Nevada commission appoints Kenny Bayless to referee Mayweather-Pacquiao fight
Kenny Bayless got the plum assignment of the year and was in essence designated as the top referee in the world by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday when he was chosen to referee the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden.
Judges selected were Burt Clements, Dave Moretti and Glenn Feldman.
Bayless is no stranger to either Mayweather or Pacquiao, having worked in recent years many of their fights. Bayless has refereed Mayweather in his rematch against Marcos Maidana, as well as against Canelo Alvarez, Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya.
Bayless has refereed Pacquiao in his rematch with Timothy Bradley, his bouts with Mosley and Miguel Cotto, and his third and fourth fights with Juan Manuel Marquez.
There was only a small bit of drama. Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler said he had objections to two of the names on the list of officials proposed by executive director Bob Bennett, but he said he didn't want to say their names publicly. He said he had spoken with Bennett privately about his concerns.
Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said he'd spoken with Bennett privately, as well, but he said he had no issues with any potential official.
Bayless will earn a fee of $25,000, believed to be the highest ever for a referee. The judges will earn $20,000 apiece.
De La Hoya said he thinks the selection of Bayless will work to Mayweather's advantage.
"I think it favors Mayweather, absolutely," De La Hoya told Yahoo Sports. "There is no secret about that. I had heard Kenny Bayless was going to be the referee and that's one point for Mayweather right there. If you notice every fight Mayweather has had with Kenny Bayless, the referee should break them up if both hands are tied up and they're not throwing punches. If you notice, for instance with Maidana, when they got in close, right away Kenny Bayless would break them up.
"One hand would be free from the clinch but [he still broke them up]. It's an advantage for Mayweather."
