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5'4" Layla McCarter was born on April 19, 1979 in Alameda, California.
Always athletic and active, Layla began martial arts training at age eight. Her initial training was at Ed
Parker’s American Kenpo Karate Center in Abilene, Kansas. 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, Washington 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.
She posted a 3-1 record as an amateur kickboxer. Her only professional kickboxing match was a loss to Northwest and
Intercontinental Champion Luraina Undershute of Canada.
She defeated future professional foe Lisa Lewis by a 4-1 margin in the 132-lb
final of the Blue and Gold amateur Tournament in Baldwin Park, California on
September 6, 1998.
Layla's overall record as an amateur boxer was 10-1.
On September 23, 1998 at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Bingo and Casino in Worley, Idaho,
Layla showed good movement and a good jab while winning her pro debut by a
four-round unanimous decision over lightweight Deshaun Mohammed of Aurora,
Colorado who fell to 1-1.
On February 4, 1999 at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Bingo and Casino in Worley, Idaho,
Sandra Yard (129 lbs) of Palm Desert, California defeated
Layla (123 lbs) by four-round unanimous (40-36) decision. The win moved Yard to 4-2-2.
On April 3, 1999 in Bremerton, Washington,
Margaret McGregor of Bremerton won her pro debut with a
four-round split decision over Layla in junior lightweight action.
On April 24, 1999 at the Art Museum Masonic Temple Annex in Portland, Oregon,
Margaret McGregor (126½ lbs) of Bremerton, Washington moved her pro boxing record
to 2-0 with a four-round decision over Layla (129 lbs), who was now 1-3.
On June 17, 1999 at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Bingo and Casino in Worley, Idaho,
Layla moved her record to 1-3-1 when she fought Tamerah Hudgins of Tampa, Florida
to a four-round draw in a featherweight bout. Hudgins was 3-0-2 after this bout.
On July 26, 1999 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California,
Mexico City southpaw Laura Serrano had her hands full
while winning a hard-fought four-round split (40-36, 40-36, 38-39) decision over
Layla in junior lightweight action.
Serrano moved to 6-0-1 while McCarter fell to 1-4-1 ... but Layla gave
the undefeated veteran a close fight.
The decision was greeted by boos from the crowd, and most observers did not
agree with the shutout that two judges awarded to Serrano in this fight!
Layla drove to Las Vegas in February 2000, the day after she received her first driver's license. She had $200 in her pocket and no real place to go. What she did have, at
age 20, was a burning desire to make it big in boxing. She spent a few months struggling with a car
that constantly broke down, doing odd jobs like washing cars.
"I was not
ready to fight yet," McCarter
told Las Vegas
Weekly writer Molly Brown. "Working took too much out of
me. I took fights early on because I needed money. One day, I was going
to get tags for my car, and I got into a car accident the day of the weigh-in.
When they stopped me I had a Washington driver's license, my insurance
had expired, tags expired. I was like, 'I gotta get money from this fight...'
I took that one for $1,500 for four rounds. The girl didn't show up, and the
promoter said he was going to give me the money anyway, but he never did."
Layla hit the boxing gyms whenever she could
and one of her male sparring partners made an appointment for her to meet his
manager, Luis Tapia of Championship, Inc. at the legendary Johnny Tocco’s Boxing
Gym. Luis, knowing about her 1-4-1 pro record wasn't eager to meet with her. "The
only thing I really liked about her was her age", he says.
But Tapia had her spar with two male fighters, and then sparred with her
himself.
Tapia not only recognized Layla's natural skills, but also noted she had great
shoulders for boxing and a hunger for the sport.
"I’ve only personally trained two other fighters," he stated, "I have to see the
potential, before I dedicate my time."
Since then, Tapia
has managed and trained Layla into an outstanding professional fighter.
On April 29, 2000 at Peppermill Hotel Casino in Reno, Nevada,
Layla (133 lbs) earned her second pro win by TKO'ing Shelley Lay (129 lbs)
of Salt Lake City, Utah at 1:29 of the third round.
McCarter moved to 2-4-1, Lay fell to 1-3.
McCarter vs. Reid in Las Vegas, July 2000
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mary Ann Owen On July 16, 2000 at Arizona Charlie's in Las Vegas, Nevada, Layla (126 lbs) improved her record to
3-4-1 with a four round unanimous decision over Elena Reid (122½ lbs)
from Phoenix, Arizona, who fell to 1-1 as a pro boxer.
