Top 10 worst robberies in boxing world title fights

Boxing is a dirty sport. This has always been the case – pugilism, throughout history, has been marred by corruption, deception and bare-faced cheating. 

Today, we’ll be looking at ten of the most downright disgusting decisions of all time in world title fights.

From Tim (cheat ‘em) Cheatham to CJ Ross, here are some of boxing’s lowest moments from those in charge of proceedings.

10. Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury 1

Many thought that Tyson Fury was throwing himself to the wolves when he challenged Deontay Wilder for the world title in 2018. This was just the third fight of Fury’s comeback trail, while Wilder was still unbeaten and had knocked out every fighter he’d faced professionally. 

Despite two knockdowns, including one in the 12th that saw Fury miraculously rise off his back, the Gypsy King outboxed Wilder and did more than enough to pry his title away from him. 

Sadly, the judges did not see it this way, handing Wilder a gift draw. This allowed the Alabamian to hang on to his belt, though Fury would emphatically snatch it away from him in the rematch. 

9. James Toney vs Dave Tiberi

A young James Toney, already the IBF middleweight champion, looked to complete a routine title defence against fringe contender Dave Tiberi in 1992. It didn’t work out quite like that – Tiberi, a proud Italian-American with incredible toughness, gave the young superstar hell over 12 rounds. 

Toney landed more than a few solid shots on Tiberi, but the challenger’s phenomenal work rate ensured that he would always respond with a combination. 

Tiberi simply outhustled Toney over the course of 12 rounds – but the judges refused to give him his rightful victory. Following this outing, Tiberi retired from professional boxing.

8. Callum Smith vs John Ryder

An excellent, old-school display from John Ryder in his title challenge against Callum Smith was insolently cast aside as all three judges inexplicably gave Smith the nod. 

Ryder used his head movement and smart footwork to negate Mundo’s dangerous straight shots, working his way inside to out-fight the Liverpudlian. Uninterested in fairness or integrity that evening, the panel of judges gave it to Smith anyway. 

Smith had the nerve to suggest that decision was a fair one in his post-fight interview – he also failed to offer Ryder the rematch that he deserved. 

7. Gennady Golovkin vs Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 1

While not as egregious as some of the decisions below it in the list, the first fight between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo featured one of the most truly baffling scorecards of all time. We are, of course, talking about the infamous 118-110 scorecard that Adelaide Byrd shamelessly put forth in favour of Canelo. 

Quite what fight Mrs. Byrd was watching that evening, we may never know. Golovkin largely controlled the action, forcing the Mexican onto his back foot throughout the fight. Canelo made it somewhat competitive, but GGG put in a ruthless display to secure what looked like a hard-fought victory. 

The official judges’ verdict was a majority draw, so we can’t put this one any higher than 7th. Nevertheless, Byrd’s card remains perhaps the most contemptuous in boxing history.

6. Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall 1

Josh Taylor was lethargic in his 2022 world title defence against Jack Catterall, as the Chorley man outboxed the Scot in his home country and dropped him along the way. 

Despite Catterall’s canny dominance, Ian John-Lewis nonetheless dutifully trotted out a scorecard in favour of the home fighter, resulting in a split decision win for Taylor. John-Lewis was demoted by the BBBofC as a result – a decision he had the brass neck to protest against. 

To this day, Taylor has yet to show any sort of humility regarding this not-so-neatly wrapped offering. It was a decision that effectively ruined the reputations of two men in one fell swoop and shattered Catterall’s world title dreams. 

5. Joe Louis vs Jersey Joe Walcott 1

Corruption in professional boxing is no modern invention. The two things have, sadly, always been synonymous – case in point, Joe Louis vs Jersey Joe Walcott from 1947.

Walcott was at his brilliant best that evening, dazzling Louis with his elegant footwork and picture-perfect counter punches. Louis was an aging warrior at this point – Walcott was likewise no spring chicken, but his speed and timing were consistently getting the better of the Brown Bomber. 

He dropped Louis in round one and largely controlled the action – but the champion was allowed to escape with his belt via a contentious split decision. Unlike many of the fighters on this list, Louis handled his gift with humility, never claiming that he deserved to win – though he may have been hung out to dry had he acted in any other way. 

4. Timothy Bradley vs Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao was on the wrong end of a few robberies over the course of his career – but this one was arguably the worst of the lot. Timothy Bradley could not avoid Pac-Man’s left cross, getting tagged by it repeatedly. 

Bradley deserves credit for staying in the fight – but little else beyond that. While not a thorough beating, it was a consummate display of dominance from the Filipino icon. Sadly, this was not enough to ignite a spark of decency within a pair of judges on the panel. 

Unsurprising, the eternally unscrupulous CJ Ross was one of the two judges who scored the fight in favour of Bradley. Following an even more larcenous scorecard in the Floyd Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez fight a year larger, she would be gone from the sport for good. 

3. Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield 1

The first fight between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield was just short of a complete schooling. At best, Holyfield won two rounds – he had no answer for Lewis’ repetitive straight shots. 

The fight was shockingly ruled a draw – upon the announcement, boos rained down on the ring. Even the HBO commentary team, comprised of Jim Lampley and George Foreman, could not hide their contempt for the decision. 

Lewis would win the rematch by unanimous decision, but was robbed of his rightful moment here. Until 2024, when Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury, Lewis was the last undisputed world heavyweight champion in boxing. 

2. Pernell Whittaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez

An absolute gem of performance from Pernell Whittaker, this. A textbook display of ‘hit, but do not get hit’ – he bounced straight shots off Julio Cesar Chavez’s head all night. 

Chavez won maybe one or two rounds, due to Whittaker’s low output, but Sweet Pea was clearly the superior operator that evening. 

Whittaker wasn’t handed the win after 12 rounds – instead, he was slapped in the face with an insulting draw verdict. Chavez’s unbeaten record remained intact, but not for long – the following year, he lost it in a far more unceremonious fashion when he was shockingly beaten by fringe contender Frankie Randall.

1. Sven Ottke vs Robin Reid

Few boxers have left a greater stain on the sport than Sven Ottke. Many of his title fights, all of which took place in his home country of Germany, were suspiciously stooped in his favour. This one, however, is by far the most farcical.  

The commentary team could barely disguise their disbelief as referee Roger Tilleman gave Ottke every rub of the green he possibly could – warning Reid on multiple occasions for the infringement of… punching Ottke in the face. 

To top it all off, Ottke was handed a richly undeserved split decision win after 12 rounds. This was a fight that needs to be seen to be believed – it was the most embarrassing display of corruption in the history of professional boxing. How Tilleman and Ottke were able to sleep that night is anyone’s guess.