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Misc Info:
Layla McCarter was chosen as WBAN's March
2001 Fighter of the month. McCarter has fought some of the best
women in the world. She was one of the few women who offered to fight
Chevelle Hallback in Hawaii, although the fight ended up getting
cancelled. Also, McCarter was nominated by WBAN as the most Improved fighter for the year
2000.
June 18, 2005 -
Shaw Convention Centre, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in Canada’s
first-ever all-women’s card, there were five women’s bouts on the
card.
The main featured the highly anticipated rematch of
Jelena
Mrdjenovich,135, now (12-1), who won by an eight round unanimous
decision and the WIBA Eliminator, over Layla McCarter, 129, now
(18-12-4). McCarter broke her radial bone in the forearm in the
fourth round, but continued all the last rounds. McCarter fought
with one arm through those later rounds. Team McCarter told
WBAN, "We came back from the hospital and Layla broked her forearm
in two pieces, she will need surgery as soon we get back to Las
Vegas, she will probably be out for three months." Final judges
scores were 78-75, 79-74, and 79-73; In the co-feature,
Lisa
"Bad News" Brown, now (11-1-2), 124, defeated
Kelli Cofer, 124,
(10-3-4), in a featherweight six-rounder. Final judges scores was
59-51, 60-53, and 59-54; In a super middleweight bout,
Asa
Sandell, 164, of Sweden, (3-0-1) returned to North America to take
on Donna Logue, 164, (0-1-1) in a four-round bout. Sandell TKO’d
Logue in the second round; In a six-rounder,
Olga Heron, 126,
delivered Edmonton’s undefeated Amy Johnson, 132, (4-1-1) her first
loss by defeating Johnson with a unanimous decision. Johnson came in
three pounds overweight for the bout. Final judges scores, 56-58,
56-58, and 57-58, and In a fifth fight on the card, featuring two
pro debuter, Amanda Carriere, 129 won a four-round unanimous
decision over Tasha Weisner, 135. Final judge’s scores were 40-36,
40-36, and 39-37.
Interview of Heron - pre fight
February 12, 2005
-Edmonton, Canada
Layla McCarter, 133, now 18-11-4 (2KO), of Las Vegas, Nevada,
delivered hometown favorite Jelena Mrdjenovich, 132 1/2, her
first lost, when she won by a six round unanimous decision. Judges
scoring 59-55, 59-55, and 59-56.
In the local news, they reported that McCarter dominated the fight from
the first bell, and taking a “clear-cut” unanimous decision.
It's too bad that this
fight had not been on ESPN2 last night...In
a second women's match on the card, Amy
Johnson won a four-round unanimous decision over pro debuter
Alicia Gonzalez.
 Special
Editorial by Bernie McCoy
July 2, 2004 -
Pala Casino, in California, and televised on ESPN2 "Friday Night
Fights"
 WBAN
Members PHOTO Gallery #186)
WBAN
Members PHOTO Gallery #184)
Chevelle "Fists of Steel" Hallback
successfully
defended her IBA world title when she won a 10-round unanimous decision over
Layla "Amazing" McCarter
in a non-stop action packed bout that was featured as the co-main.
Final judges scoring was 98-92, 97-93, and 99-91. Teddy Atlas
of ESPN2 scored the fight for McCarter at 96-95.
April 16, 2004 - Gund Arena,
Cleveland, Ohio
On the undercard, Mary Jo Sanders, 140.7, won a
six-round unanimous decision over Layla McCarter, 137,
of Las Vegas. The fight was televised on Telefutura.
October 4, 2003 - Northern Lights Casino
in Anecortes, Washington
Layla McCarter defeated Lisa
Holewyne in a 10-round unanimous decision for the GBU World Title belt.
McCarter won the decision by 99-91, 99-91, and 100-90 and has now become a
two-time world champion.
June 14, 2003 -
Stratosphere Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Layla McCarter, 139.5, won a six-round unanimous decision
over Claudia Valenciana, 143.5.
