Advertisement

Judges under microscope for Pac-Man clash

Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines faces Juan Manuel Marquez (R) of Mexico during their weigh-in on December 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada. All eyes will be on the judges when Pacquiao and Manuel Marquez clash in a non-title welterweight bout Saturday at the MGM Grand Hotel

All eyes will be on the judges when Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao and Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez clash in a non-title welterweight bout Saturday at the MGM Grand Hotel. Organisers took the unprecedented step Friday of having the three judges attend the pre-fight rules meeting with both camps in attendance. The Nevada Athletic Commission invited to the meeting referee Kenny Bayless and the three judges -- Adalaide Byrd, Steve Weisfeld and John Keane. When Pacquiao and Marquez enter the ring Saturday it will be the fourth time in eight years they have fought. Pacquiao, who is eager to redeem himself after suffering a defeat in his most recent fight to Tim Bradley, is tired of Marquez blaming his failure to win in their three previous fights on biased judging. Marquez claims he won all three fights -- although two were scored in favour of Pacquiao and one ended in a draw. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he believes the judges will be fair. "If they do their job like they are supposed to do, everything will be fine," Roach said.