BOXING judge Terry O’Connor will appear before the British Boxing Board of Control to explain his shock scoring of Lewis Ritson’s controversial weekend win.
Over 12 super-lightweight rounds against Mexican underdog Miguel Vazquez on Saturday, the Newcastle banger only seemed to win a couple.
Terry O’Connor was ringside judging Lewis Ritson versus Miguel Vazquez – but his attention seemed to be elsewhereCredit: Twitter@markstaylor1980
Questions were raised when the judge appeared to be looking at a mobile phoneCredit: Twitter@markstaylor1980
But veteran official O’Connor’s 117-111 scorecard helped the Geordie nick a split decision that stunned the almost-empty Peterborough arena.
Sky Sports’ commentator Matt Macklin and pundit Tony Bellew both felt Vazquez had coasted to a wide points win and even promoter Eddie Hearn admitted the wrong hand was raised.
A Monday statement from the usually hyper-private BBBofC said: “Mr. O’Connor will appear before the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control following his appointment to the boxing tournament at the East of England Showground Arena on Saturday, 17th October 2020”.
A freeze frame from round eight of the bout seemed to catch O’Connor checking his mobile phone and sparked worldwide condemnation among the boxing fraternity.
But repeated viewing suggests to SunSport that an unfortunate angle makes O’Connor’s pen – clipped onto his scorecard – appear like a handset.
Hearn demanded drastic action if O’Connor is found guilty of such a serious misdemeanor.
The Matchroom boss tweeted: “If that’s a phone (and I presume it is) then then BBBofC should immediately remove him.”
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman agreed, tweeting: “This image is extremely troubling to any person involved in boxing.”
Fellow judge Michael Alexander also scored it to Ritson, 115-113 with Marcus McDonnell handing it to the Mexican, 116-113.
After the bout, BBBofC general secretary Robert Smith confirmed the body would look into the incident.
Lewis Ritson was awarded a split decision win in Peterborough on SaturdayCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
He told Boxing News: “I’m very, very disappointed. This has to be looked at and investigated as it will be.
“I am so frustrated that this seems to have happened. After the hard work we do behind the scenes we have something like this emerging.
“Personally I am so disappointed. I can’t say anything more on this at this point.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
