Judge Ian John-Lewis 'suing BBBofC' after Taylor vs Catterall relegation

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Judge Ian John-Lewis 'suing BBBofC' after Taylor vs Catterall relegation
Judge Ian John-Lewis 'suing BBBofC' after Taylor vs Catterall relegation

EMBARRASSED British boxing referee Ian John-Lewis is reportedly suing the board after they relegated him for his terrible card that gifted Josh Taylor a win over Jack Catterall.

In February 2022, the British Boxing Board of Control official inexplicably scored the undisputed super-lightweight bout 114-111 to the defending Scotsman.

Boxing ref Ian John-Lewis is reportedly suing the BBBofC eiqrkikriqukprw
Boxing ref Ian John-Lewis is reportedly suing the BBBofCCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Broadcasters Sky Sports - like most fair-minded fans - were disgusted by the card and the BBBofC dropped John-Lewis from A* status down to A, ruling him out of their elite events.

In September John-Lewis - who released his own autobiography in 2014 - moved to BBBofC rivals the British and Irish Boxing Association (BIBA).

And the Mail now claims he is taking the matter to a tribunal

Josh Taylor savages "monster" Nicola Sturgeon after First Minister's resignationJosh Taylor savages "monster" Nicola Sturgeon after First Minister's resignation

After the BBBofC investigated the two cards that robbed Catterall of a magnificent win - and punished John-Lewis but not fellow judge Victor Loughlin - they said: "Following an internal review of the scoring of the Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall contest by all three appointed judges, the Stewards of the Board decided to call Mr Ian John-Lewis to appear before them to explain his returned card. 

“Having considered Mr Ian John-Lewis’s explanation, the Stewards of the Board decided to downgrade Mr John-Lewis from an A Star Class to an A Class Official."

John-Lewis, 61, is no stranger to scoring controversy after another stinker in Lyndon Arthur's split-decision 2020 win over Anthony Yarde.

Yarde was the home fighter and favourite but underdog Arthur dominated him with a ramrod jab.

Two of the ringside judges both gave Arthur victory, with 115-114 cards that should have been even wider.

But John-Lewis somehow wrote 117-111 to Yarde on his scorecard and was the subject of ridicule online.

The Mail also reports that 61-year-old ref Jeff Hinds  is seeking action for not being permitted to referee or judge fights since pursuing a 2020 defamation claim against the BBBofC.

Wally Downes Jr

Josh Taylor

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