EXCLUSIVE
Jack Catterall and Eddie Hearn question Bob Arum rant after promoter slammed ‘disgrace’ Josh Taylor scorecards
Jack Catterall believes Bob Arum's post-fight rant was 'disrespectful' following his win over Josh Taylor.
Catterall and Taylor finally settled their bad blood in a thrilling rematch in Leeds, which saw 'El Gato' avenge his controversial defeat to the 'Tartan Tornado' in 2022.
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But the judges received a fair amount of criticism after scoring the contest at 177-111, 117-111, 116-113, which was considered a wide margin given the close nature of the fight.
Top Rank promoter Arum then took to the microphone and ripped into the officials, labelling their scoring a 'disgrace'.
Catterall was not best impressed with his rant and was confident that he won the fight.
"You have so much respect for someone like Bob, but someone should have looked out for him," Catterall said on the White & Jordan show.
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"I found it a bit disrespectful because it was my time and I had just won the fight against Josh.
"I was being interviewed at the same time and he jumped on the microphone, someone should have taken it off of him.
"Maybe the scorecards were wide, but I was comfortable and confident I'd done enough to win the fight.
"But for Bob to jump on the microphone, when photos are circulating that he was asleep for some of the rounds. It came across a bit disrespectful."
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Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn also suggested the comments were slightly 'strange' after he claimed that he wouldn't bring a US fighter to the UK.
Hearn said on the same show: "Bob is 90-years-old, he won't always act accordingly. I think it was pretty close, I didn't even know Bob was in the ring.
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"But off he went and I think he almost hung himself in the process. It was a bit of a strange reaction to say you won't bring a fighter to Britain again.
"It was one of those fights, some had it quite wide. It is quite a damning reaction to their ability and their integrity.
"Even the Top Rank guys were a little embarrassed by it, but he is 94, you can't expect him to be compos mentis all the time.
"I'm just not sure the reaction was the greatest look in the world."
Many did share the views of Arum however in the boxing world, with a frenzy of fan fury online in the aftermath.
Arum's assessment was shared by Tony Bellew who furiously slammed the scorecards.
He said: "The judges are gonna cloud Catterall's moment. I had it a really close fight.
"That 117-111 twice is a disgrace. Two wrongs don't make a right."
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