LAS VEGAS, United States – The referee of the mega fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao said he thought Mayweather deserved to win – adding that violations performed in the fight did not affect the bout’s results. 

Mayweather won over Pacquiao in a unanimous decision, 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112.

Bayless told Rappler after the fight that Mayweather was indeed “the better fighter.”

“I thought it was a very competitive fight. I thought both fighters came to give a very good performance and the better fighter was Floyd Mayweather tonight,” he said on Saturday, May 2 (Sunday, May 3, in the Philippines).

He also said the fight was as good as he expected it to be.

“Yes, it was the fight I expected it to be. It was high energy. There were a few low moments but for the most part I thought it was very competitive, I thought the people enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it myself,” he said.

He also did not think either of the fighters played dirty. He added that while there were some low blows and he had to make some calls, the fight was fair.

“There were a few holding and a little elbow and the little things, but all that stuff had no effect on the fight at all. I mean, I cautioned and warned and did my job and it stopped and persisted that time. But for the most part the little (violations) had no effect at all,” he said. “It was the skills that was shown that brought out the winner of the fight.”

He said, “I had no problems with the decision.”

Bayless, 64, has officiated more than 100 world title fights since being appointed as a professional boxing referee in 1991. The Berkeley, Calif. native known for his “What I say you must obey” catchphrase has been the third man for a number of both fighters’ fights, including Pacquiao’s second and fourth fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as his victories over Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

Bayless also worked Mayweather’s fights with Shane Mosley and Saul Alvarez, and the second fight with Marcos Maidana.

But Bayless admitted that this particular fight had “high energy,” which he worked hard not to affect him. 

“I’ve been in this business for a very, very long time. Can I hear the crowd? Yes I can. Can I hear the corners? Yes I can. But of course you have to learn how to block it out and concentrate and do your job and that’s what I did,” he said. – Rappler.com