Simpson: I was robbed of title

Jun 8 2008 By Ewing Grahame

Simmo In Fury After Ref's Ruling On Knockdown From Appleby

JOHN SIMPSON last night rounded on referee Vic Loughlin and insisted the bungling ring official had robbed him of his British featherweight title.

The Greenock boxer also lost his Lonsdale Belt in Friday's narrow defeat to Paul Appleby and is still fuming over the key ruling that swung the fight his opponent's way.

The 24-year-old lost a close points decision at the Kelvin Hall and has no doubt Loughlin's decision to wrongly award a knockdown against him in the fifth round was the reason he isn't still the champ.

Simpson raged: "It was never a knockdown - it was a slip.

"It should never have counted against me.

"When the ref gave it, it went from a 10-9 round to me to a 10-8 round for him. Two judges gave the fight to him by a point so that decision made all the difference. It's a horrible way to lose a title especially when a win would have seen me keep the Lonsdale Belt for good.

Spark "I feel as though I've been robbed.

"Appleby's a good boxer but I didn't think he was all that fit. I was lacking a bit of spark myself and I can't put my finger on that but I still did enough to beat him.

"If I'd been well beaten I would have considered packing it all in.

"But I know that at my best I'd win by a mile against Appleby. I've got the beating of him."

Loughlin claimed afterwards that he was right despite the fact there seemed little contact from Appleby's glove before Simpson went down.

The ref said: "When two boxers throw a punch and one of them lands then it's a knockdown."

Appleby's manager Tommy Gilmour Jnr last night revealed Simpson won't get the chance to regain his title against the 20-year-old from South Queensferry.

He said: "I fancy putting Paul in with Commonwealth champion Paul Truscott.

"Paul learned more against Simpson than in his 11 previous fights put together but I don't see any point in a rematch.

"You could have that fight again and it might not be the same result."

Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather Jnr has stunned boxing by announcing his retirement from the ring.

The 31-year-old has won six world championships in five different weight classes and is regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer of his generation.

The American also had several lucrative fights in the pipeline - including a re-match with British lightwelterweight Ricky Hatton.

In his last fight in December the WBC welterweight champ outclassed Hatton in Las Vegas.

Desire It was hoped Mayweather could be lured to the UK to face Hatton again but the fighter has decided to hang up his gloves unbeaten in 39 fights, with 25 knockouts.

He said: "I have decided to retire from boxing.

"It was difficult to find the desire and joy to continue in the sport.

"There comes a time when money doesn't matter and I just can't do it any more.