Disbelief over boxing ‘screwjob’ as star walks out over judges’ scores

The boxing world is in uproar over a dumbfounding judges decision which has seen a star fighter storm out of the ring.

The official scorecard and the moment Josh Taylor was knocked down in the eighth round. Photo: Kayo, Michael Bensonn, Twitter.

Challenger Jack Catterall has been “robbed” by the judges in a scandalous end to his world title battle with Josh Taylor on Sunday morning (AEDT).

There is uproar around the boxing world after the judges handed the undefeated Taylor a split decision victory, despite Catterall dominating the fight up until the final three rounds.

ESPN combat sports commentator Ariel Helwani described it as a “screwjob” as the judges’ scorecards were announced.

There were audible gasps from fans inside the arena, in Glasgow, when the cards were announced.

Watch Taylor vs Catterall Undisputed Super-Lightweight Title Fight Live on Kayo Sunday 27th Feb. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now >

One judge scored the fight in Catterall’s favour with a score of 113-112, but judges Ian John Lewis and Victor Loughlin awarded the fight to Taylor 114-11 and 113-112.

The official scorecard and the moment Josh Taylor was knocked down in the eighth round. Photo: Kayo, Michael Bensonn, Twitter.

The Sun’s Wally Downes Jr wrote the two judges have “brought shame to the sport”.

Preliminary stats from the fight showed Catterall landed double the amount of punches with 166 of his strikes connecting compared to his opponent’s 85.

Boxing stats provider CompuBox recorded 120 total punches landed by Catterall and 73 landed by Taylor.

Taylor gets a early/late Christmas present on his home turf, despite getting dropped and outlanded 120-73 by Catterall, who outlanded Taylor 17-6 in the pivotal 11th & 12th rounds. Taylor landed in double digits in just 2 rounds. pic.twitter.com/KLUDzCRpQQ

— CompuBox (@CompuBox) February 26, 2022

Catterall was seen storming out of the ring when the fight was announced and refused to speak to the live TV broadcast inside the ring.

His trainer Jamie Moore has called for in inquest into how the fight could have been taken away from his fighter by the judges.

Josh Taylor won. But did he?

“I can’t put it into words. He has worked all his life for that moment, he waited three years, did the right things, performs like that, beats the champion in his own backyard and gets robbed,” he said.

“What message does that send to the people at home? It’s disgusting.

“Sky have asked him to come down and talk but how is he going to do that? He is absolutely heartbroken.”

Co-promoter Ben Shalom branded the judges’ scoring “embarrassing for boxing” and demanded an inquest.

Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall official scorecards… pic.twitter.com/lVju32hmFA

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) February 27, 2022

“I’m actually embarrassed because I’m promoting this event,” he said.

“That’s heartbreaking for Jack. I’m embarrassed. If there’s not an inquest, it’s gonna harm the sport. I’m not just embarrassed, I’m really angry.”

Boxing guru Dan Rafael said Catterall left the door open for the fight to be taken off him when he took his foot off the accelerator in the final three rounds.

However, other commentators are convinced it was a “robbery”.

“I think Catterall won. I think he also might get the ol’ screwjob,” Helwani posted on Twitter.

That’s exactly what happened.

Josh Taylor reacts after a victory. Photo by David Becker/Getty Images.

“This is why people have lost faith in boxing,” he posted.

“Boxing will never die — it’s alive and well — but golly do these decisions hurt the sport.

“Saddest part? You could see it coming a mile away. Gotta run this back right away. Otherwise it’s a stain on Josh Taylor’s career.”

However, Taylor immediately declared he does not want to give Catterall another chance to win the belt.

“I don’t think there is any need for a rematch, I won the second half of the fight, I bossed him,” he said.

“I made the weight well but it is getting harder and that will probably be my last fight at 140lb.”

He is now 19-0 in his professional career, and is still the undisputed king of the super-lightweight division.

Originally published as Disbelief over boxing ‘screwjob’ as star walks out over judges’ scores