On July 22, 2000 in Maywood, California, she moved to 4-4-1 with a four-round decision over Jessica
Treat of Los Angeles, who fell to 2-2. McCarter knocked Treat down in the third round and went on to
dominate the bout.
On August 4, 2000 at the Ben Hur Shrine Temple in Austin, Texas, Layla (125½
lbs) improved her
record to 5-4-1 with a six-round unanimous decision over over
Linda Tenberg (124
lbs) of Austin in a defensive
battle. Linda Tenberg fell to 4-2 with the loss.
On August 24, 2000 at Coeur d'Alene Tribal Bingo and Casino in Worley, Idaho, Layla moved to 6-4-1
with a first-round TKO over Jamie Day of Odgen, Utah in a featherweight bout. McCarter made
short work of Day by landing punishing body blows, then when Day tried to cover up, Layla finished the
job by bloodying Day's nose. Day fell to 0-3.
On October 7, 2000 at Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio, Colorado, Layla defeated reigning champion Sandra Yard of Coachella, California by a clear (100-90,99-91,97-93) unanimous decision
to win the IFBA Featherweight title. The taller Yard was the aggressor initially, but McCarter took
control by countering Yard's left leads and landing big right hands. Yard was frequently beaten to the
punch as McCarter darted in and out landing quick combinations. McCarter sent Yard reeling into the
ropes in the fourth round and dominated the later part of the ten-round fight. Yard fell to 11-4-2. At
21, Layla became the youngest boxer to win an IFBA world championship belt.
Women's Boxing Page correspondent Rod Mahaffey wrote "In the main event, McCarter took early control by countering Yard's left
leads with pinpoint accuracy, landing big right hands repeatedly. Yard,
perhaps showing signs of age, was unable to cope with McCarter's foot
speed and quick combinations. Despite applying constant pressure throughout,
Yard was frequently
beaten to the punch and McCarter exhibited surprising skills as she
darted in and out, flashing multiple combinations then retreating out of
harms way, avoiding Yard's responses. Not enough can be said about the
incredible improvement that McCarter displayed under the tutelage of
trainer Luis Tapia and not enough can be said of the courageous
performance of Yard, a gallant battler in defeat who never stopped
trying to the final bell. At the conclusion, Yard announced her
retirement from the women's fistic wars. She won her title over veteran
Chris Kreuz and was a fighting champion but youth must be served. Yard
just passed her 40th birthday while McCarter is a budding star a mere 21
years old."
McCarter had taken the title fight at two weeks' notice after Yard's original opponent pulled out.
McCarter said that since she had faced Yard in their first fight, Luis Tapia had taught her mental toughness
as well as boxing skills. "He really made me fight for that," she
told Molly Brown.
"I wanted to quit after the third round. I had a cramp,
this awful pain. And he was like, 'Do I have to
pick you up and drag you out there? We came all this way.' I went back
out for seven rounds. The pain was still there, but I didn't focus on
it any more. The rounds started getting easier. The last six went like
butter."
"I admire Sandy Yard for everything she’s done,"
said McCarter
after the decision, "but she’s the old wave and I’m the new wave."
McCarter was nominated by WBAN as the Most Improved
Fighter for the year 2000.
On January 17, 2001 at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York, a sold-out house of 1200 saw
undefeated 1996/7 New
York Golden Gloves 132-lb champ Melissa Salamone (5'5", 131 lbs) win a
unanimous six-round decision over Layla (127 lbs). Salamone (now 19-0-1, 7 KO's) was more aggressive and
landed the harder punches, especially with her straight right in the third round.
Salamone had been scheduled to fight Shakurah
Witherspoon, who she had already defeated twice, but Layla stepped in as a
replacement close to the date of this fight. On March 9, 2001 at the Hilton in Reno, Nevada, Layla moved her pro record to 8-5-1 (2 KO's) with a
dominant performance over Marilyn Salcido of Fontana, California in a four-round bout. Salcido fell to
2-2 (1 KO).
McCarter was named WBAN's Fighter of the Month in March 2001. On May 19, 2001 at Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio, Colorado. Layla weighed in at 123½ lbs and
defended the IFBA Featherweight title against southpaw challenger JoJo Wyman
(5'4", 124½ lbs) of Los Angeles. McCarter, who had broken her right hand two weeks earlier and
whose trainer Luis Tapia wasn't allowed in her corner because of an infraction in California, had
problems solving Wyman's style and the fight ended up as a hard-fought but controversial draw ... one
judge gave Wyman the decision 98-92, another saw it for McCarter 97-93 and the third saw it as a 95-95
draw. Wyman had found a home for her left to McCarter's head throughout the bout and apparently had the
crowd on her side after being cut over her right eye from a clash of heads in the fourth. Wyman also
finished strongly in the ninth and tenth. McCarter herself seemed disappointed by her performance as
she told local reporters "I didn't give it my all. I lost my heart", adding "they took my trainer from
me... that was the biggest factor." Wyman fell to 7-3-1 (no KO's).
