Vegas’ Bayless picked to referee Mayweather-Pacquiao fight

When it comes to the officials, the May 2 megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will have a local flavor to it.

Las Vegas’ Kenny Bayless has been selected by the Nevada Athletic Commission to referee the world welterweight unification title fight at the MGM Grand Garden. The three judges will be Dave Moretti of Las Vegas, Burt Clements of Reno and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.

NAC executive director Bob Bennett made the recommendations to the commission Tuesday morning. He had whittled down an original list of 12 referees and 30 judges to three referees and 13 judges and had vetted that list with members of both fighters’ camps prior to making his final decisions.

Top Rank, which promotes Pacquiao, had some concerns over some of the potential judges, but it wouldn’t say specifically who. It did not object to Bennett’s ultimate recommendations, which were unanimously approved by the five-member commission.

“Kenny is a Hall of Fame referee,” Bennett said of his decision to recommend Bayless over Tony Weeks and Robert Byrd, two other Las Vegas referees. “He’s a professional who knows what should be done inside and outside the ring.”

Bayless, has experience in dealing with both Mayweather and Pacquiao. He has worked two of Mayweather’s last three fights, including his most recent — last Sept. 13 when Mayweather defeated Marcos Maidana by unanimous decision in a rematch of their May 3, 2014 fight at the Grand Garden. Bayless was also the third man in the ring when Mayweather defeated Canelo Alvarez by majority decision Sept. 14, 2013.

Bayless was the referee the last time Pacquiao fought in Las Vegas — April 12, 2014 — when he defeated Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision at the MGM. Bayless also was the third man in the ring the last time Pacquiao lost a fight. That was on Dec. 8, 2012 when Pacquiao was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez late in the sixth round of their fourth meeting.

As for the judges, Bennett said he was looking for experience and familiarity with doing a fight in Las Vegas. Bennett’s list included prominent international judges John Keane of Great Britain, Craig Metcalfe of Canada, Guido Cavalleri of Italy and Stanley Christodoulou of South Africa.

But in the end, Bennett selected two Nevada judges along with Feldman, who is from Avon, Conn. and has been judging fights since 1992.

“We wanted judges who are used to the pressure of working in Las Vegas and have a proven track record of success,” said Bennett, who began the selection process of officials a month ago. “These guys are used to doing championship fights.”

Moretti has scored three of Mayweather’s last five fights. He gave Mayweather a 116-111 win last September 13 against Maidana, had Mayweather ahead against Alvarez 116-112 in 2013 and had Mayweather winning 117-111 when he defeated Miguel Cotto in May 2012.

Moretti last worked a Pacquiao fight Nov. 12, 2011 when he had Pacquiao defeating Marquez 115-113 in the third installment of their four-fight series. Pacquiao won a majority decision that night.

Clements’ most recent Mayweather fight came last May 3, the first meeting with Maidana. He had Mayweather winning 117-111, the widest margin of the three judges that worked the fight, which ended in a majority decision for Mayweather.

Clements last worked a Pacquiao fight on May 8, 2004, when he scored the first meeting between Pacquiao and Marquez a draw, 113-113. His work that night at Mandalay Bay was widely criticized as he scored the first round 10-7 instead of 10-6 after Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times. Had he scored the fight correctly, Pacquiao would have won by split decision instead of having to settle for a draw.

“Clearly, it wasn’t non-awareness that there were three knockdowns,” Clements told the Review-Journal after the fight. “I just screwed up. I feel badly because I dropped the ball, plainly and simply.”

Feldman hasn’t judged a fight of Mayweather’s since 1998 when Mayweather stopped Miguel Melo in the third round. He has never judged one of Pacquiao’s fights. He last worked a fight card in Las Vegas last Dec. 12 at the MGM Grand.

Bayless will earn $25,000 to work the megafight with the judges to receive $20,000 apiece.

Mayweather, 38, also had to apply for his boxing license so he can fight May 2. Any fighter over age 35 must re-apply annually for their license in Nevada. Pacquiao, 36, received his license last month after appearing before the commission via telephone.

However, it took three attempts to get Mayweather to the phone. Once he was on, he was quickly approved unanimously for his license and another hurdle toward May 2 had been cleared.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj