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Meet the judges for Pacquiao-Bradley 2

HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 2: Boxer Manny Pacquiao hits the double end bag during his media workout day at the Wild Card Boxing Gym on April 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California (Photo by Alexis Cuarezma/Getty Images)

Other than the fighters and their trainers, the people who got the most attention for the upcoming WBO welterweight fight between reigning champion Timothy Bradley (31-0-0, 12 knockouts) and former champion Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs) were the judges.

In their first fight, two judges scored the fight for Bradley 115-113 even if most boxing writers at ringside had Pacquiao winning by a considerable margin. Those judges were Duane Ford and CJ Ross.

Luckily for Pacquiao, Ford and Ross will not be working during his rematch against Bradley.

Ross has left the sport of boxing after she scored the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Saul Alvarez as a draw even if most saw it as a lopsided win for the undefeated American. Ford on the other hand was simply not selected as choosing him would cause an uproar from Pacquiao’s camp.



Michael Pernick, Glenn Trowbridge, and John Keane were assigned as the judges while Kenny Bayless will be the third man in the ring.

However, a few days before the much-awaited rematch, one of the judges backed out.

In an email to the Nevada Athletic Commission, obtained by the Review-Journal, Keane said: “It is with much regret that I am unable to accept this assignment. I am sorry for any problems this might cause. I felt very honored to be considered for such an important match and I am very disappointed that I am unable to officiate.”

Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Keane was disallowed from traveling to the United States as he is suffering from a severe viral infection. In his stead, Craig Metcalfe was appointed.

Pernick also judged Pacquiao’s last fight against Brandon Rion in Macau. He scored it a shutout at 120-108 for Pacquiao. Before that, Pernick also worked Pacquiao’s fight against Ricky Hatton but his services were not really required in that match for obvious reasons.

Trowbrige on the other hand has worked five Pacquiao fights in the past. He watched with the best seat in the house when Pacquiao knocked out Morales in their meeting and alongside Pernick for the Hatton fight.

Pacquiao’s fights against Marco Antonio Barrera (rematch), Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez (third fight), all saw Trowbridge scoring in favor of The Pacman.

Metcalfe has never judged a fight for Pacquiao. All three judges have not worked for a single fight featuring Bradley.

The two judges who have worked fights involving Pacquiao appreciated his aggression. Trowbridge gave Pacquiao a 116-112 nod against Marquez back in November of 2011, the most lopsided scorecard among the three judges.

Many boxing oberservers are saying that Pacquiao will get the benefit of the doubt for this upcoming fight against Bradley because judges will favor him to make up for the botched decision in their last fight but Pacquiao cannot leave it up to the judges.

Whatever he did in the first fight, fairly or unfaily, turned out not to be enough so he has to fight even harder this time.

On paper, judging by their histories, it seems that Pacquiao has a slight advantage in terms of the judges selected as Trowbridge was in hot water a few months back for scoring the fight between Rios and Richard Abril for the latter. In that fight Trowbridge rewarded Rios for moving forward even if Abril boxed better.

However, Pacquiao should have learned his lesson from his first defeat. It's good to have judges that prefer attackers over boxers but it's best if their services are not required at the end.