Women's Boxing Page hopes we'll see a rematch
between these two top-flight featherweights to clear the air after this
oddly-scored result!
 On July 7, 2001 at Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio, Colorado, Layla weighed in at 125 lbs and retained the
IFBA belt with a 10-round unanimous decision over IFBA Intercontinental Junior Lightweight champion Tracy Byrd (5'4", 125½ lbs) of Flint, Michigan. McCarter did, in her own
words, "just enough to win", and knocked Byrd down with an uppercut and a jab in the fifth round of
their Main Event. McCarter was again fighting without trainer Luis Tapia in her corner because of a
suspension, and at times looked tentative against the more aggressive Byrd. Byrd expressed her
disappointment at the decision, saying that she thought she had pressed the fight and landed the more
solid blows. Byrd slipped to 12-3-0 (4 KO's) with the loss.
On January 13, 2002 at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, Layla and
Alicia Ashley fought to a six-round majority draw (59-55 Ashley,57-57,57-57). There were no
knockdowns in a fight in which Ashley was busier than McCarter but neither landed a lot that was solid.
Both seemed happy to tie each other up in the later rounds. McCarter landed well to Ashley's body near
the end of the third and Ashley tagged McCarter with two good shots to the jaw in the final stanza.
Ashley's record moved to 6-3-1 (0 KO).
 On February 17, 2002 at Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada,
undefeated lightweight Jessica Rakoczy of Las Vegas pounded out a
clear six-round unanimous decision over McCarter in a 135-lb bout.
There were many fast-paced exchanges and both landed solidly at times,
but Rakoczy looked sharper and controlled the action better on her
way to a 59-55,59-55,60-54 decision. The Canadian-born Rakoczy moved to 9-0 (2 KO's).
(Mary Ann Owen who covered the fight
or WBAN at ringside said that McCarter kept her distance from Rakoczy, and that
the exchanges of punches were fast and furious. Owen said, "Rakoczy
controlled the pace of the fight, she threw some of the harder blows to
McCarter's head." For more fight photos by Mary Ann Owen, please go
here). On April 13, 2002 at Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colorado, Sandra Yard of Coachella, California
came out of retirement to win the IFBA Junior Lightweight title with a clear (97-94,97-94,97-93) decision over Layla. Yard
advanced to 12-4-2 (2 KO) with an impressive win.
On April 29, 2002 in Tokyo, Japan,
Layla defeated Japanese Women's Boxing Association Featherweight Champion
Emiko Raika of Tokyo
by a unanimous decision. Layla's manager 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." Raika fell to 6-1-0 with the
loss.
Layla (left) vs. Miki Kikukawa On July 13, 2002 at Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, McCarter (126 lbs) won a four-round unanimous (40-36) decision
over Miki Kikukawa (122½ lbs) of Japan, whose record fell to 7-3-1 (3 KOs).
On July 18, 2002 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, McCarter
fought IBA Bantamweight champion Ada Velez of Puerto Rico to a six-round majority draw (58-56 Velez,57-57,57-57) in a non-title bout.
McCarter moved to 11-7-4 (2 KOs) with her second bout in a week, while Velez
reached 10-1-1 (5 KO).
On November 7, 2002 at Centennial Gardens in Bakersfield, California, Layla (125 lbs) took on Bakersfield native Kelsey Jeffries (125½ lbs) of Gilroy, California in a defense of the IFBA featherweight
title. Jeffries won the title with a ten-round unanimous (100-90,97- 93,98-92) decision in a bout that many saw as being
much closer than the scorecard indicated. Jeffries, then ranked #5 at featherweight, was the aggressor in the early going
and tried to work on McCarter's body at close quarters. McCarter replied with good movement, hand speed and nifty
counterpunching with her left hook. After a close opening round in which both tried to establish their jabs, Jeffries kept
the heat on McCarter enough to convince the judges but McCarter boxed effectively in the later rounds and appeared to have
Jeffries in some trouble in the final stanza.
