Ring officials rounded up for Pacquiao-Bradley rematch

Timothy Bradley, from Palm Springs, Calif., left, talks with Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines, following their WBO welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won the fight by split decision. AP

In what would be considered as a redress for the previous blunder that happened two years ago, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has assigned the four officials to oversee the second match of Manny Pacquiao against Timothy Bradley for the World Boxing Organization Welterweight Championship.

According to a report from ESPN’s Dan Rafael, the NSAC appointed veteran judges Glenn Throwbridge of Nevada, Michael Pernick of Florida and John Keane from Great Britain.

Kenny Bayless, considered as one of the best in-ring officials in the world, was chosen as the referee for the second chapter of the Pacquiao-Bradley series.

“What the commission did was give us a whole list of officials that were being considered—judges, referees—and then we circulated it to both camps and we said knock out anybody that you feel may not be suitable,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, the promoter of both fighters.

Arum said that he had a phone call with NCSA chairman Francisco Aguilar and commissioner Bill Brady to confirm the three officials to preside over the match.

“Neither camp can complain about the officials selected because these are judges approved by both camps and same with the referee,” Arum said in the ESPN report. “I really commend the commission for taking the steps that they did and with all the transparency in this.”

“It’s the fighters who are most affected by this decision and now neither fighter can say anything whatever happens.”

For the fight, Arum requested that the commission appoint two judges outside of Nevada. The NCSA typically appoints two judges from Nevada and one out-of-state judge.

“We requested that because there are so many good judges around the world, why limit yourself to just Nevada,” Arum said.

Pacman familiarity

According to Rafael, all four of the officials have worked on a Pacquiao bout at least once in their careers, while all have not worked on a single Bradley fight.

Throwbridge would be on his sixth Pacquiao fight, his only controversial card was the third fight of Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2011 welterweight title bout where Pacquiao won by majority decision.

He had Pacquiao winning 116-112 while the other judges had the eight-division World champion at 115-113 and 114-114.

Pernick who last judged Pacquiao’s drubbing of Brandon Rios in November of 2013 would be on his third Pacman level.

He was also on ring-side when Pacquiao knocked Ricky Hatton out-cold in 2009.

Keane would be on the panel for a second time, the previous one was Pacquiao’s loss to Marquez.

He had Pacquiao up 47-46 before Marquez knocked the Pacman out in December of 2013.

Bayless, meanwhile, would be on the ring with Pacquiao for the seventh time.

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