By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former amateur and professional light middleweight boxer Pete Podgorski of Chicago has been named by the IBF as referee for the flyweight title fight between Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and Raul “Cobra” Martinez on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

A former member of the US National boxing team Podgorski compiled a professional record of 22-15 with 16 knockouts and has refereed scores of big fights including those of heavyweight John Ruiz, Nate Campbell, Jorge Paez Jr, Abner Mares as well as Vic Darchinyan in his IBF/IBO title defense against Mzukisi Sikali which Darchinyan won by a sixth round TKO in Sydney, Australia in 2005.

Podgorski also refereed the August 4, 2007 fight of Filipino lightweight Mercito Gesta who scored a six round unanimous decision over Carlos Madrid in Rosemont , Illinois .

The three judges are Muhammad Rois of Indonesia who officiated when Florante Condes won the IBF minimum weight title from Muhammad Rachman in Jakarta and scored the fight for the Indonesian 117-113 despite his being knocked  down in rounds 3 and 10 while the two other judges, Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines and Montol Suriyachand of Thailand had Condes the winner 114-112.

The two other judges for the Donaire-Martinez fight are  Larry Hazzard Jr, son of the former New Jersey commissioner whose removal was bitterly criticized and who now reportedly works as a consultant to IBF president Marian Muhammad and Australia ’s respected John Wright.

IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker informed BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that well-known and highly regarded international referee Bruce McTavish of New Zealand who resides in Angeles City has been picked to referee the  IBF light flyweight title fight between champion Ulises Solis and former WBC champion Brian Viloria.

McTavish is a fixture in Philippine boxing and has been regularly chosen to officiate the big fights in the Asia-Pacific region  because of his unblemished record and his fairness.

Rois and Wright will also serve as judges along with Thailand ’s Yongsak Na Songkla.

The officials supervisor for the title fights is the renowned Australian Ray Wheatley