Layla and trainer Luis Tapia were upset by the lop-sided scoring of the Jeffries fight. McCarter shook her head in
disbelief when the decision was announced and later stated "I feel that I fought the best fight that I know how to fight. I
boxed well and I countered well and I wasn't getting hit...She landed a few shots but I think that I landed more and I feel
that I won the fight, honestly. Even in her hometown. I was surprised at the decision; I'm outraged. I'm upset that they took
everything that meant anything to me. The politics of boxing...it gets you. I don't know it might be time for a change. I'm
tired of the politics. Boxing is making me sick to my stomach." Trainer Luis Tapia added:
"We won the fight. She gave her a
boxing lesson. One scorecard had it 100-90! No way." Jeffries, who has been one of the busiest female boxers this year,
called McCarter "good and tough" and said she would fight her again. Jeffries advanced to 17-7-0 (1 KO)
with the win.
On December 6, 2002 at Edgewater Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, Layla won a four-round majority
(38-38,40-36,40-36) decision over unranked Blanca Luna of Las Vegas. Luna fell to 2-1 with the loss.
On December 28, 2002 at Johnny Mercer Theater in Savannah, Georgia, a crowd estimated at 1200 saw Chevelle Hallback of Tampa,
Florida win a unanimous (98-91,97-95,100-90) ten-round decision over Layla. Hallback knocked McCarter down in the second
round and dominated the early going with her aggressive style but McCarter rallied as the fight went on. McCarter could
not match Hallback's punching power, however, and the outcome was never in any doubt according to my correspondent.
"She's
a great boxer and gave me some problems with her movement, but I'm still the champion," said Hallback, who improved to
13-3-1 (7 KO) with the win. The bout had been billed as an IBA title defense by Hallback but McCarter reported a hand
injury before the bout took place and it was not sanctioned as a title fight.
On February 15, 2003 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, Layla
(131 lbs) won a six-round majority (58-56,58-56,57-57)
decision over Tracy Byrd
(131 lbs) of Flint, Michigan. Both boxed cautiously at first but the bout turned into a clinch-fest in the later rounds, apart
from a rousing finish as Byrd tried to outslug McCarter to tip the scales on the scorecards. McCarter,
who took the fight on three days' notice, advanced to 13-9-4 (2 KO) while Byrd fell
to 12-6-0 (4 KO) with her second loss to McCarter.
On March 7, 2003 at City Center Pavilion in Reno, Nevada, Layla (132 lbs) won a six-round split decision in a quick
rematch with Tracy Byrd (132 lbs), who fell to 12-7-0 (4 KO) with this third loss to McCarter.
vs. Lisa Lewis in April 2003
© Copyrighted photo taken by Sue TL Fox On April 18, 2003 at Palace Indian Gaming Center in Lemoore, California, Layla (134 lbs) won a six-round
unanimous (59-55,59-55,59-55) decision over Lisa
Lewis (133 lbs) of Fresno, California. McCarter used superior movement and accurate counterpunching to frustrate the more
aggressively stalking Lewis, but Lewis got the better of some hard-fought exchanges when she had McCarter against the
ropes. The fight saw several exciting toe-to-toe exchanges, particularly in an action-packed final round.
Lewis fell to 5-7-0 (2 KO). See Photo Gallery #63 on the WBAN Records Member Site
for more fight photos.
Layla rocks Claudia Valenciana!
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mary Ann Owen
On June 14, 2003 at Stratosphere Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, Layla moved up in weight to 139½ lbs and won a clear six-
round unanimous (59-53,60-52,60-52) decision over Claudia Valenciana Duffer of Oxnard, California (143½ lbs). McCarter easily outboxed the bigger, slower and less
experienced Valenciana, and knocked her down in the first and fifth rounds with jabs to her chin. McCarter improved to
16-9-4 (2 KO) while Valenciana suffered her first pro loss in five fights, falling to 4-1-0 (2 KO).
See Photo Gallery #69 on the WBAN Records Member Site
for more photos.
On October 4, 2003 at Northern Lights Casino in Anacortes, Washington,
Layla (137½ lbs) won a clear ten-round unanimous (100-89,98-92,98-92) decision over Lisa Holewyne
(5'8½", 140 lbs) of Houston, Texas for the GBU Junior Welterweight title. McCarter's counterpunching skills and
quickness allowed her to thoroughly outbox the taller Holewyne, cheered on by a partisan crowd. Holewyne tried to come
forward throughout the fight but only caught up to McCarter in the fourth. McCarter finished the fight with a flurry of
combinations that brought the crowd to its feet. Holewyne fell to
18-10-1 (5 KO). [Fight report]
On April 16, 2004 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Layla (137
lbs) lost a six-round unanimous decision to unbeaten Mary Jo
Sanders (140½ lbs). Sanders
improved to 8-0.
