Boxing Fans Left Stunned as Josh Taylor Suffers Controversial Defeat in Rematch Against Jack Catterall

In a highly anticipated rematch, Scottish boxer Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) suffered a controversial defeat to England’s Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Trainer Joe McNally expressed his frustration with the judges’ scorecards, believing that his fighter had done enough to secure the victory.

The Closely Contested Bout

The closely contested bout saw both Taylor and Catterall showcasing their skills, with the fight ebbing and flowing throughout the 12 rounds. Ultimately, the judges awarded a unanimous decision to Catterall, with scores of 117-111, 117-111, and 116-113 in his favor.

The Reaction and Controversy

The decision provoked a strong reaction from Taylor’s promoter, Bob Arum, who launched a scathing tirade against the British Boxing Board of Control, vowing to avoid sending any more American fighters to compete in the UK under the Board’s supervision.

McNally shared similar sentiments, firmly believing that Taylor had done enough to win the fight. “I thought it was a Josh Taylor win, but it was a very good fight,” McNally told IFL TV. “I thought Jack Catterall fought a fantastic fight, but so did Josh Taylor.”

“The CompuBox stats tell the story. Josh out jabbed him, and Josh out-landed him with the power punches by something like 40 per cent.”

• Joe McNally, Josh Taylor’s Trainer

Despite his frustration with the judges’ decision, McNally commended referee Kevin Parker’s performance and acknowledged that the fight could have gone either way had it taken place elsewhere.

The controversial result has left boxing fans and pundits alike questioning the judging in the sport, sparking a wider debate about the need for greater transparency and consistency in the scoring system.

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