Mayweather vs McGregor: Conor McGregor's team could request a referee for Floyd Mayweather fight
Monday 7 August 2017 10:48, UK
Conor McGregor's team are considering a request about who will referee the fight with Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission, who have placed veteran referee Kenny Bayless in charge of four of Mayweather's previous five fights, are responsible for deciding the officials.
Both sides are awaiting confirmation of the ring official for the eagerly awaited encounter at the T-Mobile Arena on August 26, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
We know we can ask for our own ref, and they can ask for theirs. We'll look into it, and see who we think would suit the fight.
"We're still looking into our options," McGregor's coach Owen Roddy exclusively told Sky Sports when asked if they planned a request.
"We know we can ask for our own ref, and they can ask for theirs. We'll look into it, and see who we think would suit the fight."
McGregor's team does not currently have any preference over the referee's nationality, it was confirmed.
Retired Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez has been working inside McGregor's training camp to oversee the Irishman's sparring.
"Joe comes in for fight simulation," Roddy said. "Conor spars, and Joe refs the match like any ref would.
"That's for us to become familiar with the process. That's all it is.
"At this stage, we've had a ref for almost every spar, even back in Dublin. Conor has had so many spars in that regard - the ref wears full kit, goes through everything, then we spar. Joe is just the guy that we've been using because he was a great ref."
McGregor was not using Cortez's experience to learn how to bend the rules, it was clarified.