Layla trades with Chevelle Hallback for the IBA title
© Copyrighted photo take by Tony Duffy On July 2, 2004 at Pala Casino in San Diego, California,
Chevelle Hallback, now resident in Temecula,
California, defended
her IBA Junior Lightweight title with a 10-round unanimous (98-92,97-93,99-91)
decision over Layla in a well-fought bout that was featured as the co-main event
on a card carried live on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. Hallback's
aggression won her a clear edge on the judges' scorecards, but McCarter had
counter-punched effectively throughout the entire bout, especially when Hallback
came after her with looping shots. Teddy Atlas of
ESPN2 scored the fight 96-95 for McCarter. After the
fight, McCarter said that she felt the decision was fair, because "I was
playing too much defense and letting her get off too many shots without
return." Hallback complimented McCarter, saying: "I had the harder
punches, but she had a beautiful jab. She can be a champion." Hallback improved to 22-4-1 (10 KO). See Photo Gallery #186 on the WBAN Records Member Site
for more photos by Tony
Duffy. On February 12, 2005, at the Ramada Inn City
Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Layla (133 lbs) handed home town
favorite Jelena Mrdjenovich (132½ lbs) her
first loss with a one-sided (59-55,59-55,59-56) six round unanimous
decision. McCarter dominated this bout from the opening bell and
right through the sixth round. "My trainer told me to come out, fake
the jab and throw a right. I did and it landed perfectly," said
McCarter, "that set the pace and I think I earned a bit of respect from
Jelena." McCarter proceeded to dominate the bout with her
combinations. Mrdjenovich landed her best shot of the night in the final
round, but it was too little too late. Asked if she had some advice for the
home town fighter, Layla said "I would tell her not to take another fight
against someone with 30-some fights when she's only had nine." Mrdjenovich fell to 9-1 (5 KOs).
On June 18, 2005 at Shaw Convention Centre in
Edmonton, Jelena Mrdjenovich (134 lbs) won an
eight-round unanimous (78-75,79-74, 79-73) decision over Layla (129½
lbs). McCarter tried to use her speed and movement to control
Mrdjenovich in the early rounds but Mrdjenovich used her jab more
effectively than in their first encounter and also landed left hooks to the
body and head. McCarter caught Mrdjenovich with a hard left to start the
third, but Mrdjenovich also landed some good flurries. McCarter came on in
the fourth but Mrdjenovich took over the fight after McCarter suffered a
broken radial bone in her forearm in the fifth, and dominated the later
rounds as McCarter gamely fought on essentially one-handed from a southpaw
stance. McCarter landed several hard rights in the eighth but could not
recover from Mrdjenovich's control of the middle of the fight. On several
occasions the ring doctor asked McCarter if she wanted to continue, but the
Las Vegas fighter toughed it out and survived the last three rounds.
The bout was the main event of Canada's first all-female pro boxing card in
the "A Ring of Their Own" series. Mrdjenovich improved to 12-1 (7 KOs) with
this win.
"I refused to get knocked out or lose by a
knockout, that would devastate me," said McCarter, while nursing an
obviously swollen left hand. "My arm was in a lot of pain so I had to
adjust. Every time Jelena punched the arm it kind of made me cringe, folded
me. I think I would have won the fight if I had both arms intact."
Team McCarter told WBAN "Layla broke her
forearm in two pieces. She will need surgery as soon we get back to Las
Vegas, she probably be out for three months." McCarter had been
set to fight Holly Holm as a challenger for Holm's IBA World Junior
Welterweight belt the following week in Isleta, New Mexico.
After recovering from this injury, McCarter
told WBAN that she was tired of the female boxers in her weight class
not wanting to fight her, and would move up in weight class to fight the
"big girls".
On April 1, 2006 at the Sky
Ute Casino in Ignacio, Colorado, Layla returned to the ring at 141½ lbs and
in an action-packed crowd-pleasing bout won a six-round unanimous
(58-55,59-56,60-54) decision over Victoria Cisneros (146½ lbs) of
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
According
to ringside reporter Chris Cozzone, "The
far larger Cisneros was like a charging bull, but the ringwise McCarter, the
diminutive matador, made it look easy, avoiding the slap-happy punches of
Cisneros and making her pay every time she had the inclination to do so." Cisneros fell
to 3-4-2 (0 KOs).
