Cotto vs. Canelo: Byrd to Ref, Judges Also Selected

by David P. Greisman

The Nov. 21 fight between Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez will have veteran referee Robert Byrd as the third man in the ring.

Byrd was unanimously approved by the Nevada Athletic Commission during its meeting Thursday morning in Las Vegas.

He has been the referee for two of Cotto’s prior fights, according to BoxRec.com. He worked Cotto’s last-round stoppage of Ricardo Mayorga in 2011 and Cotto’s technical knockout of Juan Angel Macias in 2002. Byrd also has worked one of Alvarez’s bouts — Canelo’s split decision over Erislandy Lara last year.

The judges selected for the bout were Burt Clements, Dave Moretti and John McKaie.

Clements is not listed as having worked any of Cotto’s fights before. He has worked two of Canelo’s fights — his stoppages of Josesito Lopez in 2012 and Jose Miguel Cotto in 2010.

Moretti has worked four of Cotto’s fights. He had Floyd Mayweather beating Cotto, 117-111, back in 2012, and also was ringside for Cotto’s loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2009, his loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008, and his technical knockout of Cesar Bazan in 2003. Moretti also worked three Alvarez fights. He had Canelo beating Lara, 115-113, in 2014; worked Alvarez’s knockout of Alfredo Angulo in 2014; and had Mayweather beating Canelo, 116-112, in 2013.

McKaie has worked two of Cotto’s fights. He had Cotto beating Joshua Clottey, 115-112, in a split decision win for Cotto in 2009, and he also worked Cotto’s technical knockout of Zab Judah in 2007. McKaie is not listed as having worked any of Canelo’s fights.

Pick up a copy of David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon or internationally at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsworldwide. Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com