Jack Catterall was robbed of the undisputed super-lightweight titles by shameful scorecards after his magnificent performance against Josh Taylor.
The underrated 28-year-old was supposed to be a handy homecoming opponent for Taylor, 31, – after three years fighting away – and a sign-off sweetener before ditching his titles and going up to welterweight.
Taylor retained his four world titles in highly controversial fashion
Catterall fought a sensational fight against the undisputed champion
Catterall dropped Taylor in the eighth roundBut the huge 6-1 underdog – nicknamed El Gato – ripped up the script and silenced 12,000 screaming Scots who had piled in the Hydro baying for English blood.
And, in the end, it was Taylor who was slashed across the face, floored in the eighth, docked a point.
But two of the three judges ruined the lad’s life by robbing him.
Howard Foster got it right – but still too close – with a score of 113-112 to Catterall.
But Ian John Lewis and Victor Loughlin brought embarrassment to the sport with scores of 114-11 and 113-112 to Taylor.
Referee Marcus McDonnell might have known he was in for a busy shift after the pair grabbed and shoved at each other’s throats at Friday’s weigh-in.
Catterall landed a booming left hand from the same southpaw stance Taylor fought out of and made the Prestonpans man take a step back to recover.
The Chorley man also landed a couple of stiff jabs that should have secured him the opener on the judges’ scorecards.
Early in the second Taylor was warned for rabbit punches thumped into the back of Catterall’s head.
Catterall’s body shape made it almost impossible for Taylor to land his shots.
Taylor landed a couple of left hooks but Catterall coped and retaliated with a precise one-two and a body blow.
It was an ugly bout but the cleaner shots were coming from the challenger.
Moore could be heard telling Catterall his performance was “f*****g perfect”.
Taylor twice complained of headbutts but he needed to worry more about the fizzing one-twos coming his way from Catterall who was growing in confidence and, before the sixth, Taylor had a cut open under his right eye.
And when they planted their feet and traded in round eight Taylor was driven into the deck for a count of eight.
Catterall slashed a left hand down into his temple and knocked the undefeated ace to his knees.
Taylor was hurt again seconds later when a pinpoint one-two clattered into his jaw and stiffened his legs.
Catterall lost a point in round ten for his repeated holding and shoving Taylor’s head down in the clinch.
Taylor was docked a point at the end of the eleventh, for lashing out after the bell. Taylor’s trainer Ben Davison even told him before the final round that he needed a KO to cling on to his belts.
Credit: Various
