Dave Moretti and Paul Smith, who, scored the fight 115-113 in favor of the Mexican on March 19 at the MGM Grand, have been assigned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to join another veteran judge, Jerry Roth, as the three judges when Pacquiao and Morales clash again on Jan. 21 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Tapped to officiate the scheduled 12-rounder is Kenny Bayless, a protege of legendary third man Richard Steele.

The choice of referee was a welcome development for Pacquiao, who was wary that the commission would put in Joe Cortez, who played a crucial role in the Filipino’s bouts with Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez in May 2004.

It was Cortez who did not see the clash of heads in the fifth round between Pacquiao and Morales that resulted in Pacquiao sustaining a nasty gash on his eyebrow. The wound proved to be a big factor as Pacquiao complained that he could not see out of that eye because of the blood.

Cortez was also assailed during Pacquiao’s thrilling encounter with Marquez, who was knocked down three times in the first round. Ringsiders believed that Cortez, originally from Puerto Rico, could have stopped the fight after Marquez went down for the third time even though the three-knockdown rule was not in effect.

Marquez was allowed to get up and miraculously survived Pacquiao’s onslaught to salvage a draw after 12 rounds.

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank is staging the Pacquiao-Morales match dubbed "The Battle."

Morales fights under the Top Rank banner.