Carl Frampton has described Saturday night’s controversial win for Josh Taylor in Glasgow as a “stinking” decision for the sport of boxing.
Taylor retained his title as undisputed light welterweight world champion despite slick challenger Jack Catterall putting in the performance of his career to date.
Catterall threw and landed more punches and an array of pundits on both Sky Sports and Radio Five Live had the Englishman a clear winner by three or four rounds.
But to the amazement of those at ringside and those watching at home, the judges gave the bout to Taylor - who was floored in the eighth round - on a split decision.
The Catterall camp branded the outcome “disgusting” and former two-weight world champion Frampton, who was working ringside for Radio Five Live, agreed.
"It’s stinking, absolutely stinking," said Frampton.
"Josh Taylor is a great friend of mine, but I’m going to be honest here.. how on earth do you give that fight to Josh by a couple of rounds?
“I scored it Jack Catterall by four rounds. Again, we look at these judges.. what are they looking at or seeing differently to me or anyone else?
“Jack Catterall has just been done out of a decision. He won that fight. Josh is my friend, but I am hurt by this decision. It’s wrong. It’s wrong.”
One judge awarded the fight 113-12 to Catterall, but the other two judges scored it 114-11 and 113-12 in favour of the reigning WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO champion.
Frampton told Radio Five Live: “We’ve all scored it. Sky TV have scored it to Jack Catterall and all of us at Five Live have scored it to Jack Catterall.
“It’s the same conversation over and over again and I’m sick of it, I’m absolutely sick of it. What are they (the judges) seeing that we’re not seeing? It needs to be explained.
“What’s going to happen to Jack Catterall after this? Hopefully he gets bigger fights off the back of this, but it was so wrong."
Promoter Ben Shalom, founder and CEO of Boxxer, told Sky Sports: “I’m embarrassed tonight.
"I love this sport and we try to keep our integrity, but tonight is really difficult. That’s heart-breaking for Jack.”
Jamie Moore, Catterall's trainer, said: "I can't put into words how disappointed I am. It's plain to see that he has won, yet he doesn't get the decision, so what message does that send out to young boxers?
"I am sick for him. He is sat broken hearted and it makes me feel like walking away from the sport."
