgery.
Furthermore, on Saturday night, fans will see Kenny Bayless.
Kenny Bayless -- the most popular, best-known referee in boxing -- has served ten times as the third man in a Manny Pacquiao match.
A man of pleasant personality, former track and field star for California State-Hayward, and a teacher during 30 years, Bayless is in the eyes of so many fans the best referee in the world.
Gracing the cover of the best selling book "Third Man in the Ring: 33 of Boxing's Best Referees and Their Stories" Bayless, 68, has been the third man in some of Pacquiao's most memorable world title battles, including the Pacman's rumbles against Mayweather, Matthysse, Mosley, Hatton, Bradley, Vargas, Cotto, Marquez and Morales.
Referee Kenny Bayless counts Erik Morales during Morales's third fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Bayless has been right there in the middle of the awesome Pacman action, and come Saturday, he will be there again.
Meanwhile, if the fight makes it to the scheduled 12-rounds distance (many fans have doubts about that), then the ringside judges handing numbers will be Glenn Feldman, Dave Moretti and Tim Cheatham.
Will judge's scorecards indeed be needed for the Pacquiao vs Thurman clash of titans?
We all wonder.
In fact, other than stopping the much less-talented Lucas Matthysse, Manny Pacquiao hasn't been the powerful, thrilling puncher he was in lower weigh class.
Yet, could the amazing Filipino still overpower a highly skilled boxer as "One Time?" Could Pacquiao's power still be there in his punches to rock Thurman to dreamland, as he did to Ricky Hatton in 2009?
Manny's unpredictable, unreadable southpaw attacks, throwing punches as a whirlwind could get pass with success through Thurman's well-educated, traditional, remarkable orthodox defense?
Or... will it be the 10 years younger unbeaten Keith Thurman -- owner of 22 knockouts in 29 combats -- be the one to land clean, stagger and stop the walking legend named Pacquiao, one of the most popular fighters in modern boxing history?
Finally, could Thurman score a huge legendary punch -- like the one Juan Manuel Marquez once unleashed -- to stop the fast incoming Pacman?
The Manny Pacquiao vs Keith Thurman battle this coming Saturday, July 20, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is a production of TGB Promotions' Tom Brown in association with Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions LIVE in sport networks around the planet, including USA FOX PPV, Philippine's Sky Cable, and Panama's Lo Mejor del Boxing on Telemetro Canal 13.
May the best man win.
The author Carlos Costa is a veteran boxing reporter in the Philippines. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxlab Promotions Fighters Shine with Statement Victories in Orlando
Tue, 24 Mar 2026Red Owl Boxing Presents Box Fest XVII on Friday, April 3rd at The Archer Music Hall in Allentown, PA and LIVE on DAZN
Tue, 24 Mar 2026Boxing world fans waiting Isis Sio prompty recovery; Team Isis Sio statement
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 24 Mar 2026National Master Nika Juris Nicolas rules National Youth & Schools Chess Championships
Tue, 24 Mar 2026SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS DOUBLE MAIN EVENTS SET AS JULIUS “JUJU” BALLO SQAURES OFF AGAINST ROMAN REYES AT FRONTWAVE ARENA ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026
Mon, 23 Mar 2026"I'M A MAN OF MY WORD": GEORGE LIDDARD COMPLETES MATCHROOM BRENTWOOD HALF MARATHON FOR CHARITY – HOURS AFTER DENNY WIN
Mon, 23 Mar 2026Lester Martinez Wins WBC Interim World Super Middleweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Immanuwel Aleem
Sun, 22 Mar 2026IBF Pan Pacific champion Vince Paras set to face unbeaten OPBF champion Aoi Yokoyama in Kyrgyzstan
Sun, 22 Mar 2026King James sets NBA all-time record for most games played
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 22 Mar 2026Loaded boxing schedule
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 22 Mar 2026WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
Sat, 21 Mar 2026COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
Sat, 21 Mar 2026Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
Sat, 21 Mar 2026Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
Sat, 21 Mar 2026Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 20 Mar 2026