Arum confident on judges, ref picked for megafight

MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank chief Bob Arum is not losing sleep on who would end up officiating the biggest and richest fight in boxing.

“I’m sure that when the judges are selected everybody will be satisfied,” he said from his Las Vegas home.

Strange things have happened in boxing, and Arum had witnessed a few.

In June 2012, Manny Pacquiao took a very controversial defeat against Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand.

Two of the judges, Duane Ford and C.J. Ross, had it 115-113 for Bradley when the rest of the world had Pacquiao winning.

The third judge, Jerry Roth, had it 115-113 for Pacquiao.

When Michael Buffer announced the decision, Arum faced the press box, his arms spread wide and eyes wide open.

It was a very controversial decision. A new set of judges was asked to review the fight but with no intention of reversing the decision.

Reports said the second set of judges had Pacquiao winning.

But it’s all water under the bridge now, and on May 2, all eyes will be on Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao.

And the officials.

Arum said it’s the NAC (Nevada Athletic Commission) that will make the selection – the three judges and the referee.  

“I’m sure everybody will be satisfied with their competency and honesty,” Arum said on the phone.

He explained that the NAC will submit a list of possible judges and referee to the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps.

“Both camps,” Arum added, “will have the ability to knock out anybody they don’t like.”

Yes, from the judges to the referee.

And by the time the final lineup is announced, it would have been acceptable to both sides.

Arum said he’s got some names in his mind.

“I have them and I’m going to share that with Freddie (Roach) and Manny but not to the public,” he said.

Bob Bennett, NAC executive director, told the Las Vegas Review Journal he had “spent the last three weeks putting the lists together.”

“We’re going to select the best of the best,” he said. “We know the entire world is going to be watching so there’s added stress involved.”