LAS VEGAS – One of boxing’s most respected referees has been chosen to officiate the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko fight in the wake of the controversial conclusion to the Rolando Romero-Ismael Barroso bout last Saturday night.

BoxingScene.com has learned that New Jersey’s Harvey Dock will be the third man in the ring when Haney defends his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO lightweight titles against Lomachenko on Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Nevada State Athletic Commission must approve Dock as the referee for Haney-Lomachenko at its monthly meeting Wednesday in Las Vegas, but that is considered a formality, as Nevada commissioners typically vote in favor of the suggestion of its executive director.

The experienced Dock is generally regarded as an even-keeled, fair referee and has handled many championship fights. He most recently officiated junior welterweight contender Kenneth Sims Jr.’s 12-round, majority-decision victory over Batyr Akhmedov on the Romero-Barroso undercard at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The appointment of Dock continues a recent willingness by the NSAC to appoint referees who reside outside of the state of Nevada to work championship fights in Las Vegas.

Nevada’s Tony Weeks drew intense criticism for his strange stoppage of the Romero-Barroso fight.

Weeks weirdly stepped between them and declared Romero the winner by technical knockout at 2:41 of the ninth round. Barroso was on his feet, had slipped most of Romero’s punches and grazed Romero with a right hand just before Weeks waved an end to their 12-round fight for the vacant WBA super lightweight title.

Weeks previously counted a knockdown for Romero, who clearly pushed Barroso to the canvas after hurting him with a left hook earlier in the ninth round.

In addition to selecting Dock as the referee, two Nevada-based judges – Tim Cheatham and Dave Moretti – and Oklahoma’s David Sutherland have been chosen to score Haney-Lomachenko. The NSAC also must approve the judging panel during Wednesday’s meeting.

Cheatham and Sutherland worked the Romero-Barroso bout. Cheatham had Venezuela’s Barroso ahead 76-75 entering the ninth round, whereas Sutherland had it one round wider, 77-74, for Barroso through eight rounds.

Moretti, meanwhile, has the most experience in high-profile fights of these three judges. Cheatham and Sutherland have been used regularly, though, for fights in Las Vegas in recent years.

Cheatham (116-112) and Moretti (117-111) both credited Haney for a comfortable win against Joseph Diaz Jr. in their 12-round fight for Haney’s WBC lightweight title in December 2021 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.