Mayweather ref out of Nietes bout

MANILA, Philippines - Joe Cortez, who drew flak for his handling or mishandling of Floyd Mayweather’s recent fight, has been replaced as referee for the coming Donnie Nietes bout. 

News that Cortez was appointed referee of Nietes’ WBO light-flyweight title showdown with Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales was met by an uproar from Pinoy fight fans.

Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel yesterday told www.philboxing.com that he has instead appointed another veteran referee, Robert Byrd, to officiate the Nietes fight set Oct. 8 in Bacolod City.

Cortez officiated Mayweather’s fight against Victor Ortiz two weeks ago but ring experts thought he lost control of the bout that ended in a controversial knockout in the fourth.

Ortiz had just been deducted a point for an intentional headbutt on Mayweather, and had apologized for it. But with Cortez looking elsewhere, apparently talking to the timer, Mayweather landed the knockout punch.

Cortez claimed he had signaled the fight to resume when others said they didn’t’ see him do so, and Ortiz had his hands down, unprotected when he took two solid punches in the face.

Nietes, the former world minimumweight champion, is bent on winning his second world championship even if he is up against a formidable opponent.

Garcia and his entourage arrived in the country two weeks earlier than expected and is now on the final phase of his training in Cebu City.