EXCLUSIVE: Jack Catterall’s controversial defeat by Josh Taylor is referred to the POLICE by the Speaker of the House of Commons, who fears ‘undue influence’ had a bearing on the result after the losing boxer complained of ‘corruption’
- Jack Catterall was controversially defeated by Josh Taylor in Glasgow last month
- Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Catterall’s MP in Chorley, has referred the matter to the police
- The Speaker of the House of Commons has written to both Dame Cressida Dick and the British Boxing Board of Control
Jack Catterall’s controversial defeat by Josh Taylor has been referred to the police by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Catterall’s MP in Chorley, was so ‘disgusted’ with the split decision that he has written to both Dame Cressida Dick and the British Boxing Board of Control.
He also revealed government ministers are looking into the result.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle has referred Jack Catterall’s controversial defeat by Josh Taylor to the police
On an historic night for British boxing, two judges’ decision to score the undisputed super-lightweight title fight for champion Taylor has sparked a wave of criticism over officiating in this country.
‘Everyone is disgusted by what’s happened – it brings the sport into disrepute,’ Hoyle told Sportsmail. ‘I have to question why the judges got it so wrong? I have already sent a letter to the police.’
Catterall believes he was the victim of a ‘corrupt’ system and Hoyle added: ‘I have spoken to Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Minister for Sport, Nigel Huddleston – they are both looking into this.
‘I also believe that something seriously went on here – whether it was undue influence, one must question why?’
The Board are investigating the scoring but despite general secretary Robert Smith admitting he thought Catterall won, he has ruled out overturning the result.
The British Boxing Board of Control have now announced they have opened an investigation
Last week, Smith told Sportsmail he had yet to see the Speaker’s letter but vowed: ‘Obviously I’ll deal with it as I would do for any member of the public who wrote in.’
Hoyle wants the fight ‘reviewed by independent judges’ and for ‘their independent scoring to be shown… that would allow for a decision to be changed retrospectively.’
But it is unclear what Dick, the outgoing chief of the Metropolitan Police, can do given the fight was in Glasgow.
Hoyle added: ‘Unless something is done about this, why would young people enter the sport? What is the point of training hard and playing by the rules, when something like this can happen?’
Catterall delivered a superb display against Josh Taylor but controversially suffered defeat