Kenny Bayless

Kenny Bayless (born May 4, 1950)[3] is an American boxing referee from Nevada. He is best known for having refereed many of the sport's most well-known fights.

Bayless's catchphrase, when giving his instructions to the fighters before the opening bell, is "What I say you must obey."

Kenny Bayless was raised in Berkeley, California. After graduating from college, he was recruited to teach school in Las Vegas.  He was happy for the job opportunity but excited for the chance to relocate to a city with a thriving boxing scene.

Around the same time, he became friends with Johnny Lehman, a glove man for several promoters and a boxing inspector for the Nevada Athletic Commission.  Kenny assisted Johnny in his various tasks which allowed him access to more fights and the opportunity to compare his scorecards with the professionals. Jerry Roth, a Nevada boxing judge, was a mentor he regularly sought out. Jerry asked him one day, “Why don’t you try refereeing?”  Kenny thought about it and decided, “Why not?”  He sought the help of former Nevada referee, Richard Steele, and prepared himself to enter the ring as an amateur referee in 1982. In 1985 Kenny was hired by the Nevada Athletic Commission. He worked corners as an inspector and continued volunteering with the amateur program with the hopes of eventually becoming a professional referee. After 12 years of refereeing for Golden Gloves, and 6 years with the Commission, his opportunity finally came.

In 1991 Kenny was appointed as a professional referee. He officiated his first world title fight in 1994. He has been third man in the ring for thousands of bouts and over 100 title fights. Kenny was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.[4]

On Sunday April 23rd, Kenny and his identical twin brother Kermit Bayless (Boxing Judge) were both inducted into the National Boxing Hall of Fame.[5][6]