(JULY 6) On Friday night at the South Point Hotel Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lightweight Layla "Amazing" McCarter, 135, won a 10-round unanimous decision over Emiko "Fujin" Raika, 134. The two were fighting for the WBA lightweight title. Final judges scores were 100-90, on all cards.

We were promised "FIREWORKS" in the rematch between McCarter and Raika and we were not disappointed. From the time the first bell rang there was non-stop action from both corners.

It was apparent that Raika came to fight, it was the fight of her hearts desire and she poured all she had into it, but she was no match for the slick, well-schooled McCarter who was able to slip Raika's punches and dominate her at will.

Make no mistake.....Raika has the stuff that champions are made of. She was prepared and she had a solid professional team. She had plenty of momentum and motivation and worked diligently catching McCarter with some clean solid shots....but not enough to make the difference. A clash of heads in the 7th round, that could clearly be heard by those of us standing close by produced a cut that seemed to bother Raika for the remainder of the fight......and gave McCarter a clear focus for the next three rounds.

This was definitely McCarter's night and the most exceptional performance I have seen out of Layla to date----she was strong, confidant and ....well, "Amazing".