IBF Tabs Layla McCarter the Mandatory for Cecilia Braekhus  

By David A. Avila

Layla “Amazing” McCarter has been established the number one mandatory for the IBF welterweight world title on Friday.

According to Luis Tapia, manager and trainer of McCarter, the IBF contacted him in Las Vegas to inform the team of the decision by the New Jersey based sanctioning organization.

“The chairman of the IBF Lindsay Tucker called me today to tell me that Layla is rated number one and the mandatory,” said Tapia. “Cecilia (Braekhus) will need to fight her if she wants to keep the belt.”

Current world champion Cecilia Braekhus (32-0, 9 Kos) of Norway currently holds the IBF title along with the WBA, WBC, and WBO welterweight world titles. McCarter (39-13-5, 10 Kos) is based out of Las Vegas and formerly held world titles in the featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, and super welterweight divisions.

McCarter has been chasing a confrontation against Braekhus for a while.

“It’s been over two years that I’ve tried to get the fight with Cecilia Braekhus. I understand that she makes a lot of money with her Nordic fans,” said McCarter, 38. “We talked her promoter before. We’re in the process of sending the letter to the IBF to make it official that we are interested in fighting for the title.”

Braekhus, 36, recently fought and defeated Mikaela Lauren for a second time. Before that she defended her titles against Argentina’s Erica Farias and Sweden’s Klara Svensson this year. She has been undefeated since turning pro in January 2007.

Ironically, McCarter, who began fighting professionally in September 1998, has been undefeated since 2007 also. Despite amassing wins in various continents and countries she has remained unknown to most boxing fans except the experts. But her fighting skills have reached near legendary status.

“I’m surprised and excited that somebody stepped up and made me the mandatory,” said McCarter before entering a gym to train on Friday. “We’re hoping we can fight her over here but it doesn’t matter. We will fight her anywhere.”

Braekhus is promoted by K-2 Promotions and McCarter is promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

If terms cannot be reached it will go to purse bid. And If Braekhus declines to fight McCarter she will be forced to vacate the IBF title.

McCarter would rather fight Braekhus.

“I’ve been trying to get her to fight me for a long time,” McCarter said. “This decision by the IBF has really added more energy to me.”

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