Los Angeles – It was announced this weekend that referee Rafael Ramos got the nod to work Manny Pacquiao’s Saturday night fight against Joshua Clottey in Dallas’ Cowboys Stadium.
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Ramos’ name might ring a bell, as he refereed 2009’s Fight of the Year between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz. His performance was excellent in that bout, giving both men the opportunity to fight, without much interference and giving Diaz a change to fight a little longer before ultimately being stopped.
The World Boxing Organization which has their welterweight title on the line, held by Pacquiao, had requested referee Lawrence Cole, but the Texas Commission nixed the request and instead placed Ramos in the fight.
Cole would have come with a lot of baggage. The son of Texas Commission’s administrator Dick Cole, has had a few questionable moments inside boxing rings, including telling a severely cut Juan Manuel Marquez if he wanted to continue during a 2006 fight against Jimrex Jaca and telling the Mexican he was ahead on the score cards at the time.
Even more questionable is the seemingly inherent conflict of interest Cole presents due to his position withing Lawrence Cole Insurance Agency – which provides promoters with boxing event insurance.
Ramos may not have Cole’s name recognition and questionable track record, but he will likely do a solid job officiating the bout and keeping the focus on the action, not the referee.
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