The boxing world is still reeling after last month’s controversial bout between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall.
Taylor, the undisputed super-lightweight world champion, defended all of his belts against mandatory challenger Catterall in Scotland.
He was expected to cruise to victory due to his impressive CV, but the previously unbeaten Catterall defied the odds and put on a boxing clinic at times.
With Taylor getting desperate, Catterall was even able to score a knockdown at the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, but despite his dominance he was somehow scored as the loser come the end of the fight.
The controversial scoring of that bout has been referred to the police by the Speaker of the House of Commons, and Taylor has suggested he would give his domestic rival a rematch, but it would have to be at a catchweight.
With the boxing world still showcasing their frustration, we take a look at some of the other controversial decisions in the sport’s history.
Timothy Bradley vs Manny Pacquiao – June 2012
Boxing superstar Pacquiao faced American Bradley in the summer of 2012, and he produced a solid display to win, or so he thought. The Filipino lost his WBO welterweight title and also saw his seven-year unbeaten streak come to an end.
The stats suggested he landed more punches and more power punches throughout the fight, but Bradley somehow got the decision.
The duo eventually met in a rematch, with Pacquiao getting his revenge in the end.
Evander Holyfield vs Lennox Lewis – March 1999
Two giants of the heavyweight scene met at Madison Square Garden in the late 1990s.
Holyfield was defending his WBA and IBF titles on the night while Lewis put his WBC strap on the line. Holyfield had vowed to record a stoppage victory, but it was Lewis that dominated proceedings.
A win for Lewis would have seen him become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1992, but the fight was ruled a split draw. Boos rang around the crowd, while analysts at ringside said it was one of the “worst decisions they had ever seen”.
Jose Luis Ramirez vs Pernell Whitaker – March 1988
Whitaker challenged Mexican Ramirez in Paris in the late 1980s, and he did enough to win a judge’s decision after a solid performance over 12 rounds.
While the two fighters were waiting for the decision, Whitaker’s trainer, Lou Duva, said his man had already lost, and that turned out to be true, with Ramirez handed a split decision success. Some experts thought Ramirez struggled to win one round, but it was Whitaker that was left empty-handed.
Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez – September 1993
Yes, it happened again! Whitaker was robbed for a second time in his career, although his fight with Chaves in Texas was ruled a draw.
As he did against Ramirez, Whitaker seemed to control the pace of the fight, and he had Chavez in all sorts of trouble thanks to a precise jab. However, despite out punching his opponent, Whitaker missed out on another bad night for the sport.
Joe Louis vs Jersey Joe Walcott – December 1947
We go all the way back to the 1940s for our final bad decision, and when the fighter admits it himself, you know it is a bad one.
Louis beat Walcott by split decision, but in the immediate aftermath, he apologised to his rival in the dressing room.
Walcott sent Louis to the canvas in the first and fourth round and completely closed his eye, yet the judges decided he did not do enough in New York.
