Pacquiao vs. Margarito: Referee's Actions and Decisions Crucial in Fight

The chosen referee in Saturday night's fight between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito will play a crucial role on the outcome of this year's biggest boxing event.

Having been suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for his alleged use of illegal hand wraps which was discovered minutes before his fight with Shane Mosley last year, Antonio Margarito is the focal point of attention by the viewing public who are wary of the Mexican boxer's reputation as an alleged cheater.

While it is true that the referee is not directly involved in the hand wrapping process, he plays a crucial role in keeping the fight clean and safe for both fighters.

On Saturday night Antonio Margarito will most likely go for a do-or-die fight with Manny Pacquiao and the Mexican boxer is expected to employ or use just about every conceivable means to win the fight.

The live audience inside the Cowboys Stadium and the millions of viewers around the world will scrutinize every judgment or decision by the referee not because he maintains close business ties with Mexicans but more so because he has figured in some controversial decisions in his past officiating engagements.

We are talking here of referee Lawrence Cole, a Texas-based boxing referee who once officiated in one of Pacquiao's fights with Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico in 2003 where he called Pacquiao's slip a knock down.

Although no objection was raised by both Pacquiao and Margarito camps on his designation as the third man in the ring, he is regarded by some members of team Pacquiao as erratic and unstable in his officiating as shown in some of his officiating engagements.

Because of the disparity in height and reach, the fighters are susceptible to headbutts, low blows and illegal punches. 

Margarito who is expected to stage a do-or-die fight on Saturday night against Manny Pacquiao will most likely use every conceivable means including intentional headbutts and illegal blows in his desperate quest for redemption.

This is where the referee's call counts most. Illegal punches and intentional headbutts can be executed on a timely fashion by Margarito using his body to block the sight of the referee while throwing the illegal punches and low blows.

No one is casting doubts on the integrity of Lawrence Cole as a professional referee but Antonio Margarito is one guy who needs to be carefully watched during the fight because of his alleged cheating history.

Still, a good number of Filipino boxing fans have a clear recollection of how Laurence Cole made glaring mistakes in his officiating on at least two occasions where Filipino boxers fought.

READ: Lawrence Cole is a Capable Referee but ...

Laurence Cole also figured in the controversial Derrrill-Abraham match this year where Dirrell was hospitalized for illegal blows in which referee Cole failed to anticipate from happening.

Boxing fans around the world look forward to a clean and safe fight between Manny Pacquiao and Anttonio Margarito on Saturday night at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Referee Laurence Cole will have his redemption as an impartial referee despite doubts of his integrity and skill as a professional boxing referee if he does his job well as the third man in the ring for this year's biggest boxing event.