Exporting Las Vegas As Layla McCarter and Yadira Bustillos Win International Fights and More News
By David A. Avila
A couple of Las Vegas fighters took to the air and headed to Argentina and Mexico this past weekend. One a veteran and future Hall of Fame fighter and the other a young minimumweight firebrand.
Las Vegas fighters have a reputation of being fearless.
Layla “The Amazing” McCarter (49-13-5, 15 Kos) traveled to Cuernavaca, Mexico where she forced Viridiana Rivera to quit on her stool. It was McCarter’s fourth consecutive knockout win. All took place in Mexico.
If you know anything about Mexican fighters they do not usually lose by knockout. McCarter is simply a fighter with an extremely high fight IQ that she gained from her more than 26 years as a professional.
For the past 10 years or more McCarter has been ranked in the top 10 by sanctioning organizations. Yet, she has been unable to secure a fight against any of the world champions since 2016.
How does this happen?
“Women’s boxing in the past was better in that there was less cherry picking,” said McCarter. “Everyone fought everyone win lose or draw.”
McCarter, 47, has won world titles in five weight divisions. Many of those world titles pre-date the arrival of today’s WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO sanctioning organizations. But today’s sanctioning groups do rank her. Even Boxrec ranks the Las Vegas welterweight as the top American.
So why can’t she get a fight with any of the champions or contenders?
Ever since the arrival of the Olympians in 2016. Those fighters with the exception of Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields and Chantelle Cameron, have not fought any of the top fighters who kept professional women’s boxing alive before 2016. It’s a shame.
The top female fighters who arrived after 2016 only want to fight each other.
Taylor, Shields and Cameron are the exceptions. They all tangled with the girl fighters who were lacing up before 2016.
McCarter has lived and trained in Las Vegas for two decades and fought the likes of Sandra Yard, Laura Serrano, and Elena “Baby Doll” Reid who are all in the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame. She had three tremendous battles against Canada’s Jelena Mrdjenovich, four encounters with Melissa Hernandez and traveled to Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany and Mexico.
“Today much more time is spent building social media images that may not live up to the hype,” McCarter said. “Female boxers must aim to be great boxers and put in the work.”
McCarter believes the promoters of today are an improvement from those before 2016.
“The women’s boxing world of today is better,” McCarter admits. “A few promoters like Dimitriy Salita, Eddie Hearn and MVP who promote big events for women and bigger purses are all positive things.”
Yadira and Cooper
Another Las Vegas fighter who found success this past weekend was Yadira Bustillos (12-3, 2 Kos) who traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina where she clashed with Maria Sol Baumstarh (15-7-1) for the interim IBF minimumweight title. After 10 violent rounds Bustillos was scored the winner by unanimous decision after 10 rounds. It was a rematch between the two fighters. In the previous fight held four months ago in Buenos Aires, Bustillos lost a close split decision. In this past weekend’s contest the Las Vegas fighter was a clear winner.
In five years, Bustillos has already fought in Argentina, Germany and many times in Mexico. The Las Vegas fighters seem to have that wanderlust to travel to the enemy’s home.
Bustillos was reportedly sparring with another Las Vegas great Melinda Cooper.
Cooper, 41, has been sparring to prepare for a return to the prize ring. The Las Vegas Police Officer retired from boxing 12 years ago but is anxious to compete again. A former flyweight world champion, Cooper was inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years back. She wants a crack at any of the current world champions soon.
Hopefully after two or three fights, Cooper said.
The Las Vegas girls don’t shy away from competition.
More Fight News
Argentina
Yadira Bustillos (12-3) defeated Maria Sol Baumstarh (15-8-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 24. The interim IBF minimumweight title fight took place in Buenos Aires. Also, flyweight Gabriela Alaniz (21-2) knocked out Tania Garcia (12-13-2) in the 10th round in a regional title fight.
Australia
Mishelle Macatangay (3-2) defeated Sarah Higginson (4-9-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Saturday Oct. 24. The flyweight fight took place in Yagoona. Also, Jemma Peart (10-2) beat Goli Bali (2-2) by split decision after six; lightweight Tayla Jabbour (1-0) knocked out Taye Washington (0-1) in three; and heavyweight Sherilyn Stevens (3-0) beat Emylie Murrell (1-1) after four.
On Saturday Oct. 31, super lights Sophia Asfour (3-0) and Monika Singh (10-4) meet eight rounds at Condell Park. Also, super bantams Lexis Nahirny (2-0) and Kaitlyn Halcrow (2-1) meet six; and super lights Gina Hammoud (0-0) and Danni Mace (0-5) meet four.
Canada
Alessia Mansueto (3-0) won by decision after six rounds against Yulia Puchenia (0-3) on Wednesday Oct. 21. The super feather fight was held in Montreal.
Chechia
Sandra Spievakova (1-0) knocked out Sarlota Vavrova (0-1) in the first round on Sunday October 25. The featherweight fight took place in Usti nad Labem.
Colombia
On Friday Oct. 30, welters Any Paez (5-0) and Yenifer Rodriguez (14-18-2) meet eight rounds at Cienega. Also, Paola Rincon (8-5) and Ana Lopez (2-0-1) meet six.
