Boxing Judge to be investigated after appearing to use phone during title-fight

Terry O'Connor appears to scroll through a phone mid-fight [COURTESY]

Was a ringside judge scrolling through his phone as Lewis Ritson fought Miguel Vazquez Saturday, October 17, in Peterborough, England?

Ritson beat Vazquez via split decision in a hugely controversial tie, which saw promoter Eddie Hearn question judge Terry O'Connor’s actions mid-fight.

O’Connor, who was tasked with scoring the tie appeared to be glancing at a device on his hand mid-round.

Hearn, after the bout, slammed the judge’s conduct, arguing he might not have been paying much attention to the fight.

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

“If that’s a phone (and I presume it is) then then BBBofC should immediately remove him,” Tweeted Hearn.

Ritson, Hearn’s fighter emerged victorious, but his promoter didn’t feel he deserved the win.

LEWIS RITSON WINS IT! ??

A split decision for the Newcastle man. The scores were 116-113 Vazquez, 117-111 Ritson, 115-113 Ritson.

That was controversial. How did you score it? pic.twitter.com/N1kRmONHln — Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 17, 2020

"This image is extremely troubling to any person involved in boxing," said WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.

In this Sept. 20, 2018, file photo, boxer Anthony Joshua, of Britain, foreground, poses with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn after a press conference for Joshua's fight against Russia's Alexander Povetkin, at Wembley stadium in London (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

The scores were 116-113 Vazquez, 117-111 Ritson, 115-113 Ritson.

 "We got the win but it showed where we are. Call out Regis Prograis? I think we've got a little while before we get to them. That was an eye-opener. We are world fringe level," said Ritson after the fight.