Still a disgraceful decision – Carl Frampton doubles down on Taylor-Persoon analysis
Carl Frampton has defended his analysis of Katie Taylor’s undisputed title win at the start of the month and has reveled that the new four-belt queen had no issue with his take.
Frampton felt that Taylor lost decisively to Delfine Persoon at Madison Square Garden, scoring the bout 98-92 in the Belgian’s favour from his ringside seat.
Frampton’s view, given while providing punditry for BBC Radio Five Live proved divisive, with many echoing his take while others criticised ‘The Jackal’ for his unfavourable analysis of a fellow Irish boxer.
In the immediate aftermath the Belfast featherweight clarified that his description of the 96-94 x2, 95-95 majority decision verdict as being a “disgraceful decision” was taken out of context but that he still disagrees with the final result.
The comment was taking out of context. I was saying it how I saw it. Thought the wrong person got their hand raised. But admired Katie's grit and determination from start to finish
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) June 2, 2019
In his weekly column for the Sunday Life, Frampton further detailed his standpoint.
The two-weight world champion explained how “I was sitting at ringside in MSG and determined to score the fight as a neutral judge, and, on the night, I gave her only two rounds. Maybe it was a little closer but that’s how I had it and I maintain it was a disgraceful decision.”
“Whether you agree with others or not, if you’re scoring a fight right then you have to be honest with yourself and score it as you see it. If I had been biased and scored the fight for Taylor then I would hae got criticism from the other direction.”
“I’ve come in for a lot of stick for voicing a clear opinion on the decision to give Katie Taylor a points victory over Belgian Delfine Persoon but I’m not going to back down from what I believe to be the truth.”
“Even legends can lose a fight and you have to call it as you see it and that’s what I did last Saturday.”
While some have not taken too kindly to his opinions, Frampton reveals that Taylor or her team were not part of this group.
The 32-year-old notes hope he reached out to his former High Performance Unit team-mate and sparring partner and that there is no problems between the pair.
Frampton recalled how “I sent a direct message to Katie to emphasise my respect for her and insist there were no hard feelings and she was fine with it, as was her manager Brian Peters and her mother, which shows they understand that everyone has an opinion and that was mine.”
