Teddy Atlas has lambasted the judge who scored Lawrence Okolie’s fight with Chris Billam-Smith last weekend a draw, stating he “shouldn’t be working again.”
A former trainer who has worked with the likes of Michael Moorer, Alexander Povetkin and Mike Tyson, Atlas is now a podcast host and has never been shy of letting his feelings known on the latest goings on in the sport of boxing.
And on a recent edition of THE FIGHT, Atlas did not hold back on judge Benjamin Rodriguez decision to score the fight 112-112.
“Billam-Smith knocked down Okolie three times in three separate rounds, and in two other rounds, Okolie had a point deducted for holding.”
“If you heard this for the first time, you would think he lost his title by knockout or by unanimous decision. Well, you’d be wrong. Two judges got it right, but the other judge had it even at 112-112.”
“That judge – Benjamin Rodriguez – beware, he’s dangerous. He shouldn’t be working again. No one can understand how he’s been assigned – and I’ve dug a little deeper – nobody can understand how he’s been assigned a world title fight, when he’s only done 43 fights in his entire career.”
Against the bookmaker’s odds, Billam-Smith got the better of former stablemate Okolie to become WBO world cruiserweight champion at a packed out Vitality Stadium in his native Bournemouth.
The scorecard caused anger immediately after if was read out, with plenty calling it the worst they had seen and cruiserweight contender, Richard Riakporhe, even joked that the judge was on his phone playing games.
A contractual rematch clause is available for Okolie should he wish to activate it, with his other option likely to be a move up to heavyweight.