Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Terry O’Connor is in hot water for both a bad scorecard and an allegedly bad mistake during Lewis Ritson vs. Miguel Vazquez.
For all of the indignation over judge Julie Lederman’s ludicrous 119-109 scorecard for Teofimo Lopez over Vasiliy Lomachenko on Saturday, at least she scored it for the rightful winner. The same cannot be said for veteran British judge Terry O’Connor, who’s come under fire for more than just a bad score.
Lightweight Lewis Ritson was by all accounts extremely fortunate to get a home country split decision win over Mexico’s Miguel Vazquez, with virtually all observers seeing a clear win for Vazquez. Amazingly, O’Connor turned in a 117-111 for Ritson while another judge who scored it for him had it 115-113. The reason why O’Connor is the center of attention is both for the awful score but also what he apparently did mid-fight.
Observant fans spotted O’Connor ringside appearing to look at his phone while the fight was happening, which is an obvious no-no. Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, who promotes Ritson and otherwise disagreed with his own fighter getting the nod, said that the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) should send him packing if what we see in the photo is indeed what we think it is.
UK Boxing Judge Terry O’Connor on his CELL PHONE in the middle of a round tonight on DAZN. He scored the bout 117-111 Ritson over Vasquez, a score that has been widely criticized following the result. #BOXING pic.twitter.com/MS2yW4UC7t
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) October 17, 2020
If that’s a phone (and I presume it is) then then BBBofC should immediately remove him. https://t.co/yVGKMRvNG9
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) October 17, 2020
The BBBofC has since released this statement:
“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.”
O’Connor was previously both judge and referee before retiring from ref duties in 2018. Now he’s facing serious discipline if not removal from his role as a judge altogether.