Layla McCarter KO’s Biggers in Historic Fight

LAS VEGAS—Lightweight world champion Layla McCarter grabbed a piece of boxing history Friday night with a second round technical knockout victory over Donna Biggers in the first female world title fight scheduled for three minutes and 12 rounds before a sold out audience.

“I wanted it to go 12 rounds to prove women can do it, but I have a cold and didn’t want to risk looking bad,” said McCarter.

GBU titleholder McCarter (22-12-5) won the WBA lightweight title with a blistering attack against Biggers, a knockout puncher from South Carolina, at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. The fight card was promoted by Crown Boxing Inc.

“She was really trying,” McCarter said of Biggers.

McCarter, who fights out of Las Vegas, proved too skillful for Biggers, who tried to move out of harm’s way but was caught with precise lefts and rights. Every time Biggers attempted a punch in the first round McCarter slipped and countered. A six-punch combination dropped the South Carolina fighter in her own corner at the end of the first round.

“I couldn’t land any punches. She was hard to hit,” said Biggers (18-4, 15 KOs). “She countered me a lot.”

Biggers didn’t quit. She fired combinations and moved side to side but McCarter was just too accurate with her left hook. A barrage of punches seemed to buckle Biggers but she continued. Another six-punch barrage forced referee Kenny Bayless to halt the fight at 2:28 of the second round.

“I was disappointed,” said a tearful Biggers. “I wanted to go 12 rounds.”

McCarter fights again on Feb. 14 in Las Vegas.

Other bouts

Former cruiserweight world titleholder Kelvin “Concrete” Davis scored three knockdowns in the first three rounds but veteran Willie Chapman endured the entire eight-round heavyweight clash.

A left hook dropped Chapman in the first round during an exchange. Another left hook floored Chapman in the third round but he beat the count. A vicious overhand right knocked down Chapman again but he survived. The judges scored the fight 78-72, 80-69 twice for Davis.

The most entertaining bout of the night pit Las Vegas lightweight Oscar Marin (3-0) and San Jacinto’s Ronald Harley (0-1). Both fighters eagerly exchanged in a four-round bout. The taller Harley seemed to land more punches but Marin’s shots were more powerful. The three judges scored it for the hometown fighter 39-37.

Norwalk native Rigo Aguiar captured his first pro win against Oakland’s Chris Lopez who was disqualified for excessive holding by referee Robert Byrd at 1:31 of the fourth and final round of a middleweight contest.

A lightweight bout between Terrance Jett of Las Vegas and Alex Cortez of Fresno ended in a majority decision for the local fighter. The judges scored it 38-38, 39-37, 40-36 for Jett.

Canada’s Danny “Boy” Orr (7-0), who fights out of Las Vegas remained undefeated with a knockout at 2:44 in the first round. A left hook dropped middleweight Mikhail Lyubarsky (3-7) of the Ukraine within a minute, then another left hook finished the job.