Philippines, 06 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Referee, judges named by WBA


PhilBoxing.com





It won?t be until at least two weeks before the WBA welterweight title fight between defending champion Lucas Matthysse and challenger Manny Pacquiao in Kuala Lumpur on July 15 that the referee and three judges are known but it?s certain they?re coming from neutral countries.

WBA Asia secretary-general Won Kim said the decision on the officials will come strictly from head office in Panama. Under WBA rules, only officials from neutral countries will be assigned in championship bouts. Kim said the WBA Asia office in Seoul has no authority to designate the officials for the fight in Malaysia.

Las Vegas international matchmaker Sean Gibbons said Pacquiao has never held a WBA belt so if he dethrones Matthysse, it will be another feather in his cap. Pacquiao has won the WBC flyweight, IBF superbantamweight, Ring Magazine featherweight, WBC superfeatherweight, WBC lightweight, IBO superlightweight, WBC/WBO welterweight and WBC superwelterweight titles. He?s the only fighter in history to capture world titles in eight weight classes.

The WBA was established in 1962 and is the oldest governing body among the preeminent boxing organizations in the world today. Its president is Gilberto Mendoza, Jr. of Venezuela. Kim represented the WBA during the press conference to formally announce the Kuala Lumpur fight at the City of Dreams Grand Ballroom in Pasay last Thursday. WBA Asia was formerly the Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council which was formed in 2014. Last year, Eurasia Pacific disengaged from the WBC to affiliate with the WBA and became WBA Asia.


Pacquiao and Matthysse pose at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur Saturday. The Axiata Arena will be the venue of their upcoming fight on July 15.

Pacquiao?s adviser Michael Koncz said it?s not the promoter?s call to appoint the referee and judges. ?That?s up to the WBA,? he said. ?If there?s something in media where a certain referee or judges are suggested, the WBA will probably make sure those officials won?t be named.? It?s not likely an Asian will be tapped to work the fight either as a judge or referee. It?s possible that a US referee will be assigned.

Dating back to Pacquiao?s win over Oscar de la Hoya in 2008, seven referees have worked his 15 fights, six by Kenny Bayless, three by Tony Weeks, two by Genaro Rodriguez and once each by Robert Byrd, Mark Nelson, Rafael Ramos and Laurence Cole. Only Byrd and Weeks have worked a Matthysse fight.

Asked whom Matthysse resembles most among his previous opponents, Pacquiao pointed to former WBO bantamweight champion Jorge Eliecer Julio of Colombia. Pacquiao dropped Julio twice in scoring a second round knockout to retain his IBF superbantamweight crown in Memphis in 2002. Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez said Matthysse reminds him of Miguel Cotto, the last fighter whom Pacquiao stopped in 2009.

Matthysse?s manager Mario Arano said the coming ?Fight of Champions? will be a ?grand fiesta.? He said Matthysse waited 14 long years to win a world title and the Argentinian isn?t flying to Kuala Lumpur for a vacation. ?It?s been Lucas? dream to fight the best in the world,? said Arano. ?He?s not intimidated by fighting an Asian in Asia. He?ll be well-prepared to beat Pacquiao. Now, it?s Matthysse?s time. Pacquiao?s time is over.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Boxers swing into action
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • UBO Youth World Title Showdown: Aliya Soomro Fights Monika Singh in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Battle of the Hawk Season 1 Finals on September 9; offers P600,000 to the winning team while P300,000 to the losing finalist team
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • India’s Monika Singh Battles Aliya Soomro of Pakistan for UBO Youth World 108 in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • TEENAGE KICKS: WONDERKIDS LEO ATANG, ADAM MACA AND TIAH-MAI AYTON ARE READY TO LIGHT UP SUNDERLAND THIS SATURDAY
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • 150 to join Rotary Heritage Aquathlon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Miguel Berchelt to Return in Reynosa, Tamaulipas; WBC Praises City’s Commitment
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Spicing up “Thrilla” card
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • SATURDAY: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina to be Broadcast LIVE on ESPN Deportes in the United States
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • SUGAR NUNEZ: I’M JUST GETTING STARTED
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Jennifer Lozano’s Targets Run at 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • University of the Philippines is Quezon City chess champ
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Ultimate Arm Wrestling Showdown on Sept. 7 in Digos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Technological evolution or revolution?
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Result or Matias-Smith WBC super lightweight title match purse bid
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Vicelles fights in Japan on Sept. 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.