Controversial Judges from Pacquiao-Barrios Fight Tapped for Canelo-Crawford Showdown
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 23 Aug 2025
The highly anticipated super-fight between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford is already generating controversy, with the Nevada State Athletic Commission's selection of judges for the main event drawing criticism from the boxing community. The three officials chosen to score the September 13th bout at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to be streamed live on Netflix are the same three who worked the recent, highly disputed Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios fight.
The judges appointed for the fight are Tim Cheatham, Max DeLuca, and Steve Weisfeld. All three have a rich history of officiating major fights, but their most recent assignment has put them under intense scrutiny. In the July 19 bout between boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios, the judges' scorecards resulted in a majority draw, a decision that was widely criticized by fans, boxing analysts, and Pacquiao's own camp.
Specifically, Max DeLuca scored the Pacquiao-Barrios fight 115-113 for Barrios, while Tim Cheatham and Steve Weisfeld each scored it 114-114, resulting in the draw. Many in the boxing community believe Pacquiao did enough to win the fight, sparking an outcry and accusations of a "robbery."
Thomas Taylor, the third man in the ring of the Pacquiao-Barrios fight, has also been assigned by NSAC to referee the Canelo-Crawford fight.
The decision to appoint the same officials to what is arguably the most significant fight of the year has raised eyebrows. With the legacies of two pound-for-pound greats on the line, any hint of a questionable scorecard could have monumental consequences for the sport. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has stood by its selections, citing the judges' experience in high-profile bouts. However, their most recent performance leaves a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the scoring of what is expected to be a close and competitive main event.
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