Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame Inducts Layla McCarter and More News

 

By David A. Avila

Its slightly confusing.

Layla McCarter was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame this past weekend in Las Vegas. But she is fighting this Saturday in Mexico.

Usually, most sports hall of fames wait until an athlete retires before induction.

Indeed, McCarter is one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever seen and absolutely deserves induction for her long ongoing career that started in 1998.

McCarter (45-13-5, 11 KOs) meets Beatriz Aguilar (7-9-1) in a super lightweight fight in Jiutepec, Mexico on Saturday Aug. 17. It’s their second time around. Their first clash took place during the pandemic in another part of Mexico.

She’s nicknamed “Amazing” and it suits her well. If you ever meet Layla she’s very unassuming and quite pleasant. You would never guess she’s a prizefighter with more than 60 pro bouts in the past 27 years.

Is she the fastest? No.

Is she the strongest? No.

Is she the hardest hitting fighter? No.

But when you put together all her skills, knowledge and intelligence while in a prize fight, there are very few who can match McCarter who last held the WBA super welterweight world title in 2012 by knockout in South Africa. She has not lost a fight since 2007.

Right now, the biggest battle is with Father Time as she continues to lace up and provide entertainment in the boxing ring. Many of her recent fights have taken place in Mexico. She is not shy about fighting in other countries.

Ironically, Mexico once had a male fighter Kid Azteca who engaged in boxing well into his 40s and entered the prize ring 254 times from 1929 to 1961. His real name was Luis Villanueva Paramo and he fought in other countries like the USA and Cuba.

In many ways McCarter is like Kid Azteca.

Sadly, McCarter has never been able to compete with the new generation of fighters that arrived after being allowed in the 2012 London Olympics. That was 12 years ago and not one ever deigned to fight her. Now she is 45 and I would still give her a shot at beating any of the current world champions from lightweight to super welterweight.

You never know when it comes to age. McCarter is now 45. This Saturday will reveal a lot about her remaining fighting skills. At her best she was one of the best.

Las Vegas Talk

I was unable to attend the Nevada Hall of Fame ceremonies due to a scheduling conflict. But I did get to spend time talking to the first native Las Vegas fighter to win a world title Melinda Cooper.

Cooper won the flyweight world title in January 2005 against Anissa Zamarron in Rancho Mirage, California.

During her fighting career Cooper was a lightning bolt in the boxing ring. She was always on attack mode and did it with skill. She turned pro at 16 if I’m not mistaken. Now she is a police officer in Las Vegas and also works with kids in boxing.

When asked about McCarter, she quickly agreed that she is one of the best female fighters ever. Though different in size they would spar on occasion. These two Las Vegas-based fighters fought often in the casino city. I witnessed many of their battles.

Others who fought out of Las Vegas during the early 2000s were Elena “Baby Doll” Reid who is also inducted in the Nevada Hall of Fame. Another Las Vegas-based fighter was Vaia Zaganas who was the first WBA minimumweight world champion.

Those were different times and even more difficult to survive as fighters. How they managed to survive despite lack of fights and ridiculous pay is a remarkable achievement.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Danila Ramos (13-3) defeated Ely Munoz (2-5) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 10. The super featherweight bout was held in Moron.

Milagros Herrera (2-0) won by decision over Victoria Moreyra (1-5-1) after four on Saturday Aug. 10. The super bantamweight fight was held in Merlo.

Rocio Bellido (1-0) beat Silvia Contreras (0-1) by decision after four on Saturday Aug. 10. The super featherweight match was held in Senillosa.

Daiana Ortiz (3-1-2) defeated Alejandra Lujan (8-11-2) after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 10. The super flyweight fight was held in Rosario.

 

Australia

On Saturday Aug. 17, super flyweights Sarah Watt (4-6-2) and Nicila Costello (4-4-1) meet eight rounds for Australian title at Mansfield.

 

Canada

On Saturday Aug. 17, super featherweights Leila Beaudoin (11-1) and Lizbeth Crespo (15-7) meet 10 rounds for regional title at Quebec City.

