By James Slater: The word is, Kenny Bayless and Jay Nady are the two referees with the best chance of being named as the third man in the ring for the fast-approaching Floyd Mayweather Junior-Miguel Cotto super fight.
This is good news, as both guys are top-notch officials; referees who let fighters fight without being too fussy or so caught up in the limelight that they think it’s their show. Bayless in particular, has no obvious oversized ego. Fans were a little worried when it was a possibility that the ageing Joe Cortez might get the call to ref another of “Money’s” fights, due to the way “Fair But Firm” continually broke up the action back when Floyd fought Ricky Hatton.
Cotto is a vastly different fighter to Hatton in a number of ways, yet the Puerto Rican, like Hatton, likes to impose his physical strength on opponents and fight on the inside. Cortez, Hatton’s fans still argue, ruined “The Hitman’s” chances of winning his shot at the 42-0 master with his constant breaking up of the action when it got hot and heated in close. Thankfully, Cortez will not get the opportunity to spoil what could be a fierce fight on May 5th.
Bayless is basically a perfect ref. Never has he been involved in any controversy (none that I can recall anyway – how about you?), and Bayless is as experienced as they come. The same can be said of Nady, although some critics maintain that Nady is a little slow on the trigger when it comes to diving in and stopping a fight when a boxer is hurt.
Bayless, then, is probably the best third man in the ring working today. I can’t see anyone – certainly not Mayweather or Cotto – being at all upset if the veteran gets the call to go to work on May 5th.