Ref no stranger to Filipino fans

LAS VEGAS – The referee who worked the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. here Saturday night is not a stranger to Filipino fans. Robert Byrd was in Bacolod City as the third man in the ring when Donnie Nietes wrested the WBO lightflyweight crown from Mexico’s Ramon Garcia last November.

It was Byrd’s first opportunity to work a Pacquiao fight and his 108th world title assignment. He has been a referee in Germany, South Africa and Mexico, among other countries. Byrd officiated the fight where promising Filipino lightweight Mercito Gesta stopped Oscar Cuero in the eighth round last April and another Filipino Fernando Lumacad outpointed Joseph Rios in an eight-round superflyweight bout last November.

“I didn’t do anything special in preparing for the fight,” said Byrd, referring to the Pacquiao-Bradley match. “And I don’t officiate differently whether the fight involves guys in the bigger weights or the lower weights. I’m proud of what I’ve done to get to where I am. That’s the only preparation I need for a big fight.”

Byrd’s wife Adalaide is a boxing judge. Last Saturday, she was assigned as a judge in the Jorge Arce-Jesus Rojas fight that ended in a second round no-contest. Arce decked Rojas in the first round but before the bell rang, it was the Puerto Rican pummelling the Mexican known as Travieso. Early in the second, Rojas landed a low blow and butted Arce at the same time. Arce reeled back and Rojas capitalized to unleash a powerful left hook to the ear. Referee Kenny Bayless was too far to prevent Rojas from delivering the killer blow.

Arce, 32, lay on the canvas, claiming there was a booming sound in his ear and refused to continue. In this situation, one of three outcomes could be the consequence. First, a technical knockout victory by Rojas if the punch that felled Arce was determined to be legitimate. Second, a disqualification win by Arce if the referee ruled that Rojas incapacitated the Mexican with a foul blow. Third, a no-decision if an unintentional blow struck Arce and forced him to surrender.

Arce didn’t give up because of pain in his groin or on his cheek where he was butted. He surrendered because of an ear problem. His ear was struck by a legitimate blow. It may be argued that Arce was defenseless when the blow came as he was turning after the hit below the belt and the butt. Bayless was late to stop Rojas from landing the left hook and because of that, the Puerto Rican shouldn’t be penalized for landing the coup de grace. Under the dictim “protect yourself at all times,” Arce was a fair target for Rojas even as he looked away. The fact that Bayless did not intervene was basis for Rojas to claim a win by technical knockout. However, the decision was a no-contest because Arce couldn’t continue because of an unintentional foul blow. But the blow wasn’t foul.

The judges in the Pacquiao-Bradley fight were Jerry Roth, C. J. Ross and Duane Ford. Both Ross and Ford saw it 115-113 for Bradley. Ford was also a judge in Pacquiao’s rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2008 and scored it 115-112 for the Filipino who won by a split decision. He was also assigned to the Pacquiao fight against Joshua Clottey in Texas in 2010. Ross was a judge in Pacquiao’s fights against Ricky Hatton and David Diaz who were both knocked out.

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For the first time, the pre-fight Holy Mass was celebrated by Catholic priest Fr. Marlon Beof at the Mandalay Bay Arena where boxing matches are held. The Mass began at about 9:30 a.m. with Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee and their four children walking in accompanied by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis (Chavit) Singson.

Lawyer Romy Macalintal delivered the First Reading while Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia, the Second. During the prayers of the faithful, Pacquiao implored for God to protect all the fighters in the MGM Grand Garden Arena show that night. At the end of the Mass, Pacquiao’s daughter Princess recited verses from the Bible and another daughter Queenie thanked the crowd for joining in the Holy Mass.

Seated in the front row was strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, a Catholic. Ariza is engaged to Filipina singer Ria Garcia. They plan to get married in Boracay this December. Ariza will take Ria to Honolulu for a brief vacation then back to Manila. Ariza’s mother Rosalba was in town to watch the Pacquiao-Bradley fight.

Ariza said he lost his job with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. because of a disagreement with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. Ariza has been Arum’s long-time outspoken critic. While Pacquiao was training in Baguio, Ariza asked permission to leave for Los Angeles to sort out a problem involving his contract with Chavez. When Ariza left Baguio, Amir Khan called for another trainer Ruben Tabares who flew in from London. As a result, Ariza found himself out of the picture in both the Chavez and Khan camps. Pacquiao, however, kept Ariza in his team.

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American Idol star Jessica Sanchez brought the house down with her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner before the Pacquiao-Bradley fight but the 15-year-old Filipina who sang the Lupang Hinirang was an instant hit from nowhere. The tiny Filipina was Kirby Asunto who is Pacquiao’s cousin from his mother Dionisia’s side.

According to Pacquiao’s brother Bobby, Asunto was born and raised in New York and has visited her parents’ hometown General Santos City. She has performed as a back-up singer in Arnel Pineda’s concerts.

“Manny picked her himself to sing the National Anthem,” said Bobby. “She has a lot of potential and sings very well. Who knows? She may join the American Idol soon.”