Hall-of-fame referee Joe Cortez is going all in with his forecast, favoring Manny Pacquiao to win by knockout when Pacquiao takes on Keith Thurman for the world welterweight championship in Las Vegas on Sunday morning (Manila time).
"Pacquiao is up in age, but he looked outstanding defeating Adrien Broner in January," Cortez said.
"If he fights the same way against Thurman, I have to go with Manny by a TKO win."
His comments were part of a panel of experts offering their fight prediction on ESPN.com's American website.
Cortez was the referee when Pacquiao bludgeoned South African world champion Lehlo Ledwaba to win the world super-bantamweight title in June 2001.
That was Pacquiao's first fight in the United States.
Cortez also officiated the first Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez clash, and the initial Pacquiao-Erik Morales tussle.
That Pacquiao-Marquez fight in 2004 ended in a split draw, while Morales beat Pacquiao the first time they fought in 2005.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
