Conor McGregor is just days away from taking on the undefeated Floyd Mayweather in his first professional boxing match in Las Vegas.
In contrast, the referee Robert Byrd has vast experience, having refereed almost 700 bouts in his career.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously to appointed Mr Byrd last week – a move that seemed to satisfy both the McGregor and Mayweather camps.
All eyes will now be on how Byrd goes about controlling such a high-profile match. Here is everything you need to know about the veteran referee.
Who is Robert Byrd?
Mr Byrd was the third man in the ring when Floyd Mayweather beat Robert Guerrero in 2013.
He also recently officiated Andre Ward’s TKO win against Sergey Kovalev and George Groves’ loss to Badou Jack.
Before becoming a boxing referee and judge, Byrd worked for 34 years as a Highway Patrol Officer in California.
The 74-year-old boxed at an amateur level during his time in the military and later married fellow boxing judge Adalaide Byrd.
His wife also adjudicates MMA contests and was on the judging panel when McGregor defeated Nate Diaz at UFC 202.
In 2006, Byrd was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in the ‘Expanded Category’.
Who else is judging the McGregor v Mayweather fight?
Americans Burt Clements and Dave Moretti will be joined by Italian Guido Cavalleri on the judging panel for Saturday’s fight.
Moratti has scored 11 Mayweather fights in total, including a run of five consecutive matches (Andre Berto, Manny Pacquiao, Marcos Maidana I and II, and Canelo Alvarez).
Meanwhile, Clements has judged four of Mayweather’s previous bouts (Pacquiao, Maidana I, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton).
Cavalleri has overseen just one of the 40-year-old’s fights (Maidana II), but was included on the panel after McGregor’s camp insisted on a international judge.
Boxing referee Kenny Bayless, who bossed five of Mayweather’s last 10 fights, was not considered for the McGregor clash after speaking out against the match.
In an interview with Elie Seckbach last year, Bayless said, “I wouldn’t want to see, Mayweather-McGregor.
“It’s two different sports. UFC and boxing are two different sports. What would be the point?”