Shadina Pennybaker vs. Layla McCarter in June 2006
Photo courtesy Luis Tapia
On June 24, 2006 at the Sky Ute Casino in
Ignacio, Colorado, Layla (142 lbs) won by a fifth round stoppage (TKO) when
Shadina Pennybaker (147 lbs) of Pittsburgh failed to
come out for the sixth round, retiring at the end of the fifth. According
to a
fight report by Chris Cozzone, McCarter was too fast and skillful for
the larger Pennybaker after the first round. As the fight progressed
McCarter picked her spots, landing fast combinations on Pennybaker who could
not land anything solid. In the fifth, McCarter brawled with Pennybaker,
driving her back at the end of the round. Pennybaker attributed her retiring
to the several accidental head-butts that damaged the inside of her mouth.
“We were clashing heads a lot,” McCarter admitted. “But I think my
punches and my experience was getting to her.” See
Photo Gallery #367 on the WBAN Records Member Site
for more photos of this bout. Pennybaker
fell to 9-6-1 (2 KOs).
Layla takes a right from Dakota Stone
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mike Blair
On October 7, 2006 at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, Washington, Layla moved up to fight at junior middleweight, weighing in at 149
lbs for an eight-round NorthWest Boxing Association title bout with Dakota Stone
(5'10", 154 lbs) of Seattle, Washington. According to a WBAN ringside
report from photojournalist Mike Blair,
"Stone
controlled the early rounds because she was able to use her height advantage
to keep McCarter moving backwards. Stone also threw more punches early, and
though she was able to catch McCarter, she never seemed to connect flush
enough to stagger her. McCarter settled down in the middle rounds when she
began ducking just out of reach of Stone's jab, and when trouble approached,
McCarter tied Stone up. The middle rounds were quite close. It appeared that
McCarter threw the more accurate, and probably the heavier punches, but
Stone remained the busier fighter. The fight turned in McCarter's favor in
the later rounds. She was able to catch Stone cleanly, sneaking her jab
inside and underneath Stone's long reach. When the bell sounded to end the
fight McCarter's corner man hoisted her as she raised her arms. Stone too
took a bit of a victory lap, arm raised to the cheering crowd. The
championship belt was in the ring, and the crowd waited to hear the
decision. After four rounds all three judges had Stone ahead 39-37. McCarter
won rounds 7 and 8 on all three judges' cards. There was little doubt that
she was the stronger and more accurate fighter as the end neared. One judge
scored the fight 77-75 for Dakota Stone, the other two had the fight even at
76. But after eight rounds of warfare, there would be no clear-cut winner,
the fight ended in a majority draw." Layla moved her record
to
20-12-5 (3 KOs) while 37-year-old Dakota Stone,
a former US national amateur champion, moved to 7-4-5 (1 KO) as a pro boxer. See
Photo Gallery #393 on the WBAN Records Member Site
for more of Mike Blair's photos of this bout.
On November 17, 2006 at the Orleans Hotel and
Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, Layla (133½ lbs) won a clear (100-90,99-91,97-93)
10-round unanimous decision over Belinda
Laracuente (132 lbs) of Puerto Rico. for the vacant GBU Lightweight
world title. The bout fulfilled a long-standing wish of McCarter's to
fight a title fight with three-minute rounds. Belinda's record fell to 22-15-3 (9
KOs).
Layla hammers Donna Biggers in January 2007
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mary Ann Owen
On January 5, 2007 at the Orleans Casino and
Hotel, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Layla TKO'd Donna
Biggers of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, 2:28 in the second round of
a scheduled twelve-3min-round bout for the GBU and WBA Lightweight titles.
According to a ringside
report from Victor Pera in FightNews.com, "McCarter
started working right away, finding a home for strong double jab-right hand
combination. It was sadly apparent after the first thirty seconds that the
tough fight on paper was going to be another dismissal of a fighter with a
padded record. Shooting every one of her punches short, Biggers looked
nervous at first but soon showed it wasn't nerves but lack of foot work that
was her downfall. McCarter easily dodged and countered everything her
opponent threw and was landing virtually every punch she sent bringing the
sell-out crowd to a roar early on when she had Biggers on the ropes and in
trouble. Amazingly Biggers was able to survive the first heavy onslaught
from McCarter, but not for very long. Just seconds before the first round
was to end McCarter unleashed a rabid flurry that ended with a big left hook
sending Biggers to the canvas. After beating the count and answering the
bell for the second round, Biggers' lack of ability to put up a fight or
even get out of the way was becoming brutally apparent as her face was
peppered and bloodied by every punch McCarter landed. With several members
of the audience calling for the red corner to throw in the towel referee
Kenny Bayless kept a very close eye as McCarter continued to land at will.
