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October 7, 2006-Lucky Eagle Casino,
Rochester, Washington

Most of the prefight talk around the Lucky Eagle Casino Saturday night was about the main event, an 8 round Junior Middleweight NWBA Championship fight pitting local favorite Dakota Stone against the always tough Layla McCarter. More than one fight fan believed that this main event would be an all out war. They were not disappointed. Stone controlled the early rounds because she was able to use her height advantage to keep McCarter moving backwards. Stone also threw more punches early, and though she was able to catch McCarter, she never seemed to connect flush enough to stagger her.  McCarter settled down in the middle rounds when she began ducking just out of reach of Stone's jab, and when trouble approached, McCarter tied Stone up. The middle rounds were quite close. It appeared that McCarter threw the more accurate, and probably the heavier punches, but Stone remained the busier fighter.  The fight turned in McCarter's favor in the later rounds. She was able to catch Stone cleanly, sneaking her jab inside and underneath Stone's long reach.  When the bell sounded to end the fight McCarter's cornerman hoisted her as she raised her arms. Stone too took a bit of a victory lap, arm raised to the cheering crowd. The championship belt was in the ring, and the crowd waited to hear the decision. After four rounds all three judges had Stone ahead 39-37. McCarter won rounds 7 and 8 on all three judges cards. There was little doubt that she was the stronger and more accurate fighter as the end neared. One judge scored the fight 77-75 for Dakota Stone, the other two had the fight even at 76. But after eight rounds of warfare, there would be no clear-cut winner, the fight ended in a majority draw. ©Copyrighted Photos by  Mike Blair