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50 years of Pioneers Athletics...remembering Kenny Bayless

Ken Bayless

Kenny Bayless in 1962

  • September 1, 2011 6:15am

Kenny Bayless is now a respected professional boxing referee, but in 1962 he was an inaugural member of the Pioneer’s men's track and field team. From the beginning, men’s track and field captured 10 straight Far Western Conference titles and went on to win the 1977 NCAA Division II National Championship.

Bayless is now best known for having refereed the superfights Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton, Oscar de la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi, Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito, and Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto. Boxing Confidential once referred to Bayless as the only referee who should be used in Las Vegas super bouts praising Bayless for always being in control of the bout “with the highest degree of fairness, firmness and accuracy.” Read article.

Read "50 Stories for 50 Years" on the CSUEB Athletics Web site.

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