By Chris Robinson
Speaking from within one of his favorite restaurants on the East side of Las Vegas, Lindo Michoachan, referee Kenny Bayless comes across as just about as genuine of a guy as you can imagine. Originally hailing from Berkeley, California, Bayless has been involved in the sport of boxing since the late 70's while carving out a niche as perhaps the game's most sought after third man inside of the ring today.
Following his time in college, Bayless would venture to Nevada and it was a move that completely altered his life. He remembers first assisting old school fighter Johnny Leeman during live fights just to get into events before participating in amateur judging and eventually learning the rigors of reffing from both Richard Steele an Mills Lane.
<--- Slideshow: Kenny Bayless refs Pacquiao, Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Marquez, Cotto, Margarito and more
Asked about his early days in Las Vegas, Bayless vividly recalled going to shows at the Silver Slipper, Sahara and Showboat while also noting that Caesar's Palace played a huge role in the city's ultimate ascension. Among some of Bayless' most revered fights in the area include the June 1982 Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney heavyweight title fight as well as seeing the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran square off with one another.
Las Vegas may have suffered somewhat of a dry spell for much of 2010 as the action was sparse from May until November but Bayless claims it is just a part of the sport.
"We have our highs and lows. You can look at it as a dry spell but it doesn't bother me because I've been around in boxing for over 30 years. It happens but it always bounces back," he stated. Sure enough, boxing has returned in heaps to the city with some of the sport's finest talents producing benchmark victories this year in Las Vegas.
Asked about what it was like when he landed his first official super fight and what the experience was like, Bayless said, "I did Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver but the super big one was when I did De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins. I had been a referee, and an amateur referee, for a very long time. To finally get my big fight I was thrilled and overwhelmed. But at the same time you have to keep your focus and do what you have to do."
Bayless is modest on nearly all fronts and is never one to side with one particular fighter or their camp. You can tell just how important it is for him to stay unbiased at all costs and in many ways that defines his role in the sport.
"To me I just try to keep a very low profile," he continued. "People always ask me my opinion but for the most part, I don't have an opinion."
The city of Las Vegas is currently in the midst of a busy schedule that just saw Nonito Donaire, Brandon Rios, and Miguel Cotto score triumphant knockouts while such bouts as the April 9th Marcos Maidana-Erik Morales face-off and the May 7th Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley encounter at the MGM Grand are generating steady buzz.
Pacquiao has marked himself as the world's premier fighter and Bayless has certainly gotten to know the Filipino star very well, having overseen him in rematch bouts with Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez as well as clashes with Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Of all of those encounters Marquez was the only man to last the distance and Bayless remembers just how intense his battle with Pacquiao was back in March of 2008.
"Very, very tough fight," Bayless said with admiration. "I remember [Marquez] getting knocked down in the third round and just like in the first fight where he got knocked down three times in the first round, he came back. Marquez is a warrior too and if it wasn't for the knockdown the fight could have ended up a draw again."
Of all of Pacquiao's knockouts, perhaps the most telling was his one-punch annihilation of Hatton in May of 2009. It was a resounding performance over a man who was expected to at least mildly test him but Pacquiao was thoroughly dominant, picking off the affable Brit with blinding an hurtful shots for nearly all of their 359 seconds together.
But when asked if he was fearful of Hatton's life after witnessing the savage knockout, Bayless admitted as much.
"Yes," he said. "I've seen fighters go down like that and it's not a pleasing sight. Years ago I had a fighter go down like that and he had a cerebral hematoma and he passed away. We have a very good medical team here an that's why I stopped it like I did so they could act as quick as possible."
People in Las Vegas became spoiled from late 2006 to 2009 as Pacquiao performed seven times in the city. But last year his bouts against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito were held just outside of Dallas, Texas, for various reasons and his presence was dearly missed.
Bayless was front and center for each of those fights in Texas but admits that Pacquiao's return is one that is welcomed.
"I like when he comes to Vegas because what he brings when he comes to Vegas. I was there both times he fought in Texas. Cowboys Stadium is just beautiful but the only thing that it didn't have was what Vegas has to offer. There's something to do after a fight. There, when the fight was over with, there wasn't a whole lot to do."
Before our conversation closed I had to ask Bayless for his take on semi-retired stalwart Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is still in the headlines despite not having fought since his victory over Shane Mosley nearly a year ago. Modest Kenny would tell me that Floyd was indeed the biggest talent that Las Vegas has ever seen and does feel we will see him again despite his current legal troubles.
"He has too much talent that I would think that he would want to fight again. But I do think he will fight again because you don't develop the kind of skills he has overnight and when you do have them you want to use them. You want to put it out there because that's what it's all about."