Dominican Republic
On Friday Oct. 30, super lightweights Stevie Morgan (19-2) and Jenny Tulcan (14-0) meet 10 rounds at Sosua. Also, light heavies Christelle Soron (4-0) and Lina Tejada (13-7-1) meet eight rounds.
Egypt
On Friday Oct. 30, flyweights Chetna Saini (9-1) and Israa Shaaban (2-2) meet eight rounds at Cairo. Also, super middles Aisha Mohamady (1-0) and Farima Mahdy (0-1) meet four.
France
Melina Ainaoui (5-2-1) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds against Ingrid Brodu (3-5) on Saturday Oct. 24. The super bantamweight fight took place in La Roche.
On Friday Oct. 30, middleweights Solana Ayivi (0-0) and Ester Konecna (7-38-3) meet six rounds at Ris-Orangis.
On Saturday Oct. 31, flyweights Maloway Canlers (2-2) and Hadria Bader (1-3-1) meet eight rounds for a regional title at Royan.
Germany
Annabell Honert (11-0) knocked out Jenifer Joklova (1-5) in the fifth round on Sunday Oct. 25. The heavyweight bout took place in Wiesbaden. Also, super light Miriam Liefland (3-0) knocked out Anastasia Hensel (0-2) in one.
India
On Sunday Nov. 1, lightweights Manveer Kaur (0-0) and Shivani Nainwal (0-0) meet four rounds at Mangalore. Also, super flies Amita Soliyal (0-0) and Kajal Budhwar (1-0) meet four; and cruisers Nivedita (0-0) and Manvi Tilak Ram (0-0) meet four.
Mexico
Layla McCarter (49-13-5) knocked out Viridiana Rivera (4-3-1) in the second round on Friday Oct. 23. The welterweight fight took place in Cuernavaca.
New Zealand
On Friday Oct. 30, heavyweights Shyah Hale (0-0) and Kitana Auvaa (0-0) meet four rounds at Auckland.
South Africa
On Friday Oct. 30, light flyweights Sibulele Soboois (5-0) and Asanda Mkhwanazi (2-2-1) meet six rounds at Johannesburg.
South Korea
Si Yeon Ryu (6-1) defeated Li GZ Li (1-1-1) by majority decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 24. The minimumweight fight was held in Yongin. Also, Bo Mi Re Shin (20-4-3) knocked out Adelina Satybaldeva (0-2) in five.
Spain
Christina Desmond (7-0) won by split decision after 10 rounds versus Clara Lopez (3-3-1) on Saturday Oct. 24. The EBU super light title fight took place in Sagunto. Also, Ioanna Martini (2-0) beat Madalene Karlsson (1-1) after six.
Shona Larkman (3-0) won by decision over Cristina Mazzotta (1-4) after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 24. The heavyweight fight took place in Sueca.
Alba Sanchez (10-5) knocked out Fruzsina Gyarfas (0-2) in the second round on Friday Oct. 23. The featherweight fight took place in Torrelodones. Also, super lights Maria Horche (5-0-1) and Sonia Fracassi (5-2-1) drew after six.
Sweden
On Sunday Nov. 1, welters Aitana Alvarez (1-0) and Johana Rajmont (7-11-1) meet four rounds at Stockholm.
Tanzania
On Saturday Oct. 31, super featherweights Nasra Msami (5-0) and Hawa Newton (4-1-1) meet eight rounds at Kinondoni.
Thailand
Wanasanan Onuch (10-7-2) knocked out Natthanan Sangiamchit (9-6-1) in the sixth round on Sunday Oct. 25. The super fly match took place in Bangkok. Also, Peeyalux Sanpokang (12-7) beat Tanwarat Saengiamjit (14-13-1) in six; flyweight Sothita Sittichai (15-7) knocked out Phitchapha Konkayan (0-1) in five; light fly Saowarak Phaesithong (3-1) knocked out Tassawan Hoiraya (2-7) in four; and super feather Waraporn Jaiteang (1-0) knocked out Panglana Mitsakawan (0-1) in two.
United Kingdom
Shauna Browne (9-1) knocked out Jade Burden (5-1) in the sixth round on Sunday Oct. 25. The lightweight fight took place in Harrow.
Laura Pain (10-1) beat Antonella Molina (4-35-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Oct. 24. The bantamweight fight was held in Harrow.
On Saturday Oct. 31, super flyweights Sophia Maycroft (2-0) and Klaudia Ferenczi (20-131-1) meet eight rounds at Houghton-le-Spring.
On Saturday Oct. 31, super lightweights Gemma Paige (5-0) and Carolyn Redmond (9-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Newcastle.
Uruguay
On Saturday Oct. 31, super flyweights Ayelen Granadino (12-3-4) and Micaela Lujan (17-3-1) meet 10 rounds at Punta del Este. Also, Adriana Pineiro (11-0) and Debora Gomez (8-14-2) meet eight; and super bantams Lucia Marrero (8-0) and Gloria Yancaqueo (13-12-3) meet eight.
