Layla McCarter a champion seeking recognition..

The last 18 years must seem like an odyssey for the now 37 year old Layla McCarter, the Spokane born Las Vegas resident had very little aspiration of boxing world honours back in 1998 as a fledgling pro fighter, losing 4 of her first 6 in her first full debut year. Following a 1999 loss to Laura Serrano, Layla would go on a 6 fight winning streak that concluded with her first world championship and revenge of her first loss, Layla pulled off an emphatic victory over Sandra Yard, securing the IFBA featherweight title in Colorado..  Through 2001 Layla would retain her title, first with a draw against Jo Wyman followed by a victory over tough Tracy Byrd, the first of three over the Flint fighter over the following 3 years...   In 2002 Layla would unfortunately lose in a bid for the super featherweight title to Sandra Yard and in the November would lose her precious featherweight title to the capable Kelsey Jeffries in California, Layla would see out the year with a further loss to Chavelle Hallback where she bravely fought through a hand injury..   2003 would prove a fabulous year for McCarter, 4 straight victories including a double over Tracy Byrd, culminating in an October clash with Lisa Holewyne where she would pick up the GBU and WIBF super lightweight titles, unanimous points.. 

Two losses in 2004 which included a WIBA super featherweight clash, again with Chavelle Hallback, followed by two bouts with unbeaten Canadian Jelena Mrdjenovich, on Canadian soil..  the first fight a comfortable victory over 6, the second fight, a gutsy points loss over 8 in a fight where Layla showed courage above and beyond the call of duty, finishing the fight where she was forced to box the majority with a double break in her left arm..     Layla would recover from this to remain unbeaten in her next 6 fights, including a stoppage victory over Shadina Pennybaker and a draw with Dakota Stone, along with adding the vacant GBU lightweight title with a unanimous points victory over Belinda Laracuente at the Orleans in Las Vegas..  Two months later in the January of 2007, Layla would add the vacant WBA lightweight title at the same venue in a 2 round destruction of Donna Biggers in a historic bout for women's boxing, a fight scheduled over 12 X 3 minute rounds..    4 weeks later again at the Orleans, McCarter would again defend her GBU belt, again by stoppage in the 8th round of another scheduled 12 rounder over Melissa Hernandez..   Melissa would however return the favour 8 weeks later to take the title in a very close battle over 8, in a fight that many including myself thought McCarter had won..
This was April of 2007, and would be the last defeat of Layla's career, through the following 9 years McCarter would rack up 14 straight victories..  In 2008 she would regain her GBU lightweight title, 21 days later Layla would return once again to Canada to earn herself the WBA belt in a rubber match with Jelena Mrdjenovich by split decision in a fabulous fight..  Layla would finish 2011 with a second victory over Belinda Laracuente, before stepping up an astonishing 3 weight classes in travelling to South Africa to defeat the unbeaten Noni Tenge via 8th round knockout for the WBA super welterweight title..   After a years layoff in 2013, Layla would return with an 8 round unanimous decision victory in a rubber match with rival Melissa Hernandez, followed by a 2015 BKB appearance, Layla scoring a destructive 7th round knockout over tough Diana Prazak, displaying her versatility by switching arenas for the unorthodox pit..   Layla's last outing was in April, where she had to travel to Mexico fir very little reward in order to obtain a 1st round knockout in Spartan surroundings over inept Yolanda Segura..  Layla's record tallies 37/13/5..
I've watched Layla grow first hand from a 4 round novice to a respected 6 times world champion, each time doing it the hard way, overcoming injuries, promotional issues, inactivity..  Yet throughout everything you won't find a more dedicated, down to earth unassuming athlete..  Layla McCarter has done more for the advancement and betterment of female boxing awareness that she is given credit for..  
Thanks to a chance meeting with the now WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder a couple of years ago, Layla and partner / trainer / manager, Luis Tapia struck up a relationship with Wilder which has proved fruitful, on 16th July, Layla will fight a 4th bout with close rival Melissa Hernandez over 8 on the Deontay Wilder v Chris Arreola, heavyweight championship undercard in Birmingham Alabama..  In Luis Tapias own words, "It took one outstanding champion to recognise another great champion."   The Hernandez fight will be Layla's 56th ring appearance, the exact same amount of professional fights as heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, like Mike, Layla has indeed secured her place in boxing history.