JUDGE CJ ROSS TAKES INDEFINITE LEAVE OF ABSENCE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 18 Sep 2013
Judge CJ Ross who in an incredible decision scored the Floyd Mayweather Jr ? Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez one-sided bout a 114-114 draw has taken an indefinite leave of absence.
She is the same judge who also raised a howl of protest around the world when she scored the WBO welterweight title fight between ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Timothy ?Desert Storm? Bradley for the Bradley last year.
Boxing Scene?s Ryan Maquinana reported that Ross, who had been licensed in Nevada for 22 years had, according to television station KLAS and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, sent an email to Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer on Tuesday regarding her decision to step down. ?I will be taking some time off from boxing but will keep in touch.?
Kizer whose appointment of Ross has also drawn criticism considering her past record and himself appointed Ross to Saturday?s panel, spoke to KLAS about the reasoning behind the judge?s departure.
Kizer said ?To her credit, she does not want to take away from the story? referring to the dominating performance by Floyd Mayweather, so she has asked us if she can take some time off; we've agreed. It shows the type of person she is.?
The Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director said NSAC chairman Bill Brady ?was very understanding and supportive. He agreed that that was a great avenue to take.?
Boxingscene.com reported that all three judges earned $8,000 for a decision that has sparked so much negative attention that Nevada governor Brian Sandoval, who appoints commission members, conversed with Brady about the matter.
Brady told the Las Vegas Review Journal ?I apologized to the governor for any embarrassment we may have caused the state. He made me aware of his concerns. He wants things done right.?
This weekend?s debacle did not mark the veteran judge?s first questionable tally in a high-profile fight. Last June, she was one of two judges who scored last year?s WBO welterweight title bout between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley 115-113 for Bradley?despite a CSNBayArea.com poll where a staggering 50 out of 53 journalists saw Pacquiao as the clear victor.
In fact, Boxrec.com outlined at least nine other occasions since 2002 where Ross picked a winner, only to be overruled by the other two ringside judges with divergent scores for the other fighter.
With the latest caper by Ross, the NSAC will be under heavier scrutiny than usual next Wednesday, when it selects the judges for Bradley?s Oct. 12 title defense against Juan Manuel Marquez at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Brady was quoted as saying ?There will be more questions asked, and Keith will be held accountable for his recommendations. We won?t be a rubber stamp anymore.?
2012 ?Trainer of the Year? Robert Garcia said he believes there should be an investigation into how Ross scored the fight the way she did and indicated he thought Mayweather won every round although there were some who felt Alvarez won one or at the most two rounds. Among them was Pacquiao?s adviser Michael Koncz.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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