MANILA, Philippines ? Bob Arum is not taking any chances in the choice of referee for the decisive Nov. 12 rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez that he has raised this concern over to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
Arum, still feeling sick from last week?s controversial knockout by Floyd Mayweather over Victor Ortiz, told the Bulletin on Saturday he has talked with the NSAC regarding the choice of referee for the Pacquiao-Marquez world welterweight title fight.
?I have already talked to the commission (about the choice of referee),? said Arum, among those who branded Mayweather?s 1-2 punch that knocked Ortiz out as a cheap shot.
Although Arum doesn?t have the authority to dictate since it is the NSAC that makes the assignment of officials working a particular fight, the 79-year-old chief of Top Rank issued his message and the NSAC heard it loud and clear.
?When a referee gets old, he should become a judge,? said Arum.
Cortez, 66, was heavily criticized for his alleged failure to control the Mayweather-Ortiz slugfest, allowing Mayweather to punch his way to a fourth-round knockout.
Mayweather defended his actions, saying Cortez, whose parents are Puerto Ricans, had already issued a signal for the two to start fighting again.
Cortez, who began refereeing in the early 1970s, ordered a break in the action after slapping Ortiz a one-point deduction for intentionally butting Mayweather.
Ortiz apologized for his wrong-doing by embracing Mayweather and touching gloves but Mayweather struck at the back-tracking Ortiz, his hands held low, sending his foe down for the count.
Cortez said he had ordered a resumption and Mayweather just did what a fighter would do.
Even though Arum expects the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy won?t be foul-infested, he is not leaving any stone unturned.
Arum said there are other referees the NSAC can tap for the fight, rattling off the names of Kenny Bayless and Tony Weeks as prime candidates for the job.
