You Don’t Quit Your Day Job”: Revealing his Fees for $600 Million Floyd Mayweather Fight, Referee Kenny Bayless gives Reality Check on Referees’ Earnings

On the 2nd of May 2015, in a historical event, Floyd Mayweather stepped inside the ring with Manny Pacquiao. With three titles on the line, the duo boxed for 12 rounds and Mayweather managed to win via UD. Anyway, as per updates, from the fight, Floyd Mayweather made $180 million while Manny Pacquiao received a whooping figure of $120 million.

Although the boxing world knows how Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather were compensated for the match, there was little information available about the payment Kenny Bayless, the referee of the fight, received. In the wake of stepping down as a referee, the 73-year-old revealed the shocking compensation he received from ‘TBE’ vs. Manny.

Kenny Bayless who refereed Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao corrects fans who thought he made millions

In his interview with FightHype, referee Kenny Bayless explained how referees earned money from professional boxing. According to Bayless, referees are “independent contractors” who don’t have much of a say regarding their compensation. As per Kenny, it is the executive directors who set the amount a referee will earn from a fight. Along these lines, Bayless also informed that referees pursue other professions given the insufficient amount they earn from fights.

“When we get notified to work, if we’re available we work. You don’t quit your day job to be a professional boxing referee. Because professional boxing referees don’t pay the bills,” said Kenny sincerely. “I read on the internet that I make a million dollars a fight. I don’t,” he continued.

In this context, Bayless touched upon the richest boxing card in history, Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao which generated $600 Million. “Floyd Mayweather, they said, ended up making 200 million. It could be more. They said Manny Pacquiao made 120 million, it could be more. But, I only got paid 25,000,” Bayless added in a gloomy tone. Before concluding, the 73-year-old answered why he retired as a referee.

Bayless answers why he quit as a referee

When Kenny Bayless decided to step down as a referee this year, the boxing world was shocked. Since there were no controversies and he was healthy, fans wondered why Bayless decided to quit. Speaking to FightHype, Bayless stated that he wanted to hand over the torch to the newcomers in this field. “I’ve been refereeing for 32 years. I was in the amateur program as a judge and referee for 12 years. My health is good, I still work out,” Bayless said.

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“Our commission now, they’re bringing referees from different states. I know they’re good and qualified referees. I just felt it was their time now. They always go out when you’re on top. For the last 15 or 16 years I’ve been on top. So, let me go out with a smile on my face,” Bayless concluded. With that said, what do you think of the amount referees like Kenny Bayless are making from professional boxing? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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