Three American judges for May 2 showdown
Thursday 23 April 2015 12:23, UK
Kenny Bayless has been selected to referee Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The veteran referee will be the third man in the ring for the richest fight in boxing history on May 2 in Las Vegas' MGM Grand, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Nevada-based Bayless will be joined by three American judges at ringside - Dave Moretti and Burt Clements, also of Nevada, and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.
Bayless will be paid $25,000 for the job, while the three judges will receive $20,000 each.
It will be the sixth Mayweather bout that Bayless, who turns 65-years-old two days after the bout, has refereed. He oversaw Mayweather's most recent match against Marcos Maidana. He has also shared the ring with Pacquiao seven times.
"I think that this fight is so big - all we want is a fair fight. I think we can get that," said Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach.
Nevada State Athletic director Robert Bennett made the recommendations to the
"Kenny knows the pressure and stress and responsibility," said Bennett. "He's efficient and effective and has proven to be successful over a number of years working in Las Vegas and other parts of the world. He's one of the best referees in the world."
Robert Byrd and Tony Weeks were also considered as referees but Bayless got the nod. Veteran scorekeepers Jerry Roth, Adalaide Byrd, plus Guido Cavalleri of Italy and Stanley Christodoulou of South Africa were considered as judges.
Book Mayweather v Pacquiao, Sky Sports Box Office, May 2, via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote from April 25. skysports.com/maypac