Two pinpoint solid left hooks landed on target in succession prompting
Bayless to finally save Biggers from any further punishment."
Layla moved her record to 22-12-5 (4 KOs) while Biggers dropped to
18-4-1 (15 KOs). For more fight photos by Mary
Ann Owen, see
Photo Gallery #403 on the WBAN Records Member Site
Layla vs. Melissa Hernandez in Las Vegas
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mary Ann Owen
On February 14, 2007 at the Orleans Hotel and
Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Layla (132 lbs) won by an eighth round
TKO over Melissa “Hurracan” Hernandez (133½
lbs) of the Bronx, New York City. The fight was scheduled for twelve
three-minute rounds, with McCarter defending her GBU lightweight title.
Photographer Mary Ann Owen of BILV, said of the fight, “Hernandez
fought very well against the experienced McCarter. Hernandez displayed
courage and heart, McCarter’s experienced prevailed.”
After the fight, McCarter said, “Hernandez
has a fighter’s heart. I respect her for stepping up, she will learn from
this and will use the experience for improvement. It took a lot of guts to
fight someone of my experience. We all pay our dues this way. Her time will
come and she will be a champion.”
For more fight photos by Mary Ann Owen, see
Photo Gallery #407 on the WBAN Records Member Site.
McCarter improved her record to 23-12-5 (5 KOs), while dropping Hernandez to
6-1-1 (2 KOs).
Layla McCarter vs Melissa Hernandez rematch, April 2007
© Copyrighted photo taken by Mary Ann Owen
On April 27, 2007, Melissa
Hernandez (130 lbs) returned to the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
for a rematch with Layla (133½ lbs) this time taking
the GBU Lightweight title away from the home-town favorite by an eight-round
majority decision. According to a WBAN
report by Lori Steinhorst, "Melissa 'Huracan' Hernandez approached the
ring with an air of confidence and a playful nature, dancing and smiling all
they way. That playful nature was carried into every round and it was apparent
early on that she was well prepared for this fight. Although Layla McCarter was
able to catch Hernandez with some well placed right hands and jabs, they
appeared to have no effect on Hernandez, who continued to press the action
aggressively. This was a different Melissa Hernandez. Her timing was precise and
her right hand accurate. Her legs were strong. She had a game plan and it was
clear she was sticking to it. Hernandez won by a majority decision with one
judge seeing the fight as a draw. This bout was eight rounds, at three minutes."
Hernandez improved her record to 7-1-1 (2 KOs) with the win.
On May 25, 2007 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Layla (144 lbs)
won a six-round unanimous (60-54,60-54,60-54) decision over
Angel Martinez (146 lbs) of Dallas, Texas, who fell
to 6-3-1 (1 KO).
On June 8, 2007 at the Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio,
Colorado, Layla squeaked out an eight-round majority decision over
Dominga Olivo
of New York. As
reported
by Chris Cozzone of New Mexico Boxing, "Olivo, with just one weapon in her
arsenal, a Ricardo Mayorga-style overhand right, took the fight to the ringwise
McCarter, missing as often as connecting, but winning rounds by sheer aggression
and determination. Meanwhile, McCarter, not quite as active as usual, waited too
long, pocketing her ring savvy and multi-dimensionality to allow Olivo too many
opportunities to land her single weapon. It was McCarter’s ring generalship that
won her the first, but, after a minute-and-a-half of jabbing one another, Olivo
took the second by brute force, via her big right. In the third, Olivo’s sloppy
rights struck pockets of wind resistance or went wide, exploding on McCarter’s
back. McCarter showed total control, but obliged Olivo to slug it out in the
fourth, weighing her pinpoint-accurate punches against Olivo’s bombs in a close
round. The fifth was Olivo’s first decisive round while McCarter took the round
off. The New Yorker mixed up her rights upstairs with an occasional body attack.
The sixth was another close round, McCarter making Olivo miss—but those that did
land, landed hard. It was more of the same in the seventh, but with McCarter
doing even less against Olivo’s attacks. In the final stanza, McCarter picked up
the pace and took back control of the fight—but, at least on one card, it wasn’t
enough for a win. Judges were mixed, 76-76 even and 78-75, 77-75, giving
McCarter the win by majority decision." McCarter improved her record
to 25-13-5 (5 KO's) while Olivo fell to 4-2 (0 KO's).
