Friday night saw Liverpool's JJ Metcalf travel into enemy territory, as he took on and defeated Spanish star, and former European champion Kermam Lejarraga in Bilbao.
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Controversy began to occur prior to the bout, as the fighters correctly sent a member of their team to the opponents dressing room to oversee the wrapping of the hands. Metcalf sent in fellow Liverpool man and former world champion Liam Smith to Lejarraga's dressing room to oversee.
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Smith instantly spotted something not right in Lejarraga's wraps. Smith noticed that they were 'stacking' Lejarraga's wraps. Smith told Lejarraga's team that you cannot wrap hands in the order of bandage, tape, bandage, tape. Smith respectfully told the Lejarraga team that and requested an inspector to clarify.
Prior to the arrival of the inspector, Lejarraga's trainer does comply: "If it's not legal in this fight, we can do the other the other way, don't worry."
After a respectful discussion, Lejarraga's wraps were removed. An inspector arrived to back up Smith's words once the wraps had been removed, and Lejarraga's hands were rewrap accordingly. Would this lead to giving Metcalf a psychological edge in the bout?
Full video from Matchroom Boxing's YouTube below.