Final scores 59-53, 60-52, 60-52. McCarter
gave away some weight in this matchup, but fought a perfect fight, picking
and choosing her shots. McCarter knocked Valenciana to the canvas
twice during the fight, and there was no doubt at the end of the six round
as to who would walk away a winner. ©Photos
by Mary Ann Owen of BILV,
Exclusive Photo
Gallery!
April 26, 2003 - Stratosphere Hotel, Las
Vegas, Nevada
Vaia "Vicious" Zaganas, 106, stopped her opponent
Holly
Dunaway, 107, 1:24 of the second round. There is also a women's
match that is an exhibition bout
between Layla McCarter and Tracy Byrd that is a scheduled
four-rounder.
April 18,
2003 - The Palace, Lemoore, CA
In front of a packed audience, at the
Palace
Indian
Gaming
Center,
in Lemoore, California, had a night of women’s boxing, mixed in
with a heavyweight contender Michael Grant, who fought Gilbert
Martinez. The first fight of the night was between
Isra “The
Raging Beauty” Girgrah, 128, and
Laura Serrano, 124. The two
fought in a toe-to-toe battle that ended in a controversial
eight-round split decision for Girgrah. The
boxing fans met the decision with a loud sound of “boos.”
Serrano, took the Mexico flag and ran through the audience after
the decision was announced. Girgrah delivered Serrano her
first loss as a pro boxer. Final scoring was 79-73
Serrano, and 77-75, and 78-74 Girgrah. The second bout of the evening was featured
Sumya
“The Island Girl” Anani, 141, and
Fredia “The Cheetah” Gibbs,
140.
Even before the fight began, Anani stared across the ring at
Gibbs, and shuffling her feet as if she was ready to spring in
action at the ring of the bell. Gibbs was also hyped and when
the bell did begin the first round both boxers immediately began
throwing leather. There was some holding throughout the first
round, and they were non-stop until the end of that round. But
it was learned shortly there after that Gibbs may have
experienced a fractured hand and the fight was halted. Anani
won the fight by a TKO. The third night of the fight featured
Grant and
Martinez.
Their fight ended in a win for Grant by a TKO in the later
rounds. Then the ESPN2 cameras stopped rolling as the next
women’s match was to take place between Nina Ahlin,
101.5, and
Vaia "Vicious" Zaganas, 104. It was a very entertaining fight and it was
unfortunate that it did not make television. WBAN did tape the
fight. Vaia Zaganas won the fight with a final scoring of
59-55, 59-55, and 58-56. The last fight of the night was another
women’s match, that could have easily been named the “fight of
the night.” Layla McCarter, 134, of Las Vegas, took on local
boxer from Fresno, Lisa Lewis, 133. It was the classic boxer
against puncher. McCarter was slick as she slipped punches by
Lewis who is also one tough fighter! The six-rounder ended in a
unanimous decision for McCarter.
March 7, 2003 - Reno, Nevada
On an ESPN2 card (untelevised), Layla McCarter, 132, fought
Tracy Byrd, in their third time out with each other. McCarter
won her second split decision in a six-rounder. McCarter and Byrd,
just fought recently in Las Vegas that also resulted in a split decision.
February 15, 2003 - Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas, Nevada
Layla McCarter won a six-round majority decision over
Tracy Byrd.
This was a rematch for the two, as they first fought in July of 2001
where McCarter won by a decision.
December 29, 2002
- Johnny Mercer Theater, in Savannah, Georgia
Chevelle Hallback won a 10-round unanimous decision over
Layla
McCarter in a non-titled 10 rounder. This was NOT for the IBA World
title defense for Hallback as reported on other Internet news sources that
have it listed as a "title" fight. Earlier this week, as
reported on WBAN, McCarter pulled out of the IBA World 10-round title
fight when she claimed a hand injury. The promoter was trying
frantically to find a competent replacement for McCarter to fight Hallback
on this night's card. Then McCarter did take the fight, but it was made a
non-title 10 rounder. Final scores for this bout was 98-91, 97-95, 100-90.
