Bayless to work on Pacquiao-Bradley rematch; judges named

MANILA, Philippines – Renowned referee Kenny Bayless has been appointed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to officiate Manny Pacquiao’s rematch with Timothy Bradley on April 13.

This marks the seventh time Bayless will be working on a Pacquiao fight, having been the third man in the ring for the Filipino’s fights with Erik Morales in 2006, Juan Manuel Marquez in 2008, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto in 2009, and Shane Mosley in 2011.

Bayless, 63, also officiated Pacquiao’s sixth-round knockout loss to Marquez in their fourth fight in 2012, the last Pacquiao fight he worked on.

Meanwhile, sitting in as judges are Glenn Trowbridge of Nevada, Michael Pernick of Florida and John Keane of England, all of whom have scored previous Pacquiao bouts. The three judges along with Bayless though will work on a Bradley fight for the first time.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum was satisfied with the selection of Trowbridge, Pernick and Keane.

"They're fine," Arum said in a report by ringtv.com’s Lem Satterfield.

"We gave both camps a list of the judges, and the fighters knocked off some of the judges. These judges and the referee were among those acceptable to both sides from the approved list," the promoter added.

Judging had been a central issue in Pacquiao’s first fight with Bradley two years ago, a bout that ended in controversy. Bradley escaped with a majority decision after getting the nod of judges C.J Ross and Duane Ford, both of whom scored the fight 115-113 for the undefeated American.

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

Pacquiao challenges Bradley for the WBO welterweight title, which the American took from him in their first encounter.