Nevada rules to govern fight

LAS VEGAS – The same old Nevada rules will be used in this fight.

Marc Ratner, director of the supervising Nevada State Athletic Commission, made the announcement Saturday after he presided over the rules meeting at Wynn Las Vegas.

Ratner said no further issues were raised during the meeting attended by representatives of Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales.

"Nevada rules, unified rules, same as when they fought the last time. No three-knockdown rule, the bell cannot save you in any round," he said.

"And if there’s an accidental foul (like a headbutt), we go to the scorecards if it happens after the first four rounds," he added.

If the accident occurs inside four rounds, the bout will be declared an automatic draw. Nobody is hoping for this type of an ending to this big showdown.

Trainer Freddie Roach and lawyer Keith Davidson represented the Pacquiao camp in the 30-minute meeting held right after both fighters were officially weighed in.

And the only issue they raised during the meeting was to make sure that the referee and the ring physician speak English, and not Spanish.

During the first Pacquiao-Morales fight last March, a headbutt caused a nasty cut on the Filipino’s right eyebrow. But it was ruled a good punch by referee Joe Cortez.

And when the ring physician was called in, he talked to Pacquiao in Spanish and the Filipino boxer, with blood flowing freely on his face, couldn’t understand the doctor.

Apparently Pacquiao was being asked if he wanted to continue.

"That was the concern from the Pacquiao camp. To make sure that the referee speaks English and slowly so nobody has to translate it to him," Ratner said.

The Morales camp had nothing to raise since they’ve fought here in Nevada several times. They know the rules too well unless changes are made.

Ratner said the three judges from Nevada were also reminded that in case a boxer gets knocked down three times in a round, they can score it 10-6.

Pacquiao floored Juan Manuel Marquez thrice in the first round in May of 2004 but had to settle for a draw after one of the judges scored the round 10-7.

The judge, Burt Clemens, later admitted that he was unaware that he could have scored the round 10-6 in favor of Pacquiao. It could have given the Pinoy boxer a win by split decision.

Kenny Bayless of Nevada will be the third man on the ring while Dave Moretti, Jerry Roth and Paul Smith are the judges. They all come from Nevada.

Moretti and Roth judged the first Pacquiao-Morales fight and both saw it 115-113 in favor of the Mexican.

The other judge the last time out, Daldy Shirley, had the same score but won’t be around during the rematch.