Bayless says Mayweather easily defeated Pacquiao

Bayless (L) restrains Pacquiao and Mayweather (R) during their fight. AGENCIES PHOTO  

In Summary

The likes of Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito and Floyd Mayweather, Junior will all attest to having recoiled at the mention of “What I say you must obey!

KAMPALA. The likes of Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito and Floyd Mayweather, Junior will all attest to having recoiled at the mention of “What I say you must obey!”
“What I say you must obey” is to American celebrated boxing referee Kenny Bayless what “Let’s get ready to rumble” is to legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer.
But where did it all start? “It started in 1991,” 64-year-old Bayless revealed to KFM Sports with Patrick Kanyomozi and this writer last Saturday.

“I raised three sons but the middle son brought it up. I was a disciplinarian and a teacher of 35 years so he used to joke about my disciplinarian ways. I picked it up and cleaned it up a little but it was him.”
Bayless gave the same command on May 2 before Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather embarked on the Fight of the Century, a bout the latter won by unanimous decision. Quite a number, several from Uganda, questioned the outcome reasoning that Pacquiao had thrown more punches.

But the man in charge, who says being picked for this fight “took me back to all the hard work I had done over the years”, saw no controversy.
“It didn’t” said Bayless, “I thought it was a close fight like most of Floyd’s fights always are. I know people wanted to see him engage more but Floyd is a technician. His style is I hit you and you don’t hit me “It wasn’t tough physically but tough mentally partly because of all the hyped in the build-up. There was pressure on all of us to deliver. But it was not controversial from the refereeing point of view”

Muhammad Ali or Mayweather?
Asked whether Bayless, who also refereed Mayweather’s first amateur fight, gets too close to fighters, he kept a respectable distance. “The friendship is not very personal,” he explained, “I meet Floyd and say hello. He respects me and what I do; I respect him and what he does. It is important we keep that professional distance.”

And then the dreaded question! Is it Muhammad Ali or Mayweather? “I see it in generations,” said Bayless, “I grew up in Muhammad Ali’s generation. I believe he is the best. “Those that grew up in Mike Tyson’s generation think he’s the best. Those today say Floyd is the best. So I understand what they mean.”
Also a motivational speaker, Bayless was in the country at the invitation of Aimee and Daudi Kyambadde of Rezlife Church in Lubowa.

Visit to Uganda
During his stay in Uganda, Bayless visited several gyms and refereed a bout between professionals Nicholas Buule and Joey ‘Vegas’ Lubega at Rez Life Church on Sunday.

amwanguhya@ug.nationmdia.com