MANILA, Philippines – Renowned international referee Kenny Bayless has been appointed to officiate the fourth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, (Dec. 9 in Manila), the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced.
This marks the fifth time Bayless has been named referee to a Pacquiao fight, having worked the Filipino’s bouts with Erik Morales in 2006, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto in 2009, and Shane Mosley in 2011.
Often praised for the way he officiates fights, he has received flak though for the Mosley bout, wherein he awarded the American a knockdown in the 10th round – something that should have been ruled a slip as replays showed Mosley shoving Pacquiao.
Pacquiao went on to win via a unanimous decision, and Bayless apologized to him for the incident.
Meanwhile, NSAC executive director Keith Kizer said Adalaide Byrd of Nevada, Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey and John Keane of Britain will be the judges.