Ref unfazed by stigma

Kenny Bayless has worked three fights which resulted in three deaths and it should weigh heavily on the mind of the juvenile detention teacher picked to referee the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales rematch in Las Vegas on Jan. 21.

But Bayless’ conscience is clear and Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) executive director Marc Ratner has absolved him of blame in the ring-related deaths. Ratner, in fact, described Bayless as a "magnificent" referee and "easily one of the best in the world."

Bayless, 55, will be the third man in the ring when Pacquiao and Morales slug it out at the 19,000-seat Thomas and Mack Center. He has officiated in three previous Morales fights against Marco Antonio Barrera (their third bout which Barrera won by majority decision), Buddy Boy Velardez and Paulie Ayala.

Bayless has never worked a Pacquiao match but was the referee in two fights involving a Filipino–in 1996 when Reggie Palabrica was stopped by Nungdiaw Sakcharuporn in the World Boxing Union lightflyweight championship bout in Bangkok and in 2002 when Randy Suico halted Juan Carlos Garcia in Las Vegas.

There is no doubt as to Bayless’ competence. He is decisive, composed, always in control and fair. He won’t hesitate to penalize a fighter for an infraction, no matter who he is. In 2000, Bayless slapped a point deduction on World Boxing Association superfeatherweight champion Joel Casamayor for hitting Roberto Garcia on the break with a left hook to the ear. Earlier, he ruled a slip when Casamayor appeared to be hit by Garcia and went down. Bayless even tripped and fell when he moved in to stop the fight after Garcia was dropped by Casamayor. That’s how wrapped up he gets in a bout.

Still, the stigma remains that he was the referee in last year’s tragedy when Martin Sanchez was knocked out by Rustam Nugaev and succumbed the next morning, in 2002 when Pedro Alcazar lost to Fernando Montiel and died of head injuries two days later and in 1997 when Johnny Montantes was stopped by James Crayton, hit his head on the canvas and later expired.

Ratner chose Bayless to work the third Barrera-Morales fight and the Bernard Hopkins-Oscar de la Hoya bout, both marquee matchups, and he proved up to the task.

"Barrera-Morales was a much tougher fight than Hopkins-de la Hoya," said Ratner. "We expected it to be a much more physical fight. But Kenny has so much natural grace and movement, I knew he’d stay out of the way and do a terrific job. And, as usual, he did."

In May 2004, Bayless underwent surgery for prostate cancer and three months later, was back in the ring with a clean bill of health. As a cancer survivor, he is an inspiration to those fighting the disease to stay alive.

Surviving cancer and the spate of ring deaths is a testament to Bayless’ fortitude.

"God has been good to me," said Bayless quoted by Kevin Jole of the Las Vegas Review Journal. "He gave me back my health. I’m back on all cylinders now and I have a great life and a lot to be thankful for. I have confidence in myself and my ability as a referee."

On the ring deaths, Bayless said he did everything he could to protect the three fatalities. Alcazar’s cornermen, in fact, protested his decision to stop the fight.

"Our sport is a great sport in so many ways and does a lot for kids," said Bayless. "But it’s also a brutal sport. This is the type of sport where one punch can change so many lives. Our job is to do everything we can to protect those kids and that’s the only thing that’s ever on my mind. We do everything we can to minimize the risk they face but all we can do is to minimize it. In boxing, you can never eliminate it. It never gets easy but as officials, we accept the fact it’s a possibility. We do everything humanly possible to prevent it but sometimes it happens anyway. It hurts but you have to go forward knowing you did everything anyone could do to make it safe for both guys."

Bayless was an All-American in the 400-meter relay at California State-Hayward. His twin brother Kermit, now a boxing judge in California, was also a track star. Bayless was a physical education and health teacher in middle school for 29 years, an NSAC inspector for eight years, an amateur boxing referee for 19 years and now teaches at a juvenile detention facility. He has been a pro referee since 1991 with over 30 world title fights in his resume.

Bayless’ mentors were the late Richard Green and Richard Steele.

"Kenny has a lot of natural athletic ability but becoming a referee requires a lot of hard work," said Steele. "I can’t stress enough how hard he worked to get his timing and his relaxation down. All of that hard work made him, in my opinion, one of the top three or four referees in the world. Kenny has really proven himself and he’s at the top of his game."

Bayless and his wife Lenora, a nutritionist, have been married over 20 years and are blessed with three sons, James, Ryan and Alex.