Erring Pacquiao-Marquez judge on board for Mayweather bout
HOLLYWOOD—One of the world’s best referees and a judge who once cost Manny Pacquiao a win will be on deck for the Floyd Mayweather-Pacquiao colossal battle on May 2.
Veteran Kenny Bayless, whom trainer Freddie Roach regards as the best in the trade, and Burt Clements, whose scoring error enabled Juan Manuel Marquez to escape with a draw against Pacquiao in their first meeting in 2006 on have been assigned by the Nevada Athletic Commission to work the welterweight division unification title bout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
READ: Bayless picked as third man in ring for Mayweather-Pacquiao
They will be joined by judges Dave Moretti of Las Vegas and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.
Bayless is no stranger to the protagonists, having officiated seven of Pacquiao’s fights and five of Mayweather’s.
The 62-year-old Clements of Reno is best remembered for a grievous scoring mistake he committed in Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez I in 2004.
That time, Pacquiao knocked down Marquez thrice in the first round. Instead of scoring it 10-6, however, Clements made it 10-7, enabling Marquez to escape with a draw and a 113-113 tally.
Surprisingly, promoters Bob Arum of Top Rank and Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions both okayed the officials’ roster.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Ellerbe said “I can’t believe it, but this is one thing Bob Arum and I do agree on: We’re very pleased with the selection of the officials. I have no doubt the officials will be very fair in judging the fight and the referee will undoubtedly do a masterful job.”
The 83-year-old Arum, on the other hand said, “Moretti and Clements are tremendous judges, honorable guys, and Glenn Feldman is terrific, has a very good reputation. These are extraordinarily good officials from the standpoint of competency.”
Bayless also worked Pacquiao’s first tussle against Erik Morales II in 2006, Juan Manuel Marquez 2 in 2008, Ricky Hatton in 2009, Miguel Cotto in 2009, Shane Mosley in 2011, Marquez IV in 2012 and Bradley in 2012.
The fights Bayless officiated for Mayweather were Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, Shane Mosley in 2010, Canelo Alvarez in 2013and Marcos Maidana in 2014.
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