December
6, 2002 - Edgewater Hotel & Casino, Laughlin, Nevada
Layla McCarter
won a four-round majority decision over
Blanca Luna. There
were no knockdowns. Final judges scores were 38-38, 40-36, and
40-36.
July 18, 2002 - Rose Garden,
Portland, Oregon
IFBA World Featherweight Champion Layla McCarter, Las Vegas,
Nevada, had a six-round majority draw with IBA World Bantamweight
champion Ada "The Ace" Velez. Final scoring
was 58-56 (Velez), 57-57, 57-57.
July 13, 2002 -
Las Vegas, Nevada
Layla McCarter, 126, won a four-round unanimous decision over
Miki
Kikukawa, 122.5. Final scoring was 40-36 all judges cards.
April 29, 2002 Tokyo, Japan
Layla McCarter defeated
Emiko
Raika with a unanimous decision. Raika is the current
Japanese Women Boxing Association Featherweight Champion. Raika came
into the fight undefeated with a 6-0-0 record. Luis Tapia told WBAN,
"Layla took Raika to school and showed outstanding boxing ability to
a country which had never seen women boxing like that before."
McCarter improved her record to 10-7-3 (2KO), and Raika is now
6-1-0.
April 13, 2002 -
Ignacio, Colorado
Sandy
"THE SHARK" Yard. Yard retired after she
lost her title to Layla
McCarter in 2000. She came back last night win a lopsided
decision of McCarter. Yard (12-4-2) had won a previous match with
McCarter (9-7-3) some time ago in Worley, Idaho. Two judges had
scored the fight 97-94, and one 97-93.
February 17, 2002 - Las Vegas, Nevada
Lightweights (135 lb) Jessica
Rakoczy defeated
IFBA World Featherweight Champion Layla McCarter in a six-round
unanimous decision. Mary Ann Owen who covered the fight ringside
said that McCarter kept her distance from Rakoczy, and that the exchanges
of punches were fast and furious by both boxers. Owen said, "Rakoczy
controlled the pace of the fight, she threw some of the harder blows to
McCarter's head." Final scoring was 59-55,
59-55, 60-54. Rakoczy remains undefeated with 9-0-0 (2KO).
McCarter fell to 9-6-3 (2KO).
January 13, 2002 - Venecian Hotel, Las Vegas,
Nevada
With close to a full crowd, Alicia Ashley had a six-
round draw with Layla McCarter in the 126 lbs.Division.
There were no knockdowns, and throughout the fight Ashley had some good
combination exchanges. Ashley's being a southpaw made the fight look a
little awkward at times.
July 7, 2001 - Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio,
Colorado
IFBA Featherweight Champion Layla McCarter knocked down challenger Tracy Byrd late in the fifth round on her way to an unanimous decision. McCarter's defense of her title against Byrd, came only 30 days after she defeated Jo Jo Wyman to retain her IFBA crown and stay one of the most active champions in women's boxing.
The judges scores read 95-94 (Judge Ashe), 98-91 (Judge Basshaw) and 96-93 (Judge Martinez) all in favor of Layla McCarter. McCarter showed superior punching power over Byrd, but Bryd's inside fighting frustrated McCarter who held Byrd to diminish Byrd's effectiveness. McCarter knocked down Byrd with a good combo of punches late in the 5th round, which lead to a furious exchange of punches in the opening seconds of round 6. Ringside observers, called the fight ever close, and disagreed with Judge
Basshaw's scoring at 98-91.
May 19,
2001 -Sky Ute Casino, Ignacsio, Colorado
In the IFBA Featherweight championship bout between reigning IFBA
Featherweight Champion Layla McCarter, 123.5, and challenger Jo Jo
Wyman, 124.5, resulted in a
draw. The Judges scored it 97-93 McCarter, 98-92 Wyman and
95-/95 for the Draw. Both fighters were evenly matched, with the momentum of the fight changing hands round by round. An accidental headbutt in the fourth round temporarily stopped the action, but both fighters were able to continue.