On November 2, 2007 at SkyCity, in Auckland, New
Zealand
Layla (141 lbs) won a six-round unanimous decision over New Zealand's undefeated
Daniella Smith (147 lbs). McCarter stepped up to welterweight in order to fight
Smith, and delivered the New Zealander her first loss as a pro in what the
35-year-old Smith had stated would he her last pro bout. McCarter improved
to 26-13-5 (5 KOs) while Smith fell to
5-1-0 (0 KOs).
On November 10, 2007 at the Sky
Ute Casino, in Ignacio, Colorado Layla (134¼ lbs) TKO'd 35-year-old Tammy Franks
(133½ lbs) of San Antonio, Texas at 0:44 in the third round of a scheduled
six-rounder. Franks fell to 2-3-0 (0 KOs).
Cindy Serrano trades with Layla in January 2008
© Copyrighted photo by Lori Steinhorst
On January 11, 2008 at the Orleans Hotel and
Casino in Las Vegas, Layla (133 lbs) won a six round unanimous decision over
Cindy Serrano (133½ lbs) of Queen's, New York.
According
to WBAN contributor Lori Steinhorst, "Delivering
on the promise to make it a great fight, McCarter made easy work of Serrano,
who, by the way, is no slouch. This just happened to be a ballroom dance and
McCarter took the lead. With some fancy footwork and a dance that Serrano wasn't
familiar with McCarter took Serrano to school. It was obvious early in the 4th
round that Serrano lacked the experience to keep up with McCarter. While Serrano
was no match for the much more experienced McCarter, there was no lack of heart
or skill. Serrano is a warrior who came in focused and determined to put every
ounce of energy she could muster. McCarter was well-prepared and equally as
focused." Serrano fell to 15-2-1 (7 KO's) with her second straight pro loss while McCarter
improved to 28-13-5 (6 KO's).
For more fight and weighin photos by Lori Steinhorst, see
Photo Gallery #464 on the WBAN Records Member Site.
On March 7, 2008 at
the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Layla (135 lbs)
TKO'd Dominga Olivo (134 lbs) of New York in the sixth
round
of a scheduled ten-rounder
for the GBU Lightweight title.
Olivo was down twice in the
second round, once in the third, and the fight was stopped in the sixth round.
McCarter improved to 29-13-5 (7 KO's) while Olivo fell to
5-3-1 (0 KOs)
.
McCarter now looks forward to a rematch with
Jelena Mrdjenovich in Mrdjenovich's home town of
Edmonton, Canada on March 28. Mrdjenovich's last fight was a draw with Dominga
Olivo
on December 7, 2007. "Two of my early losses were split decisions on someone else's home turf, and the
two more 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 Luis (Tapia)’s training and management, and my own hard work, I’m a motivated
and confident fighter."
Layla summed up her approach to making fights as: "A lot of women just pick the easy
route. Why not just fight if you're gonna fight? ... I'm ready to go. I don't duck anybody,
just the punches."
Layla lived in many places - including Corvallis, Oregon, Englewood, Colorado, Clay Center, Kansas, Solomon, Kansas,
Boise, Idaho, Mission Viejo, California, and Spokane, Washington - before moving to to Las Vegas. She lived with her
mother, her older sister and her brother until age 17.
 Her mother Melinda is one of her biggest supporters, but she told
me that she was very
concerned when Layla first moved from kickboxing to boxing. "It's not something you tell your 17 year old baby girl ... go
ahead, honey, get punched around", she says. But she eventually began to understand that this was Layla's passion and to
realize that her daughter was exceptionally good at it!
"I no longer worry that she can't make a living at this sport, and
she seems to be tough enough to take the punches, or better still quick enough to duck them. I can't tell you now how
proud I am of her, and the spirit it took for her to accomplish this."
Wherever Layla 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 (except maybe her opponents, of course). She is one in a million!"
To reach Layla, contact:
Luis Tapia, Championship, Inc. DBA,
Johnny Tocco’s Boxing Gym,
4535 W. Sahara Suite 105,
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Cell Phone: (702)-812-1782
Gym: (702)-383-8651
FAX: (702)-369-7480
e-mail: ltsport1@aol.com
More Layla McCarter Links
To check out fight reports, complete up-to-date boxing records, with huge digital photos you can go to
the WBAN Records Member Site
Page last updated:
Saturday March 08, 2008
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