No doubting Thomas

An all-American cast will make up the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title fight roster of officials for the Mario Barrios and Manny Pacquiao showdown on 19 July in Las Vegas.

Thomas Taylor of California, one of the most respected officials in the fight game, has been appointed as referee for the scheduled 12-rounder at the MGM Grand.

The three judges are Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey, Tim Cheatham of Nevada and Max De Luca of New York.

It will be the third time Taylor will work a Barrios fight and his first time doing a Pacquiao fight.

In fact, Thomas was the third man in the ring when Barrios hammered a lopsided victory over Yordenis Ugas to clinch the interim version of the belt in September 2023 at the T-Mobile Arena. Barrios was eventually upgraded to full titleholder less than a year later.

Taylor also officiated when the erstwhile unbeaten Barrios surrendered his World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterweight title to Gervonta Davis in June 2021. It was an action-packed battle with Barrios getting floored thrice before the bout was stopped at 2:13 of the 11th round.

Less than two months later, it was Pacquiao’s turn to end his reign when he lost his WBA welterweight crown to Ugas via unanimous decision in August of 2021.

Informed about the identities of the officials, Team Pacquiao welcomed their appointment with MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons going to as far as saying that the fight is “not going to a decision.”

Pacquiao remains in the thick of training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood under the watchful eyes of a team manned by Freddie Roach, Justin Fortune and Buboy Fernandez.

Though the clear underdog, Pacquiao insists he is heading into the bout oozing with optimism.

Always reminded that he is 16 years older at 46 and shorter by six inches, the 5-feet-6 Pacquiao swears he is gunning for a convincing knockout win.

Inactive since August 2021, Pacquiao likewise maintains that he is answering the bell against Barrios rested and recharged and prepared to go the extra mile in the pursuit of a win.

Barrios, making the second defense of the WBC 147-pound title, holds a 29-2-1 win-loss-draw record with 18 knockouts.

Pacquiao, the only fighter to win eight world titles in as many weight classes, enters the ring with a 62-8-2 mark with 39 knockouts.

Aside from Ugas, Pacquiao and Barrios also have Keith Thurman as their common opponent.

Thurman topped Barrios in a unanimous decision in 2022 in Las Vegas, three years after Pacquiao scored a spilit decision victory over Thurman also in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao is hosting an open media workout on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday morning in Manila) at the Wild Card.