Josh Taylor-Jack Catterall: Boxing board investigates scoring as Scot hits out at 'personal attacks'
- Published
Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall both celebrated the final bell, but the Scot was declared winner
Josh Taylor says "personal attacks" on him and his family are "disgusting and uncalled for" after the British Boxing Board of Control revealed a probe into his win over Jack Catterall.
The Scot, 31, retained his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO light-welterweight belts against the 28-year-old Englishman.
But BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith was "very surprised" at the scoring from judge Ian John-Lewis.
John-Lewis will be called to explain why he gave it to Taylor by 114-111.
The other two judges marked the contest closer, with Howard Foster going for Catteral by 113-112 and Victor Laughlin giving it to Taylor by 113-112.
The board does not have the power to overturn the result but does regularly investigate scoring after controversial decisions.
Taylor has taken to Instagram to say he accepts that "many fans believe Jack deserved the decision" at Glasgow's OVO Hydro but that this did not excuse personal attacks.
After watching re-runs, the Scot still believes he "won a very close fight" but congratulated "helluva fighter" Catterall "on a great fight" in which he "rose to the occasion".
Taylor thought the Englishman "deserves another title shot" but confirmed that he would be moving up a weight.
"I've never ducked a challenge in my career and I'll be happy to fight Jack again, but it would have to be at welterweight" he said.
Earlier, Smith told BBC Sport's boxing podcast that he thought "Jack nicked it".
"But it was a close fight with some of the rounds going backwards and forwards," he said. "I don't think it was robbery.
"With regard to the scores, Howard and Victor I can understand, because it was tight. I am very surprised at Ian's score."
Smith pointed out that scoring in boxing "is subjective".
"We can't change the decision," he said. "Two judges went for Josh and one went for Jack - I don't think there's anything in that. Whether you agree with what they saw is a different thing altogether and that's what we need to investigate.
"We need to do something. I'm not too sure what that is at the moment. The first thing is - we need a full explanation and I need to go through the scorecards one by one."
Meanwhile, Catterall has taken to Instagram saying he stands with those calling for "big changes" to the sport and describing himself as the "uncrowned king".
"Nothing will ever change how I feel about Saturday - I won that fight," he said. "I came to the champions' country and gave him a lesson. The decision doesn't sit well with me and I don't think it ever will - they stole a moment in my life I'll never get back."
'It won't be reversed - I've seen far worse' - analysis
Boxing expert Steve Bunce
There's no suggestion in the British Boxing Board of Control's very short press release that there's anything wrong.
One particular judge, Ian John-Lewis, will have to explain how he managed to make Josh Taylor a winner by three points - and that will take some explaining, trust me, and I'm a massive Josh Taylor fan.
Investigation sounds like they are going to be hauled over the coals. It's not going to work that way.
The board's stewards will assess what they have been told, assess what they have viewed, and issue a statement about what they believe happened on the night.
The decision will not be reversed and it will not be voided. The British Boxing Board of Control does not have the power to order Josh Taylor to have an instant re-match.
What might happen is that they might suspend Ian John-Lewis if they are unhappy with the reasons he gives, a former professional boxer who has been a judge since 1998. I don't think that will happen - he just got it wrong on the night and I've seen far worse.
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- Published16 October 2022
