Boxing: Trainer Joe Gallagher blasts judges over Paul Smith's loss to Arthur Abraham
Monday 29 September 2014 00:04, UK
Trainer Joe Gallagher blasted the ringside judges following Paul Smith’s controversial points defeat to WBO super middleweight Arthur Abraham in Germany on Saturday night.
British champion Smith took the champion the distance in close fight but the Armenian-born German was awarded a one-sided unanimous verdict in Kiel.
Abraham got the nod 117-111 on two of the cards, while the Spanish judge game Smith just a solitary round with a 119-109 verdict in favour of the champion.
“First of all I would like to congratulate Arthur Abraham on his win,” Gallagher said at the post-fight press conference.
“I don’t agree with it but I’m pleased to hear that it was the best Arthur Abraham tonight and there were no excuses.
“The three judges… well the Spanish guy he needs to go to Specsavers first thing in the morning and get some glasses because I don’t know what he was watching, he must have been on his phone all night.
“I had it level after 10 rounds, Paul Smith won the 11th, Arthur won the 12th, and I thought we might have this by one or a draw.”
Gallagher now hopes that Abraham keeps his word after he told Smith: "I'll fight you again whenever you want."
“Arthur’s a fantastic champion, a great man. He’s just said he’ll give Paul the rematch and I thank him very much for that.
“I think tonight everyone was a winner at home who watched that fight, it was great fight between two hard, strong competitive men and both really need saluting for the performance they put on there.
“Everyone have a break, well get back into camp and look forward to the rematch.”
Abraham’s promoter Kalle Saulerland added: “I would say the rematch, if there’s a loud call for it from the UK, it’s something that we’ll talk about… if the demand is there let’s get it on.”
