Layla McCarter, Ebanie Bridges and Costa Rica Fights This Week
By David A. Avila
There are fighters far more recognized and celebrated than Layla McCarter, but none are more skilled than the prizefighter from Las Vegas.
McCarter (45-13-5, 12 Kos) matches skill against Brazil’s Halanna Dos Santos (14-8, 9 Kos) on Friday March 25, at Morelos, Mexico. The fight is set for 10 rounds in the welterweight class.
“I need to stay active so that I don’t disappear from all ratings and opportunity,” said McCarter.
The Las Vegas fighter last fought this last year in Dubai and won by knockout over Georgia’s Elene Sikmashvili in a match set at light heavyweight. The huge weight disparity posed no problem as McCarter stopped her in less than eight rounds.
What is remarkable about her knockout win against Sikmashvili is that McCarter can fight as low as 135-pound lightweight. She is currently campaigning as a lightweight to welterweight.
On Friday, McCarter will be fighting as a welterweight to maintain her place in line as a legitimate contender for the lightweight, super lightweight or welterweight weight class.
Those wishing to view the legendary McCarter can watch via streaming at Luis Tapia’s Facebook page on Friday night.
Title Match in England
A bantamweight world title fight between Australia’s Ebanie Bridges (7-1, 3 Kos) and IBF bantamweight titlist Maria Roman (16-5-1,) takes place on Saturday March 26, at Leeds, England. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.
This is Roman’s seventh defense of the title that she took from Carolina Duer back in August 2017. Her most recent loss was a non-title fight against America’s Melissa Odessa Parker last year in Florida by majority decision.
Bridges proved her ability with three consecutive slugfests in the United Kingdom including a riveting fight against then WBA champion Shannon Courtenay. In that title fight Courtenay, fight fans discovered Bridges could truly fight.
Costa Rica
In Central America, we see a powerful female fight card headed by IBF mini-flyweight world titlist Yokasta Valle on Friday March 25, in San Jose, Costa Rica. She will be joined by a number of high-profile female prizefighters under the MarvNation Promotions banner.
The fight card will be streamed at MarvNation Promotions channel at YouTube.com.
Yokasta Valle, Naomy Valle, Maricela Cornejo, Adelaida Ruiz and Raquel Miller are expected to perform in Costa Rica on a female-powered fight card on Friday March 25. MarvNation Promotions will be staging the show and streaming it on its YouTube.com site.
So far, no bout sheet has been released but a poster featuring the fighters that’s takes place in San Carlos has been distributed.
Ramla
England’s Ramla Ali won by knockout over Shelly Barnett last Saturday March 19, in Los Angeles. Sadly, the doors opened too late for fans to watch the super bantamweight prospect gain her first knockout win.
Ali was very understanding about the fans inability to see her perform, but added that she expects to remain in the Los Angeles area to continue her learning the pro fight game. Training Ali is notable Manny Robles who has worked with numerous world champions.
“We’re especially working on power,” said Ali. “We work on it so much that my fists hurt.”
More Female Fight News
Argentina
Tamara Demarco (10-4) won by technical decision after 10 rounds against Debora Anahi Lopez (20-1-1) on Saturday March 19. The WBO flyweight title fight took place at Buenos Aires. The fight was stopped due to a cut on Lopez cause by a head butt.
Sabrina Perez (18-1-1) defeated Yolis Marrugo (27-12-4) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday March 19. The featherweight title fight took place at Buenos Aires.
On Saturday March 26, light flyweights Evelyn Bermudez (15-0-1) and Debora Rengifo (16-8-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBF and WBO world titles at Buenos Aires.
Australia
Erini Ramirez (1-0) beat Sarah Witt (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Sunday March 20. The super bantamweight bout was held in Flemington.
Enja Prest (2-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Pam McClelland (1-1) on Saturday March 19. The super welterweight clash took place at Gunnedah, New South Wales.
On Friday March 25, lightweights Brooke Cooper (1-1) and Karen Te Ruki (3-2) meet eight rounds at Burliegh Heads, Queensland
Canada
Carolyn Redmond (4-0) defeated Christina Barry (1-9) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 19. The welterweight bout was held in Hamilton.
On Friday March 25, super lightweights Marie Pier Houle (5-0-1) and Valentina Keri (5-5) meet six rounds at Quebec.
On Saturday March 26, super featherweights Leila Beaudoin (4-0) and Estefania Gonzalez (3-4) meet six rounds at Montreal. Also, welterweights Mary Spencer (3-0) and Beatriz Aguilar (7-6-1) meet four rounds.
Costa Rica
On Friday March 25, Yokasta Valle (23-2) and Sana Hazuki (8-5-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBF minimumweight world title at San Carlos. Also, super flyweights Adelaida Ruiz (10-0-1) and Edith De Jesus Flores (7-18) meet six rounds. Plus, light flyweight Naomy Valle (1-0) meets Sylvia Duran (1-0) six rounds.
