Adam Smith has condemned the abuse given to Josh Taylor and his family in the wake of the Scot’s win over Jack Catterall.
Taylor revealed that he and his family had been subjected to “personal attacks” following the controversial result and described them as “disgusting and uncalled for”.
The undisputed super-lightweight clash between champion Taylor and challenger Catterall on Sky Sports ended in a split decision win for the home fighter in Glasgow. However, the consensus on the night appeared to be that the away fighter won.
“Totally unacceptable and disgraceful that anybody is doing that to Josh and his family,” said Smith, the Head of Sky Boxing, who spoke to Boxing Social recently.
“It looks like this is going to run and run. It’s neither of the fighter’s fault.
We have to congratulate the both of them for going in there and giving us 12 rounds. They’re two elite prize-fighters and Jack Catterall proved on the night that he was.
“The majority of the people believe Jack Catterall won the fight. Hannah Rankin the other Scottish world champion thought Josh lost that by a fair way. We (Smith and co-commentator Matthew Macklin) called it as we saw it. We felt Jack Catterall won by a considerable margin.”
The British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith (no relation) has said there will be an investigation into the scoring. The 114-111 scorecard from experienced referee and judge Ian John-Lewis was heavily criticised.
The fallout has even crossed over into the world of politics. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, also Catterall’s MP in Chorley, has written to the police about the matter and has contacted Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture Media and Sport.
“He [Robert Smith] needs to look at the public reaction and he needs to take it. It’s gone into the House of Commons. It’s rumbling around,” said Adam Smith.
“It’ll be about what happens next. Will the judges be fine to work next week? Especially Ian John- Lewis’s card. The 114-111 was particularly wide to Josh Taylor so that obviously has to be looked at more than the others.
“Ben [Shalom] and I felt very shocked on the night and very upset. We felt sad for Jack and the team.
They came into enemy territory; they were the big underdog. They, in our eyes, won the fight with a brilliant game-plan.
“Maybe the key is to look into how we can improve the sport. That’s the most important thing. The fighters are the ones we respect more than anything. They put their lives on the line.”
Click here to watch the full interview with Adam Smith as he discusses Brook-Khan 2, Anthony Joshua’s next move, Wasserman’s deal with Channel 5 and much more.