Post by Dee Williams on Mar 29, 2008 14:00:45 GMT -5
Layla McCarter, 132.6 lbs, of Las Vegas won a 10-round split decision over Jelena Mrdjenovich, 134.8 lbs, of Edmonton in Edmonton. McCarter was defending her WBA Lightweight title. Final judges scores were 96-94, 96-94, and 94-96.
Once again, home-standing Team Mrdjenovich complained about the officiating. Seems that, according to them, Mrdjenovich, who has rarely fought away from home, simply can't get a break there against good opponents
(Before the fight, WBAN had ranked McCarter #3 at lightweight, and Mrdjenovich #4.)
According to the local press -
McCarter wins split decision over Mrdjenovich
Curtis Stock, The Edmonton Journal
www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=c15f9dd2-7355-4714-a4ac-3cd4edb1fb80
EDMONTON - Billed as "The Final Word," boxing obviously hasn't seen the end of Edmonton's Jelena Mrdjenovich and Las Vegas' Layla McCarter.
Friday night, in the third meeting between the two, McCarter won a split decision. But both fighters wanted more.
"Sure, I'll give her a rematch. She deserves it. She fought a great fight," said McCarter, who retains her World Boxing Association lightweight crown.
"But I've met her three times in Edmonton. I think it's my turn to have the fight in Vegas." That would probably suit Mrdjenovich and her trainer Milan Lubovac just fine.
Lubovac blamed the loss on "lousy refereeing. You can't get a good decision in this city." Asked about the decision, Mrdjenovich said "I'm disappointed. But I'm not surprised in Edmonton." It had been almost three years since Mrdjenovich and McCarter met in the ring but the bad blood hadn't quit flowing -- literally or figuratively.
Unfortunately for Mrdjenovich, the spilled blood was all hers: first from a cut on the lip, then the nose and then a large ugly gash on the right side of her face.
"Thank you, Edmonton," said McCarter, who counterpunched to great effect.
While McCarter appeared to be in control -- especially in the early rounds -- she could feel the momentum shifting.
"I thought I dominated the first five rounds. But then I let the tide turn. The second half of the fight was so close. It was hard to call. I was nervous."
Once again, home-standing Team Mrdjenovich complained about the officiating. Seems that, according to them, Mrdjenovich, who has rarely fought away from home, simply can't get a break there against good opponents
(Before the fight, WBAN had ranked McCarter #3 at lightweight, and Mrdjenovich #4.)
According to the local press -
McCarter wins split decision over Mrdjenovich
Curtis Stock, The Edmonton Journal
www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=c15f9dd2-7355-4714-a4ac-3cd4edb1fb80
EDMONTON - Billed as "The Final Word," boxing obviously hasn't seen the end of Edmonton's Jelena Mrdjenovich and Las Vegas' Layla McCarter.
Friday night, in the third meeting between the two, McCarter won a split decision. But both fighters wanted more.
"Sure, I'll give her a rematch. She deserves it. She fought a great fight," said McCarter, who retains her World Boxing Association lightweight crown.
"But I've met her three times in Edmonton. I think it's my turn to have the fight in Vegas." That would probably suit Mrdjenovich and her trainer Milan Lubovac just fine.
Lubovac blamed the loss on "lousy refereeing. You can't get a good decision in this city." Asked about the decision, Mrdjenovich said "I'm disappointed. But I'm not surprised in Edmonton." It had been almost three years since Mrdjenovich and McCarter met in the ring but the bad blood hadn't quit flowing -- literally or figuratively.
Unfortunately for Mrdjenovich, the spilled blood was all hers: first from a cut on the lip, then the nose and then a large ugly gash on the right side of her face.
"Thank you, Edmonton," said McCarter, who counterpunched to great effect.
While McCarter appeared to be in control -- especially in the early rounds -- she could feel the momentum shifting.
"I thought I dominated the first five rounds. But then I let the tide turn. The second half of the fight was so close. It was hard to call. I was nervous."