Bob Arum Calls For Jack Catterall v Josh Taylor Trilogy Bout After ‘Unacceptable Scorecards’

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has called for Jack Catterall and Josh Taylor to have a trilogy bout after what he believes were “unacceptable scorecards” in their May rematch.

Catterall earned a measure of revenge by defeating long-time rival Taylor in their long-awaited second fight in Leeds, England on May 25, more than two years after their highly controversial first bout.

On that occasion, in February 2022, Catterall was denied the opportunity to become the undisputed super-lightweight world champion when Taylor was awarded a split-decision victory, despite most people believing the Englishman had done enough to beat the Scot.

There was less controversy in the rematch, even if Taylor thought he had won, while Arum took the mic inside the ring and blasted two of the judges for scoring the fight so wide; Kevin Parker and Kieran McCann both scored it 117-111 to Catterall, with Lee Every scoring it 116-113.

Scores Were ‘So Out Of Line’ – Arum

Catterall (29-1-0 13 KO) has moved on to fight former world champion Regis Prograis on August 24 in Manchester, England, but Taylor (19-2-0 13 KO) has yet to arrange his next bout having lost his last two.

“Let me clarify. I was in Leeds for that fight. I watched that fight carefully. There were three possible ways to score the fight: 7-5 Catterall [in rounds], 7-5 Taylor, 6-6 even,” Taylor’s promoter Arum told Sky Sports.

“The scorecards from these judges appointed by the British Board were just so out of line that they were unacceptable. Now I don’t think there was any kind of funny business going on or anything like that.

“I was really teed off because Taylor is my fighter, we promote him. But it wasn’t necessarily because I thought he clearly won the fight. I just thought it was a disservice to him that the scorecards were so wide. I was sitting next to Eddie Hearn, whose fighter was Catterall, and he was scoring the fight and we had it a very, very close fight.”

Catterall v Taylor Trilogy – ‘Why Not?’

While the British Boxing Board of Control took action against one of the judges from the first fight and downgraded Ian John-Lewis, the board insists Arum’s views on the rematch are unfounded.

There was a huge appetite from British boxing fans to see the rematch, considering the controversy of the first bout, but with Catterall a convincing winner in May and Taylor struggling to replicate the level that took him to the pinnacle of the 140lbs division, demand for a trilogy bout is minimal.

Still, Arum believes that the entertainment provided from the two fights should be enough to warrant the trilogy showdown, although it could be viewed as a promoter attempting to secure a fighter whose stock is on the wane a high-profile and lucrative bout.

“Why not? They certainly fought their hearts out for 12 rounds and the crowd loved the fight,” he said. “Because the scorecards really created a controversy I think a third fight would be in order. But let’s see how it plays out.”