 

Colombia

Camila Vidal (2-0) beat Andrea Velasquez (1-2) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Aug. 11. The super featherweight fight was held in Florida.

Shamara Woods (8-0-1) knocked out Lira Huyke (8-6-1) in the third round on Tuesday Aug. 6. The lightweight fight took place in Santa Marta. Also, super lightweight Destiny Day Owens (11-0) knocked out Lizeth Porto (2-5) in one.

On Thursday Aug. 15, super featherweights Jenny Tulcan (10-0) and Milanyela Viloria (6-0) meet six rounds at Carmen de Apicala.

 

Japan

On Sunday Aug. 18, minimumweights Tomoka Kojima (0-0) and Misato Sawaki (0-0-1) meet four rounds at Gifu.

 

Mexico

Claudia Martinez (1-1) knocked out Fany Garcia (0-1) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 10. The lightweight fight was held in Nuevo Leon.

On Friday Aug. 16, super flyweights Estrella Valverde (19-12-2) and Gloria Bautista (8-1-1) meet eight rounds for the NABF title in Mexico City.

On Saturday Aug. 17, welterweights Layla McCarter (45-13-5) and Beatriz Aguilar (7-9-1) meet eight rounds at Jiutepec. Also, light flyweights Elizabeth Cruz (10-3) and Nayeli Verde (4-7-2) meet eight rounds.

 

New Zealand

On Saturday Aug. 17, super middleweights Tinta Smith (1-2-1) and Nailini Helu (3-5-1) meet eight rounds in Hamilton.

 

Puerto Rico

Kira Tapia (4-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds over Wendellin Cruz (6-14-1) on Saturday Aug. 10. The lightweight fight was held in Lares.

 

South Korea

On Thursday Aug. 15, minimumweights Ryu Kyung Suh (7-0-2) and Kanae Maehara (3-2-1) meet six rounds at Cheonan.

 

Spain

On Friday Aug. 16, super featherweights Marian Herreria (6-2) and Immacolata Mancusi (0-9-1) meet six rounds at Santander. Also, minimumweights Maria Peral (5-0) and Jasmina Nad (11-31-5) meet six rounds.

 

Tanzania

On Thursday Aug. 15, super bantamweights Sangeeta Birdi (5-5) and Rehema Abdallah (10-0-1) meet 10 rounds for the Tanzania title at Zanzibar.

 

Thailand

On Saturday Aug. 17, atomweights Denise Castle (4-4) and Panida Chatluang (8-9) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Hua Hin.

 

Uganda

On Saturday Aug. 17, featherweights Rachael Musubika (2-4) and Namanda Swafuwa (0-0) meet six rounds at Kampala.

 

United Kingdom

On Saturday Aug. 17, super bantamweights Ashleigh Johnson (2-0) and Victoria Perkins (2-1) meet 10 rounds for British title at Llanelli, Wales.

 

USA

Cecilia Breakhus (38-2-1) won by unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo (19-7) after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 10. The super welterweight title fight took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also, IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0) defeated Daniela Asenjo (16-4-3) after 10; and welterweight Jenna Creason (1-0) beat Kelsey Wickstrum (2-2) after four.

Maureen Shea (31-2-1) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Beata Dudek (4-3) on Saturday Aug. 10. The super bantamweight fight was held in Worcester, Mass.

Peggy Whitmore (4-0) knocked out Shaniqua Frazier (0-7) in the first round on Tuesday Aug. 6. The super featherweight fight took place at Nashville, Tenn.

On Friday Aug. 16, lightweights Peggy Whitmore (4-0) and April Murphy (0-0) meet four rounds at Huntington, West Virginia.

 

Uruguay

On Friday Aug. 16, lightweights Micaela Diaz (7-0) and Micaela Dominguez (2-2) meet six rounds at Punta del Este.

 

Zambia

On Saturday Aug. 17, super welterweights Lolita Muzeya (18-2) and Catherine Mulyata (2-0) meet eight rounds at Lusaka.