France
Flora Pili (4-0) defeated Ksenija Medic (2-23-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 19. The super lightweight fight was held at Moselle.
Eva Cantos (3-3-1) beat Laela El Ksiri (2-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday March 19. The super bantamweight match was held at Essonne.
Sheila Martinez (2-3) knocked out Sabrina Flamand (1-2-1) in the second round on Saturday March 19. The super featherweight bout took place at Val d’Oise.
Mailys Gangloff (6-3) won by decision after eight rounds against Fara El Bousairi (4-2) on Friday March 18. The bantamweight fight took place in Savoie.
On Thursday March 24, super bantamweights Romane Geffrey (2-3-1) and Odelia Ben Ephraim (1-1) meet six rounds in Paris.
On Saturday March 26, lightweights Sofia Nabet (1-0) and Marija Zivkovic (1-8-1) meet six rounds at Val de Marne.
Germany
Janina Neumann (5-0) knocked out Cecile Forstner (4-1) in the second round on Sunday March 20. The middleweight fight was held in Landau.
Sophie Alisch (7-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Amel Anouar (2-2-1) on Saturday March 19. The featherweight fight was staged in Berlin.
On Saturday March 26, super welterweights Hanna Hansen (3-0) and Jeanmary Martinez (3-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Dortmand.
Japan
On Monday March 21, atomweights Ayumi Tanaka (0-1) and Aori Matsuo (1-0) meet four rounds at Fukuoka.
On Friday March 25, super bantamweights Machiko Hagiuda (0-0) and Moeko Amo (0-1) meet four rounds at Tokyo.
Mexico
Wendy Juanico Rodriguez (1-0) beat Dulce Gomez (0-3-1) by decision after four rounds on Wednesday March 16. The featherweight bout took place in Mexico City.
On Friday March 25, Diana Fernandez (24-4-1) and Vanessa Taborda (10-13-3) meet 10 rounds in Ciudad Juarez. Also, Mariale Espinoza (2-0) and Genoveva Saldivar (1-2-1) meet four rounds.
On Saturday March 26, super bantamweights Irma Garcia (20-4-1) and Celia Roman (10-8) meet eight rounds at Pachuca.
On Saturday March 26, bantamweights Yemi Mercado (2-5-2) and Graciela Cortes (1-2-1) meet six rounds at Jiqulipilco. Also bantamweights Jimena Reyes (0-0) and Julieth Davila (0-0) meet four rounds.
Nicaragua
Sylvia Duran (1-0) knocked out Yovanella Sosa (0-5) in the second round on Saturday March 19. The light flyweight fight took place in Managua.
Poland
On Saturday March 26, super lightweights Justyna Walas (1-0) and Lili Jumali (1-2) meet four rounds at Bialystok.
South Africa
On Thursday March 24, super lightweights Hedda Wolmarans (6-0) and Ruth Chisale (11-1) meet 10 rounds at Johannesburg. Also, super bantamweights Lufuno Mutshayi (1-5-1) and Nosiacwase Dube (0-3-1) meet four rounds.
Spain
Minerva Gutierrez (1-0) won by decision after four rounds against Ivette Garcia (0-1) on Saturday March 19. The flyweight bout took place at Asturias.
Tanzania
On Saturday March 26, super flyweights Stumai Muki (4-1) and Lulu Kayage (7-7-3) meet six rounds at Morogoro. Also, super featherweights Fatuma Yazidu (19-6) and Zawadi Kutuka (2-0) meet six rounds. Plus, lightweights Najma Isike (1-1) and Halima Bandola (1-1-1) meet six rounds.
United Arab Emirates
Estelle Mossely (10-0) won by split decision after 10 rounds versus Yanina Lescano (10-2) on Friday March 18. The IBO lightweight world title fight took place in Dubai.
On Saturday March 26, lightweights Ramona Graeff (2-0) and Anisha Basheel (9-7) meet six rounds at Dubai. Also, lightweights Ikram Kerwat (10-3) and Happy Daudi (10-9-1) meet six rounds.
On Saturday March 26, atomweights Denise Castle (3-2) and Norj Guro (11-7-1) meet eight rounds at Dubai.
United Kingdom
Zoe Hunte Smith (1-1) knocked out Bojana Libiszewska (7-45) in the third round on Saturday March 19. The super lightweight bout took place in London.
On Saturday March 26, bantamweights Ebanie Bridges (7-1) and Maria Roman (16-5-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBF world title at Yorkshire. DAZN will stream the fight.
On Saturday March 26, featherweights Lianne Bush (2-0) and Karina Szmalenberg (14-48-4) meet six rounds at Nottingham.
USA
Ramla Ali (5-0) knocked out Shelly Barnett (5-7-2) in the second round on Saturday March 19. The super bantamweight fight was held in Los Angeles. Ali fights out of England.
On Saturday March 26, super flyweights Ashley Sciscente (5-0) and Paola Ortiz (1-7-1) meet six rounds at Rock Hill, South Carolina.
(Photo by Alamy)