Row erupts as Cutler team lodge appeal over Eggington win
Sam Eggington shows the damage caused. Pic: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
ANGER, controversy and social media mud-slinging has followed in the wake of Sam Eggington’s victory over Lee Cutler.
And Cutler’s team has stoked the fuel of a growing feud by lodging an official complaint to the WBC whose international silver belt was at stake in last weekend’s bloody Resorts World battle. They want a re-match.
At the heart of the beef is referee Mark Bates’ decision to stop the fight after eight rounds and go to the scorecards because a head clash had caused the bad cut that prevented Stourbridge’s Sam, following the ringside doctor’s inspection, from continuing.
Cutler’s manager Jake McGuigan has now appealed to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and provided video evidence the gash, one of three suffered by Eggington, was caused by a punch. That would’ve meant a stoppage win for Cutler.
What caused the wound is by-the-by, stressed Eggington’s manager Jon Pegg. It was worsened by Cutler’s head to the point where his man could not continue.
There appears confusion over which cut curtailed the contest. The sport’s online record book, BoxRec, states the one over Eggington’s right eye, which I had no doubt was caused by a clash. From ringside on the night, I believed an ugly slit along Sam’s left brow terminated matters. That was opened by a Cutler right hand.
On social media, manager Jon Pegg has dubbed the Bournemouth boxer’s team “cry-babies”. Eggington has accused them of desperately searching for a “loophole”.
Cutler responded: “Definitely not trying to find a loophole, just abiding by the rules of boxing – and the cut it got stopped on was a punch. His team so worried, they are trying to create a narrative.”
Pegg accepts a punch may have caused the injury, but is adamant it was worsened – to the point where the contest could not continue – by Cutler’s head. He has posted evidence of his own on social media.
He told me: “It is clutching at straws and very sour grapes. The cut was not bleeding for the rest of the round and then the heads slam together. The commentator even says, ‘the heads have come together now and it’s bleeding now.”
On Facebook, Pegg aired a video of the action under the caption: “Don’t like to complain but with the entitled cry-babies on the other team making sympathy videos constantly since Sunday even going as far as to complain to the WBC, I have had to put this out there.”
He added: “Sam has never moaned or made an excuse, but with the s**t that’s been thrown at his name by the sore losers on the other side and their fans, I had to put this out there. Trust me, there’s about six clips just as bad as this one of the head going in.”
Talking to Boxing News, Eggington remarked: “it was like boxing Zinedine Zidane in there.”
On X, formerly Twitter, Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed a complaint had been received. He said: “The WBC has received an official appeal from Jake McGuigan with regards to the WBC International title contest in Birmingham which was aired by
“Lee Cutler lost his title by technical decision due to Eggington (being) cut and the referee’s ruling was accidental head butt. This video clearly shows this cut (was caused) by a legal punch. Instant replay is not allowed in UK. WBC will review all matters through the corresponding panel.”