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The boxing world united in outrage as a number of famous famous blasted the decision to hand Josh Taylor an inexplicable victory over Jack Catterall on Saturday night, while Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom called for an immediate inquest.
Taylor was dropped in the eighth round, while both fighters had points deducted throughout in a bout largely dominated by Catterall, who stormed out of the ring following the announcement.
The Tartan Tornado, making the first defence of his undisputed super-lightweight championship, was given the nod by two of the judges with scores of 114-111 and 113-112, while Catterall was given the other 113-112.
Josh Taylor defeated Jack Catterall via a highly controversial split decision victory
Taylor retained his undisputed super-lightweight championship with the victory
Taylor struggled to gain any momentum at any point of the fight, with Catterall putting in a coming-of-age performance, backing up his pre-fight calm and confidence.
The Chorley fighter, who looked to have become undisputed champion, while staying unbeaten and moving to 27-0, celebrated in style after the final bell, with the Glasgow crowd clearly expecting an away win.
The announcement shocked not only the fighters but the crowd, with audible gasps clearly heard.
It wasn’t just those within the stadium scratching their heads, however, with a number of notable names taking to social media to voice their anger – particularly after the revelation that Catterall landed 166 punches to 85.
Carl Frampton tweeted: ‘I love Josh. I love Jack. But the wrong man got his hand raised.’
Carl Froch meanwhile simply stated, ‘Surely an upset’, while Dillian Whyte had just one word: ‘Disgusting’.
Michael Owen took a stronger stance, insisting: ‘Boxing is such a great sport but decisions like that are a disgrace and call into question the integrity of the game.’
Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson was equally surprised and outraged, stating: ‘I am so surprised. I gave Taylor four rounds. That was it.
‘I can’t believe it and I feel so sorry for Catterall. It’s decisions like this which turn casual fans off. Josh Taylor did not win that fight.’
A number of famous faces took to social media to voice their outrage following the decision
Promoter Shalom – who put on the event – insisted he was ’embarrassed to be associated with what was clearly an unjust decision.
‘I worried that they might call a draw and stop Jack having this historic night but the way this has gone I’m shocked right now,’ Shalom told Sky Sports. ‘I’m shell-shocked.
‘You know what, there has to be an inquest. I’ve seen this on other promoter’s shows and I’ve sort of laid the blame at them or not understood what’s gone on.
‘But this was actually embarrassing. If there’s not an inquest it’s going to harm the sport. We’ll do everything we can because I’m not just embarrassed, I’m really angry.’
Shalom continued: ‘How many times do we have to be here before something’s done. The fact is I was sat there, worried this would happen – which says a lot – and it did.’
Taylor got the decision despite being floored for the first time in his professional career
Catterall was left ‘heartbroken’ and immediately left the ring following the announcement
A ‘heartbroken’ Catterall went straight to the locker room following the announcement, leaving his coach Jamie Moore to sum up their thoughts.
‘It’s difficult to put into words,’ he said. ‘You’re talking about a kid who has worked all his life to wait for that moment, who stepped aside, who has waited three years for his opportunity.
‘He stepped aside, did the right thing for boxing, stepped aside to allow a unified champion on the promise that he would get the opportunity.
‘He gets the opportunity, he performs like that and beats the champion in his own backyard and gets absolutely robbed.
‘Think about the message that sends to people watching. My son is 16 and just getting into boxing. He’ll be looking at that and thinking, why should I get into boxing?
‘The moment you think you’ve worked all your life and you are going to be crowned world champion after a performance like that, and it’s snatched away from you. It’s disgusting, I don’t even know what to say.
‘You’ve asked Jack to come down here, as if Jack can come and speak. He’s absolutely heartbroken.’
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