Weeks to work Manny-Marquez bout?

MANILA, Philippines - While the Nevada State Athletic Commission has not verified it, Brooklyn native Tony Weeks appears to be the choice to work the WBO welterweight title fight between champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 12.

Filipino boxing referee and judge Danrex Tapdasan told The STAR yesterday he was informed by Weeks himself of the assignment during the recent WBO convention in Puerto Rico.

“The referees at the convention seemed to know about it,” said Tapdasan. “Tony confirmed the assignment to me although no formal announcement has been made. There’s still no word on whom the judges will be. The judges will probably be named just a few days before the fight.”

Weeks, 56, has worked two Pacquiao and three Marquez fights since his first assignment as a referee in a world title bout in 1996. His resume lists over 30 assignments in world championship fights all over the world, including Thailand, Korea, Japan, Germany, Poland and Australia.

While Weeks is considered one of the world’s top referees, he was criticized for his failure to step in earlier in the Jesus Chavez-Leavander Johnson fight for the IBF lightweight crown in Las Vegas in 2005. Weeks stopped it in the 11th round to prevent Johnson from absorbing more punishment. Johnson died five days later from head injuries sustained in the contest. The tragedy has left a stain in Weeks’ record.

Weeks, who sports a flat-top hair style and a mustache, grew up in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood. He went to college in Fort Scott, Kansas, then became the athletic supervisor at the federal prison in Tucson, Arizona. In 1993, he arranged a boxing exhibition for inmates and when no referee showed up, volunteered for the job. The late trainer Albert (Beto) Martinez, an Eddie Futch contemporary, was at ringside and noticed Weeks was a “natural” as a referee. After the exhibition, Martinez gave Weeks his telephone number in case he wanted to pursue a career as a referee. Weeks later called Martinez and eventually worked his way into the professional ranks.

Weeks’ first world title fight involved Filipino Miguel Arrozal who lost a 12-round decision to Eloy Rojas in a WBA featherweight championship bout in Phoenix in 1996. He has worked other title fights where Filipinos lost like Glenn Donaire who was stopped by Vic Darchinyan in an IBF/IBO flyweight title bout in 2007 and Eric Chavez who was outpointed by Rosendo Alvarez in a WBA minimumweight championship match in Sendai in 1996. Weeks was also the referee in Filipino Andy Tabanas’ draw with Thailand’s Fahlan Sakkreerin in a WBO lightflyweight title fight in Las Vegas in 2001. He was the third man in the ring when Brian Viloria defeated Mexico’s Jose Antonio Aguirre on points in a WBC lightflyweight title bout in Las Vegas in 2006.

Weeks worked Pacquiao’s win over Marco Antonio Barrera on points in 2007 and his eighth round retirement of Oscar de la Hoya in 2008. He was the referee in Marquez’ victory over Orlando Salido to retain his WBA/IBF featherweight crowns in 2004, his 11th round stoppage of Joel Casamayor in 2008 and his lopsided loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2009.