Bob Arum labelled as a “disgrace” the scorecards for Josh Taylor’s rematch with Jack Catterall.
The 30-year-old Catterall was a deserved winner at the conclusion of 12 entertaining rounds at Leeds’ First Direct Arena, even if two scores of 117-111 and a third of 116-113 were, even according to Catterall’s promoter Eddie Hearn, too wide.
Scotland’s Taylor, 33, was widely perceived to have been the beneficiary of a scoring controversy when awarded a split-decision over his long-term rival in February 2022, but Top Rank’s Arum, his promoter, was ringside in England and insisted that Taylor had won the rematch as well.
“I saw the fight like everybody else,” he said. “Those scorecards were a disgrace. An absolute disgrace. And I really feel sorry for Josh – I thought he won the fight. But those scorecards were ridiculous.
|That’s a lesson. I will never, ever allow an American fighter to come here with this British [Boxing] Board [of Control] scoring the fight. Those scores were ridiculous.”
Hearn’s Matchroom had promoted Taylor-Catterall II, and the promoter said: “The Scottish fans won’t be happy. I thought the judges’ scorecards were too wide. But the winner was bang on. Jack Catterall won that fight. He closed the show beautifully. He dominated the first six rounds.
“I love Scotland, but justice was served tonight, that’s for sure. Two years ago this man should have been the undisputed world champion, and it doesn’t matter because tonight he wins, but he should have the belts around his wast. That was a brilliant fight. The first fight was a bit of a stinker. That was a tremendous battle.
“I’m so pleased this man got victory tonight. He deserves it.
“The third fight is a big fight, but he deserves to be world champion. That’s got to be the focus. We’re deep at 140; Subriel Matias fights Liam Paro coming up; we’ve got Devin Haney against Sandor Martin. I’d love to see this guy challenge and hopefully win a world championship.”