LAS VEGAS ? Joe Cortez, the third man on the ring when Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez first met in 2004, is out of this rematch.
The Puerto Rican referee said Thursday he?ll be doing another fight when the rematch takes place Saturday at Mandalay Bay.
But Cortez, one of the great referees in the sport, can?t hide his interest in this one.
?Manny Pacquiao against Marquez will be a great fight,? he said Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel where he did the Bobby Pacquiao-Urbano Antillon fight.
?The first time around I was the referee,? he said of the 2004 match that ended in a controversial draw.
Taking his place is Kenny Bayless.
It should be a pity Cortez won?t be around this time. But he assured everyone that it?s going to be as memorable ? even without him.
?It?s going to be another war. It?s going to be a great fight for everybody to see,? he said.
Will it go the distance a second time?
