Mayweather-Canelo Judge Quits: C.J. Ross Takes Time Off From Boxing

Floyd Mayweather was nearly perfect in his fight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, which made the final decision on Saturday night perplexing to most who saw the bout. The undefeated boxer won by a majority decision. Now, the judge that robbed Mayweather of a unanimous decision has decided to step down.

C.J. Ross has decided to “take time off from boxing,” after Saturday’s fight. On Tuesday, she emailed Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer with her intentions.

Ross was the only judge that did not score the fight in favor of Mayweather. The other two judges, Dave Moretti and Craig Metcalfe, gave Mayweather the edge 117-111 and 116-112. Some boxing experts, including Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, gave Mayweather every round.

This isn’t the first time that Ross has been at center of a controversy. In June of last year, she helped Timothy Bradley beat Manny Pacquiao in a fight that most believe Pac-Man won by a landslide. She was one of two judges to score the fight in Bradley’s favor. The WBO eventually ruled that Pacquiao should have won the bout, though the decision was never officially overturned.

Despite Ross’s misstep last year, she was appointed to the biggest fight of 2013. Even now, the Commission’s executive director continues to defend the 64-year-old.

"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 and spoke with chairman [Bill] Brady, commissioner [Francisco] Aguilar and me."

Ross’s judging license is set to expire at the end of the year. Commission chairman Bill Brady has apologized for the judge’s recent performance.

"There will be more questions asked, and Keith will be held accountable for his recommendations," Brady told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "We won't be a rubber stamp anymore."

Saturday marked just the second time in Mayaweather’s career that a judge did not name him the winner on their scorecard. The other took place in 2007 when he faced Oscar De La Hoya. In the most profitable fight in boxing history, Mayweather won his first and only split decision.