JOSH TAYLOR trainer Ben Davison claims his desperate pleas for his charge to land a last-minute knockout of Jack Catterall were not an admission he should have lost the decision.
Scotland’s 31-year-old undisputed super-lightweight world champion impressed in just one of the opening six rounds, was cut around his right eye, floored in the eighth and deducted a point after the 11th.
Josh Taylor retained his world title belts in controversial circumstances
Ben Davison (left) claims his instruction for Taylor to go for a stoppage was not an admission he was losing the fight
Jack Catterall was robbed according to many involved in boxing
Davison told Taylor after round eight that he was behind and doubled down before the 12th by telling him at least three times that he needed a stoppage to save his broken skin.
And British boxing is in uproar after Taylor was gifted a sickening split decision – thanks to woeful cards from judges Ian John-Lewis and Victor Loughlin.
But the respected Harlow trainer – who helped guide Tyson Fury back to the top of the fight game after he had retired and ballooned up to 28st – denied his desperate words confirmed that Catterall was robbed.
Davison said: “It was obviously a close fight.
“I purposely told Josh he needed a stoppage in the last round – not that I believed it – but I thought the fight was close and he maybe needed that round.
“Even the great Floyd Mayweather had nights where people thought his opponent had won.”
As well as frantically trying to inspire Taylor, Davison threw his arms in the air to get the 12,000 fans inside the Hydro to cheer their man over the line.
But he insists Team Taylor was never really worried about losing and the cheerleading was just aimed to rally the audience.
Davison added: “I told him a few times going into the fight that having the home crowd could have advantages and disadvantages in the fight.
“I think Josh put so much pressure on himself that once he gained some momentum I wanted to build on that.
“I felt the crowd would be a disadvantage at the start of the fight and an advantage toward the end and that is what we saw.”
After round eight, when Taylor was floored by a chopping left hand, Davison also tried to rally his man with serious warnings.
Before the ninth started he said: “Switch on! You need to step up now and step to him.
“He is starting to build up his pace and we are behind.
“You need a championship mentality. You have to take risks now.”
