Layla McCarter and Amanda Serrano Lead Busy January

Female Prizefighting is Jamming in January and Female Fight News

 

By David A. Avila

One of the best female fighters in the world Layla McCarter headlines a Mayweather Promotions fight card on Thursday Jan. 17, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

McCarter (42-13-5, 11KOs) meets Argentina’s Yamila Reynoso (11-5-3, 8 KOs) at an agreed weight limit of 147 pounds instead of the preferred 140.

“She couldn’t meet the weight in the small amount of time,” said McCarter. “But she’s a tough girl.”

Reynoso, 22, recently fought Amanda Serrano for the WBO super lightweight world title in December 2018 in Brooklyn, New York. The fight went the full 10 rounds and showed that Reynoso’s chin was as sturdy as her record showed. She has never been stopped.

McCarter, 39, is considered by this publication to be the top female fighter pound for pound in the world. The Las Vegas-based prizefighter has not lost a fight in more than 11 years despite fighting in other countries such as South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Mexico and Germany.

Many consider McCarter female boxing’s most skilled technician and she has held world titles in five weight divisions in her 20 year career. This will be her first fight in 2019 and she hopes to entice Katie Taylor to agree to a fight.

Mayweather Promotions said the tickets will be free for the Thursday boxing card.

Serrano on DAZN

On the other side of the US, another top female fighter Amanda Serrano will be chasing her seventh division world title on Friday Jan. 18, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. DiBella Entertainment is promoted the title fight.

Serrano (35-1-1, 26 KOs) fights Austria’s Eva Voraberger (24-5, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBO super flyweight world title in a 10 round fight. DAZN will stream the fight live.

For Serrano the most dangerous aspect of the fight is making weight. Her last fight on September 2018 took place at a registered weight of 138 pounds. Now the Brooklyn-based fighter is dropping down to 115 pounds. Making the weight is one thing, fighting after losing so much weight is still another factor. Recovering from weight loss depends on a lot of factors including water and mineral loss. Can it be adequately recovered in one day?

Voraberger, 28, is about two inches shorter than Serrano and has an interim WBC title as a bantamweight. She agreed to move down one weight division to fight Serrano and has been fighting professionally for 11 years.

Serrano is a large favorite after winning world titles in the bantamweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight and super lightweight world titles in her nine-year pro career. She captured her first world title in 2014 by knockout against Maria Maderna in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Next week

Super welterweight world champion Hanna Gabriels returns to the boxing ring and will defend the WBA world title against Sarah Dwyer on Saturday Jan. 26, in Costa Rica. Gabriels (18-2-1, 11 KOs) is coming off a sensational fight against American great Claressa Shields in a fight voted Fight of the Year for 2018. Gabriels, 36, will fight Australia’s Dwyer (3-4-2) at the Avenida Escazu in San Jose Costa Rica.  Gabriels is a national hero in her native Costa Rica.

Rosalinda Rodriguez and Liliana Martinez fight for the UBA bantamweight title on Jan. 26, in Reading, Penn. Rodriguez (8-0, 2 KOs) is 32 years old and fights out Miami, Florida. She has wins over Samantha Salazar and Crystal Hoy. Martinez (21-18, 13 KOs) is 35 years old and fights out of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic. Their title fight takes place at Santander Arena and is promoted by Phoenix Promotions. Also on the same card will be Hector Camacho Jr. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Maricela Cornejo (12-3, 5 KOs) and Erin Toughill (7-3) meet in the main event at The Avalon on Sunday Jan. 27. The eight round super welterweight fight will be hosted by 360 Promotions and once again proves that the L.A.-based group has an interest in showcasing female prizefighting. “Maricela Cornejo is one of the most popular female fighters in the United States and will be making her debut at junior middleweight on January 27,” said Tom Loeffler president of 360 Promotions.

 

Other female fight news

Argentina

Micaela Lujan (7-1) won by decision after six rounds versus Virginia Carcamo (4-8-3) on Saturday Jan. 12. The bantamweight fight was held in Santa Fe.

On Friday Jan. 18, super flyweights Roxana Bermudez (1-0-1) and Antonella Molina (0-1) meet in a four round bout at Alvarez, Santa Fe.

On Saturday Jan. 19, lightweights Macarena Ledesma (9-0) and Marisa Nunez (8-9-2) meet in a 10 round title fight at Escobar, Buenos Aires.

 

Canada

On Saturday Jan. 19, welterweights Kandi Wyatt (7-0) and Dalila Velasquez (5-0) meet in a six round fight at Calgary. Also, featherweights Stephanie Essensa (3-2-1) and Edna Maltos (2-1) meet in a six round match.

 

Denmark

On Friday Jan. 18, featherweights Sarah Mahfoud (7-0) and Bukiwe Nonina (13-3-1) meet in a 10 round fight at Nykoebing Falster.

On Saturday Jan. 19, super bantamweights Dina Thorslund (12-0) and Alesia Graf (29-7) meet in a 10 round fight for the WBO world title at Struer. Also, flyweights Alicia Holzgen (1-0) and Ivanka Ivanova (1-6-1) meet in a four round fight.

 

France

Silvia Bartot (6-0-1) knocked out Marie Meron (5-1-1) in the fourth round on Friday Jan. 11. The EBU super lightweight fight took place at Compiegne.

 

India

Smriti Vanwari (1-0) defeated Mrunali Dhumal (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Tuesday Jan. 8. The super flyweight contest took place at Mumbai.

 

Mexico

Zulina Munoz (49-2-2) stopped Arely Valente (12-4-1) in the fifth round in their title fight on Saturday Jan. 12. The super flyweight match took place at Iztacalco, Mexico. Also, Silvia Torres (20-1-1) stopped Norleidys Graterol (10-2) in the fifth round in a light flyweight bout.

 

Thailand

Sutthinee Bamrungpao (4-6) beat Watcharin Khodam (1-2-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 12. The minimum weight fight was held in Pathaum Thani. Also, Tassana Paladsrichuay (3-4) beat Jantima Tansimi (0-2) by decision in a light flyweight bout; and Weera Salaibang (1-0) stopped Adithep Chanyathai (0-1) in the second round of a flyweight match.

 

USA

On Thursday Jan. 17, welterweights Layla McCarter (42-13-5) and Yamila Reynoso (11-5-3) meet in a 10 round fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

On Friday Jan. 18, super flyweights Amanda Serrano (35-1-1) and Eva Voraberger (24-5) meet in a 10 round world title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

On Saturday Jan. 19, featherweights Wamnee Ereaux (1-0-1) and Katie Newholy (0-1) meet in a four round contest at Billings, Montana. Also, super bantamweights Amy Sower (0-0) and Rebecca Light (0-2) meet in a four round match.