Momemtum grows to oust Floyd Mayweather-Saul Alvarez judge from big fights

Calls for the Nevada State Athletic Commission to stop highly criticized judge C.J. Ross from scoring another major fight in the state have gained traction.

Bill Brady, the commission chairman, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he is willing to “accept the blame” for not fighting Ross’ nomination by Executive Director Keith Kizer.

Brady added he “let the public down” after Ross, only a year removed from joining judge Duane Ford in giving hobbled Timothy Bradley a victory by split-decision over Manny Pacquiao, awarded Saul “Canelo” Alvarez a 114-114 score after Floyd Mayweather Jr. outclassed the Mexican star Saturday night at MGM Grand.

Judges Dave Moretti and Craig Metcalfe gave Mayweather (45-0) the victory. Only one writer at ringside who scored the fight even had it as close as Moretti’s 116-112 score.

“I can guarantee there will be some changes,” Brady told the newspaper. “We have to protect the fighters, the viewing public and the betting public. We’re going to look at our vetting process. It needs to be more thorough. We have to get this right.”

Promoter Richard Schaefer said he told Kizer when the judges were appointed that the selections were important given the massive public interest in the fight and some skepticism that fight results are manipulated.

Fans swarmed to bet on the “draw” proposition, dropping the odds from 30 to 1 to 8 to 1 on the theory that judges would alter the outcome to ensure a highly profitable rematch between the then-unbeaten fighters.

Ross defended her scoring to the newspaper, saying, “From where I sat, there were a lot of close rounds and a lot of exchanges ‘Canelo’ was able to win. ‘Canelo’ was able to land his punches effectively from the inside and control the rounds I gave him. I have no problems with my scoring.”

Kizer said after the fight he would review why Ross was alone in awarding Alvarez the first and eighth rounds, and said in a text message Monday, “I do not know what the commissioners have in mind. They are the ultimate decion makers.”

Before the bout, Kizer said complaints about Ross’ work in the Pacquiao fight from reporters was coming from Pacquiao loyalists and cracked that if those writers didn’t object they feared they wouldn’t be credentialed to the next fight promoted by Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum.

Cynthia J. Ross not only has botched fights with Mayweather and Pacquiao, she has been alone in other fights, which a review of the record-keeping website boxrec.com shows.

Nov. 12, 2011: Scores Juan Carlos Burgos-Luis Cruz, 95-95, when Ford has it 98-92 and Ricardo Ocasio scores it 97-93 for Burgos.

August 13, 2011: Scores Abner Mares-Joseph Agbeko, 113-113, when Adalaide Byrd and Oren Shellenberger have it 115-111 each for Mares.

Feb. 7, 2008: Has Kendall Holt-Ben Tackie a 95-95 draw when Paul Smith and Richard Houck score it 98-92 for Holt.

She also scored two other one-sided bouts in 2011 draws.

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