Bayless chosen to referee Pacquiao-Mayweather fight

Referee Kenny Bayless points towards Canelo Alvarez as Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on during their WBC/WBA 154-pound title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 14, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. PHOTO | AL BELLO |

What you need to know:

  • Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said he welcomed the decision.
  • The Nevada State Athletic Commission also chose Burt Clements, Dave Moretti and Glenn Feldman as the three judges for the fight
  • The 64-year-old Bayless is expected to earn about $25,000 for the night's work

LOS ANGELES

Kenny Bayless has been named the referee for the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight with just over one week to go before the mega showdown at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission also chose Burt Clements, Dave Moretti and Glenn Feldman as the three judges for the fight, which is expected to generate a record $400 million in revenue.

The 64-year-old Bayless is expected to earn about $25,000 for the night's work, American sports broadcaster ESPN reported Tuesday. Each judge will get $20,000.

Bayless has worked 12 fights involving either Pacquiao or Mayweather, including the two largest pay-per-view fights in history — Mayweather's 2013 fight with Canelo Alvarez and his 2007 fight against Oscar De La Hoya.

He refereed a total of seven Pacquiao bouts, including two with Juan Manuel Marquez and his 2014 fight against Timothy Bradley.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said he welcomed the decision.

"I think that this fight is so big — all we want is a fair fight. I think we can get that," Roach told The Telegraph newspaper.