JACK CATTERALL was robbed of the undisputed super-lightweight titles by shameful scorecards after his magnificent performance against Josh Taylor.
The underrated 28-year-old was supposed to be a handy homecoming opponent for Taylor, 31, – after three years fighting away – and a sign-off sweetener before ditching his titles and going up to welterweight.
Taylor retained his four world titles in highly controversial fashion
Catterall fought a sensational fight against the undisputed champion
Catterall dropped Taylor in the eighth round
But the huge 6-1 underdog – nicknamed El Gato – ripped up the script and silenced 12,000 screaming Scots who had piled in the Hydro baying for English blood.
And, in the end, it was Taylor who was slashed across the face, floored in the eighth, docked a point.
But two of the three judges ruined the lad’s life by robbing him.
Howard Foster got it right – but still too close – with a score of 113-112 to Catterall.
But Ian John Lewis and Victor Loughlin brought embarrassment to the sport with scores of 114-11 and 113-112 to Taylor.
Referee Marcus McDonnell might have known he was in for a busy shift after the pair grabbed and shoved at each other’s throats at Friday’s weigh-in.
Catterall landed a booming left hand from the same southpaw stance Taylor fought out of and made the Prestonpans man take a step back to recover.
The Chorley man also landed a couple of stiff jabs that should have secured him the opener on the judges’ scorecards.
Taylor seemed to be struggling to find his range up against a fellow lefty but he looked the far bigger man inside the ropes.
Early in the second Taylor was warned by McDonnell for rabbit punches thumped into the back of Catterall’s head.
Taylor bullied his way back into the second and then Catterall launched a rugby tackle on him that ended with the Scot off the ground and feet briefly flailing.
Catterall’s footwork and body shape made it almost impossible for Taylor land his shots and McDonnell had to warn them again in the third for roughhouse tactics.
Taylor landed a couple of left hooks but Catterall coped and retaliated with a precise one-two and a body blow to Taylor’s tattooed six-pack.
It was an ugly bout with the two southpaws clashing and grabbing but the cleaner shots were always coming from the challenger who was tagging Taylor’s head and torso.
Trainer Jamie Moore could be heard telling Catterall in the interval his performance so far had been “f****** perfect” and he was not far off.
Taylor twice complained of headbutts but McDonnell ignored his pleas and he needed to worry more about the fizzing one-twos coming his way from Catterall who was growing in confidence and, before the sixth, Taylor had a cut open under his right eye.
Catterall landed a thudding left hand in the sixth too, as Taylor’s head-earned titles and pound-for-pound reputation started to slip through his fingers.
And when they planted their feet and traded in round eight Taylor was driven into the deck for a count of eight.
When Taylor dipped down into a shot of his, Catterall slashed a left hand down into his temple and knocked the undefeated ace to his knees.
And Taylor was hurt again seconds later when a pinpoint one-two clattered into his jaw and stiffened his legs.
Taylor did roar back in the ninth when a left hand found Catterall’s whiskers but he was too close to boxing immortality to wilt now.
Catterall lost a point in round ten for his repeated holding and shoving Taylor’s head down in the clinch.
Taylor celebrated in front of his Scottish fans as Catterall was left devastated
Taylor walked into the fight high on boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters list and well on his way to becoming his nation’s finest fighter, aiming to emulate the legend Ken Buchanan.
But when he was docked a point at the end of the eleventh, for lashing out after the bell, he was destined to walk away battered, bruised and beltless.
Taylor’s trainer Ben Davison told him before the final round that he needed a KO to cling on to his belts and he connected with one late on.
But Catterall was too clever to get caught and celebrated at the final bell – only to be shattered by the awful officials.
Speaking after the fight, Taylor said: “I don’t think there is any need for a rematch, I won the second half of the fight, I bossed him.
“He was trying to spoil a lot, there were a lot of clashing heads, there was a lot of pressure on me for my first home fight after three years and it showed in the fight.
“Once I got my rhythm I started catching him but it was not my best performance.
“I put too much pressure on myself, I was the heavy favourite and wanted to put on a show for my home fans.
“I know I won the fight, it was close, but I landed the better shots and more meaningful fights.
“He put up a good fight but he didn’t win the fight and he knows it, I came on strong in the second half and took over.
“Now I move on. I made the weight well but it is getting harder and that will probably be my last fight at 140lbs.”
And Catterall’s trainer Jamie Moore seethed: “I can’t put it in to words. He has worked all his life for that moment, he waited three years, did the right things, performs like that, beats the champion in his own backyard and gets robbed.
“What message does that send to people at home? It’s disgusting.
“My son is 16, just about to get into boxing and if he sees that, what is he supposed to think?
“Sky have asked him to come down and talk but how is he going to do that? He is absolutely heartbroken.
