McCarter Upsets Holewyne!

October 6, 2003

By Sam DiTusa at ringside

Saturday marked the second installment of the “ Battle at the Bridge” boxing series at the Swinomish Northern Lights Casino in Anacortes, Washington. The main event featured the Womens Junior Welterweight Championship fight between Lisa Holewyne, ( 17-11-1), from Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas Nevada’s Layla McCarter, ( 15-9-4). It was a David vs. Goliath type affair with McCarter, a former Featherweight titlist, against the much bigger Holewyne, herself a former Champion.

The sold out crowd was behind McCarter from the outset as she circled away from Holewyne who stalked her throughtout the contest. McCarter put on a boxing clinic on counter punching, using a quick left hook to do most of her scoring. McCarters dominance was so evident that except for the 4th round, you were hard pressed to not score the fight a shut out. Final tallies were 100-89,and 98-92 twice.

Afterwards McCarter said she prepared for a tough fight, and believed she would have an advantage because of her quickness, which proved to be the case. The crowd was on it’s feet as McCarter danced and threw lightning quick combinations as the final bell sounded.

In a 6 round affair between 2 skilled fighters, Lightweights Jesus Santiago of Seattle and Michael Angelo Lynks fought to a 6 round majority. Santiago started slowly as is his custom, but came on strong from round 3-6. The crowd showed it’s displeasure for what was one of two questionable decisions during the night resulting in draws. Fight News scored the fight 4 rounds to 2 for Santiago, who’s record is now 8-4-1. Lynks, a native of Los Angeles, goes to 5-2-2. The word after the fight was “ Rematch.”

The fighter of the night nod easily went to Donnie Smith, ( 4-1, 3 KO’s) , who pulled out a hard earned victory over Ernesto Castaneda, ( 6-4), from Sacramento California. Both fighters were on the canvas, and Smith, from Moses Lake Washington, was badly cut and had one eye swelled shut. The Cruiserweights fought the entire fight on the inside and displayed rock hard chins and plenty of guts.

The fight between Oregon Junior Middleweights Tony Martinez, ( 12-3-2) and Donnie Fosmire, ( 9-6-1), ended in a NO Contest after the two banged heads for the seventh time in less then two rounds, causing a laceration to the top of Martinez’ head. The ring side Physician had seen enough and put a merciful end to the “ Billy Goat “ contest.This was a pure case of styles just not meshing well, as both combatants are skilled veteran fighters who just never got going.

The remainder of the undercard featured young “green” fighters, most of which were making pro debuts . The home town scored a win when Heavyweight Channon O’Connor from Anacortes KO’d Portland’s Nick Cantrell in round 3. Brady Grimes, also of Anacortes was the recipient of the second questionable decision of the night when he was awarded a draw with Othello Washington’s Manuel Reyes in a Junior Middleweight clash. The opener saw Job Dunn of Austin Texas score a 4th round TKO over Tacoma’s Matt Enslow.

Promoter Patrick Ortiz put on an exciting show to a standing room only crowd, and announced at the shows end that Boxing continues at the Northern Lights Casino with 4 shows scheduled in 2004.

Questions? Comments? Please e-mail Sam DiTusa