McCarter eyes women’s lightweight title on Big Knockout Boxing card
Female boxers who are 35 years old don’t have many promoters knocking on their doors. So they take what they can get.
Even when the ring is a circular pit with no ropes.
But Layla McCarter never has been afraid of a challenge, and the Las Vegas resident will compete in Big Knockout Boxing’s first-ever women’s fight Saturday at Mandalay Bay, meeting Diana Prazak in a seven-round bout for the lightweight championship.
The fight is on the undercard of the BKB middleweight title bout between champion Gabe Rosado and Curtis Stevens.
“It’s going to be interesting,” McCarter said. “There’s not as much freedom, and there’s a lot of in-fighting.”
McCarter, 36-13-5 with eight knockouts in traditional boxing, said being in the pit, which has a 17-foot diameter and no ropes compared with a 20-foot ring with ropes, will take some adjusting.
“I worked out in the pit the other day, and it’s a little tricky,” she said. “If you get close to the edge, you can trip and fall, so I have to be careful.”
McCarter last fought Nov. 21, when she won an eight-round unanimous decision over Melissa Hernandez at The Orleans. The fight was McCarter’s first in more than two years, yet she didn’t show any noticeable rust.
“I was happy I boxed clean and didn’t mess up,” McCarter said. “I was in such good shape, I had no problems.
“I really want to stay busy. So when the people at BKB approached me about being on this card, I said, ‘Yeah, I definitely want to be part of this.’ ”
Prazak (13-3, nine KOs), an Australian who lives in Los Angeles, also is 35, so McCarter doesn’t have to worry about facing some young fighter looking to make a name for herself.
“She’s got power,” McCarter said. “She can punch, and she can hurt you. I think my experience gives me a big edge. But I never underestimate anyone.”
The inaugural BKB card in Nevada in August drew 4,572 at Mandalay Bay. BKB 2 will be shown on pay per view Saturday for $29.95, with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m.
McCarter said she plans to give fans an entertaining performance.
“I’m honored,” she said. “Who better than me to be in the first BKB women’s fight?”
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
