By Michael Marley
I've heard nothing new on the selection of a referee for the Antonio Margarito-Manny Pacquiao bout Nov. 13 in Cowboys Stadium but one obvious solution would be for Texas to ask Nevada to lend lease either Kenny Bayless, Tony Weeks or Vic Drakulich for the job.
Then again, would Nevada then be somewhat bestowing its imprimatur on Margarito, a fighter that state's commission saw fit not to grant a boxing license to?
Some of the haughty NSAC commissioners who weren't ready to give Margarito a second chance until he got clearance and some absolution from California might look askance at that.
But the Nevada boxing board does not "own" its officials.
On the other hand, Nevada officials, refs and judges, have quite often worked outside the Silver State. In North Dakota, for example, promoters have been able to bring Nevada rules, regulation and personnel to their shows.
There has also been numerous times when Nevada refs and judges spanned the globe working title bouts for one governing body or another.
Margarito-Pacquiao is for the WBC super welterweight crown.
The obvious but problematic choice in Texas for the second Pacman bout there this year is Laurence Cole, son of longtime state regulator Dickie Cole.
There are those who feel Cole is a bit erratic.
The Coles have always been closely associated with the WBC and sister organization NABF.
You certainly could not bring in a Mexican ref with landsman Margarito battling the Pinoy Idol.
Reliable Rafael Ramos, a Texan of Puerto Rican got the nod and did a more than capable job for the Clottey-Pacquiao, but I doubt he'll be granted two such plums in one year.
I'll be accused of favoritism for saying so since we are fraternity brothers (Alpha Tau Omega) and were boxing teammates for the University of Nevada, Wolf Pack, but Big Jay Nady might be a good choice given the Pacquiao side's real concerns that Margarito will play rough and tumble.
Margarito dwarfs Little Manny but Big jay dwarfs Margarito and he is a no nonsense ref.
Nady's nephew Xavier plays for the Chicago Cubs and was formerly with the Pirates, Yankees and Mets.
His uncle was a fearseome football player and boxing heavyweight for the UNR Wolf Pack back in "the Marley era."
Michael Marley is the national boxing examiner for examiner.com. To read more stories by Michael Marley, Click Here .
