By Ronnie Nathanielsz
RESPECTED international referee Bruce McTavish of New Zealand will referee the Mano-A-Mano showdown between Filipino ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao and former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2.
The Kiwi informed Viva Sports/Standard Today over a week ago that he had been picked to referee and was elated at the chance to officiate such a prestigious fight before a huge international television audience and millions of Filipinos, who will follow the action at the Araneta Coliseum, in theaters nationwide and on free TV.
The chief of the boxing division of the Games and Amusements Board Dr. Nasser Cruz confirmed that the GAB had been officially informed by Mauro Betti, chairman of the WBC International Championship committee that McTavish was chosen to referee the Pacquiao-Larios main event.
Betti also named Daniel van der Wiele of Belgium and Humbert Furgoni of France as judges. Dr. Cruz said Betti is likely to serve as officials supervisor of the fight.
One of Van der Wiele’s biggest fights was when he referred the heavyweight title fight in Brackpan, South Africa in April 2001 when Hasim Rahman scored a stunning fifth-round KO over Lennox Lewis. Furgoni has also served as a referee and judge of several major title fights.
McTavish, who is married to the charming Carmen Tayag of Pampanga and has made his home in Angeles City, has been one of the most sought-after officials in the region and regularly officiates in Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation and world title fights.
He has also on several occasions been tapped by the WBC to conduct seminars for referees and judges in an obvious tribute to his competence and integrity.
