C.J. Ross, the boxing judge who scored Saturday nights’s Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Alvarez junior middleweight championship fight in a draw, is stepping down after her controversial ruling. Sep 14, 2013 Las Vegas, NV, USA; Floyd Mayweather Jr. (blue gloves) and Canelo Alvarez battle at their WBC and WBA super welterweight titles fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mayweather won by a majority decision. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The 64-year-old Las Vegas resident sent a letter to the State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer saying that she is leaving the sport which she judged for more than 20 years.
“I will be taking some time off from boxing but will keep in touch,” Ross wrote.
Ross scored the fight 114-114. The fight was clearly one-sided in favor of Mayweather and that’s how the other two judges saw it, scoring the fight for Mayweather 117-111 and 116-112.
It’s not too often that a judge’s score reflects such a disparity in a high-profile fight.
Even Alvarez’s team was a little thrown off when the announcer read Ross’ scorecard after conceding to Mayweather’s victory.
Kizer didn’t seem to be upset with Ross’ scoring.
“We respect her decision, and appreciate her love of the sport she has served for over 20 years,” Kizer said. “She came into the [commission] office [on Tuesday] and spoke with chairman [Bill] Brady, commissioner [Francisco] Aguilar and me.”
Kizer and Ross discussed her scoring of the fight but not in great detail.
“She did not get too in depth, especially without a DVD of the bout,” Kizer said. “She referenced it was round-by-round scoring, and that overall she thought Mayweather outperformed Alvarez.”
Ross’ Nevada Judging license is set to expire at the end of the year, it’s unclear if she will renew it and return to the sport.