Another female bout on the card: Tracy Byrd, 129 1/4, of Flint, MI captured the IFBA Intercontinental Jr. Lightweight Championship with a
unanimous Decision over Brenda Vickers, 129, of Tampa, Florida. The Judges scored the bout
98-92, 100-90 and 97-93 all in favor of the new Intercontinental champion. Byrd showed remarkable skill after a nearly 18 moth layoff. Byrd used her right to punish Vickers to the body with Vickers depending on her jab to keep Byrd away.
Reports from the Sky Ute Casino said both fights were entertaining, and as always the women received standing ovations throughout the night.
January 17, 2001, Yonkers, New York
Melissa Salamone, 130, defeated IFBA Featherweight champion Layla
McCarter, 130, in a six-round bout. Salamone improved her record to
19-0-1 (7KO), and McCarter dropped to 7-5-1. There were no knockdowns and
according to news sources, Salamone won every round, except the fifth
round. Salamone was originally going to fight Shakurah Witherspoon,
who she had already defeated twice before, but Layla McCarter was named as a
replacement close to the date of this fight.
March 9, 2001, Reno,
Nevada
McCarter won
a four-round unanimous decision against Marilyn
Salcido in a fight that was dominated by the much more experienced
McCarter. McCarter improved to 8-5, and Salcido dropped to 2-2. This was
in the featherweight division.
ABOUT LAYLA MCCARTER
When Layla drove to Las Vegas in February 2000, Layla had received her
first drivers license only a day before leaving. She had $200 in her
pocket and no real place to go. What she did have, at 20 years old, was a
burning desire to make it big in boxing. She spent a few months struggling
with a car that constantly broke down and odd jobs such as washing
cars.
One of those wins was for the IFBA Featherweight World Championship
Belt against Sandra Yard on October 7, 2000, at the Sky Ute Casino in
Colorado! At 21, McCarter became the youngest female to win a world
championship belt.
Born in Alameda, California Layla lived many places including
Corvallis, OR, Englewood, CO, Clay Center, KS, Solomon, KS, Boise, ID,
Mission Viejo, CA, and Spokane, WA. Until age17 she lived with her mother,
her older sister and her brother. Always athletic and very active, Layla
began martial arts training at age 8. Her initial training was at Ed
Parker’s American Kenpo Karate Center in Abilene, KS. During the next
nine years of martial arts training, she also studied various other
methods including: Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu Judo, Ninjitsu, Shaolin Chuan ‘Fa,
kickboxing and Muay Thai kickboxing.When she moved to Spokane, WA, in 1995
she began kickboxing and boxing, first through Northwest Kenpo Karate
center, then at the Spokane Karate Center, later at Lilac City Boxing, and
finally with the Spokane Boxing Club. Her amateur kickboxing record was 3
wins and 1 loss. Her only professional kickboxing match was a loss to the
Northwest and Intercontinental Champion to Luraina Undershoot. Layla’s
amateur boxing record was 10 wins and 1 loss. Her professional boxing
record is now 7 wins, 4 losses, one draw, and 2 knock outs."Two of my
early losses were split decisions on someone else’s home turf, and the
other two were because I lacked motivation and had no peace of mind,"
Layla said. "When I moved to Vegas to put my career back on track I
felt pretty down, but I knew in my heart I could succeed. Now, thanks to
Louis’ training and management, and my own hard work, I’m a motivated
and confident fighter."Layla, 5'4", 125 pounds, is a real
crowd-pleaser. Wherever she goes, spectators not only recognize her
talent, but her winning smile and personality shine through as well.
Humble and child-like by nature, she is still pleased when the crowd
starts chanting, "Layla, Layla, Layla!" As her manager states,
"Wherever we go, everybody loves Layla, (expect maybe her opponents,
of course). She is one in a million!"
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