by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Genaro “Gino” Rodriguez has been appointed as the referee for the “Clash in Cotai” between “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao and former world champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in the “Clash in Cotai” Macau on November 24.
WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel announced that the Chicago, Illinois based Rodriguez who had previously served as third man in the ring when Brian Viloria lost his WBO/WBA flyweight titles to Juan Francisco Estrada in the same venue last April 6 and also handled the WBO minimumweight title fight when Filipino Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo won by an 8th round TKO of Luis De La Rosa of Coombia last March 9 would handle the Pacquiao-Rios showdown while Asia Pacific vice president Leon Panoncillo will be the official fight supervisor.
Valcarcel picked Michael Pernick of Florida, Lisa Giampa of Las Vegas and Manfred Kuchler of Germany as the three judges.
Trainer Freddie Roach has said he was familiar with the referee and the three judges assigned to the fight and said “we have no problems with the referee and three judges. I am happy with all of them.”
