Pacquiao vs Bradley: Referee, Judges Named For June 9 Fight

The officials have been named for the June 9 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, with a slightly surprising choice at referee and three veteran judges in place.

The referee will be Robert Byrd, a familiar name to boxing fans but unfamiliar in fights of this level, at least not in Nevada. Generally speaking, when Byrd works a world title fight, he travels abroad to do so, as he did a couple of weeks ago when he went to Germany for the Marco Huck vs Ola Afolabi rematch.

As best I can tell, Byrd has never before been the third man in the ring for a fight involving Pacquiao or Bradley. It will be the first time in Manny's last ten fights in the state of Nevada that the referee is someone other than Kenny Bayless, Tony Weeks, or Vic Drakulich. Bradley, of course, has fought just once in the state, when he beat Joel Casamayor in November.

The three judges scoring the fight ringside will be Jerry Roth, Duane Ford, and C.J. Ross. Here's a quick rundown of Pacquiao fights they've scored.

Jerry Roth
vs Juan Manuel Marquez II, 2008 (112-115)
vs Marco Antonio Barrera II, 2007 (118-109)
vs Erik Morales II, 2006 (87-84 at time of stoppage)
vs Lehlohonolo Ledbwada, 2001 (50-44 at time of stoppage)

Duane Ford
vs Shane Mosley, 2011 (120-107)
vs Miguel Cotto, 2009 (108-99 at time of stoppage)
vs Juan Manuel Marquez II, 2008 (115-112)
vs Erik Morales III, 2006

C.J. Ross
vs Ricky Hatton, 2009
vs David Diaz, 2008 (80-72 at time of stoppage)

On the undercard, Russell Mora's stint in referee rehab is apparently over, as he'll get a chance to referee the Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Teon Kennedy fight.