In what WBAN felt was one of the biggest history-markers for 2013
f
when Frida Wallberg of Sweden fought Diana Prazak of Australia for
the WBAN Super Featherweight World title fight---ended with Wallberg
getting seriously injured in the ring. Wallberg sustained a
head injury that resulted in having to have surgery. The good
news is she has recovered quite a bit since this incident.
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#4:
Next 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for the amateur female boxers
offer only 36 female boxers spots. Male boxers receive 250
spots...Ouch!
|
In a history-first for WBAN, in 2013,
we began a
PETITION for the public to sign and get behind, addressing the
issue of only having 36 amateur female boxers with only
three weight classes VS. 250 male boxers, who have
TEN weight classes and we are asking that the International Olympic
Committee (I.O.C) increase opportunities and prevent discrimination
against female boxers, as well as other women athletes. WBAN will
continue THIS BATTLE in 2014, and running the petition as long as is
needed to encourage the IOC to increase the weight classes of the
female boxers to more than three at this time.
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#5:
It takes a lot of nerve...To
STEAL world title belts that Someone Else Earns! |
In February of 2013, Jenifer "The Razor"
Barber retrieved her stolen championship belts, when they were found
in a convicted burglars home! On the CBSLA website they reported
that the two belts were returned to Barber, and the suspect was on
his way back to Mexico after being deported. She lost her
belts to the thief in March of 2012, when her home in Mission Hills
was broken into. The detectives were able to track down the
belts from fingerprints that were left on a mirror of Barber's home!
After the recovery of her belts, Barber said, "This represents all
the sacrifice I made for myself to accomplish a goal, and for
somebody to come in and violate your house like that and take
something that is kind of irreplaceable.”
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#6:
Biggest Disappointment for Boxing Fans in 2013 when Holly Holm
Retires Abruptly before fighting Braekhus! |
Now who would have seen this one coming in 2013?
WBAN, Boxing Fans, and anyone who really wanted to see these two
great warriors fight against each other: Holly Holm vs. Cecilia
Braekhus---the BIGGEST fight in the sport in 2013--just a breath
away---when we ALL get put on notice that Holly Holm is retiring
from Boxing to pursue MMA----not a good time in 2013 upon hearing
this news.
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#7:
"Unstoppable" Rola El Halabi who was Shot in
2011, comes back in 2013 and Wins world title! |
In April of 2011, while Rola El-Halabi, in Berlin, Germany,
waited to enter the ring to fight that night, her stepfather and former manager Roy El-Halabi
shot her! The suspect shot her in her hand, knee and both
feet. He also shot and injured two security guards before
being arrested. Fast Forward to 2013! Rola has
re-entered the sport and has now won a WBF world title belt and
is active again in the sport.
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#8:
"Amazing"
Layla McCarter Makes a Difference in South Africa! |
Major strides were made with SIX-TIME world champion Layla
McCarter who made quite an impact in South Africa. She first
went over there in 2012, defeating their country's boxer Noni Tenge---but
from there it grew into McCarter becoming an ambassador in that
country. The people fell in love with McCarter's courage
and dedication to the sport and to wanting to help others. After her fight with Tenge,
she returned to South Africa, by invitation by the Government. She
went over there to assist new boxers, help mentor teens to make
right decisions in life, to help with a new program to fight
domestic violence and education, and be a representative to KO
drugs. What an "Amazing" boxer in the sport!
In September of 2013, I decided to go to the "Mayweather
Experience" that was held at the Mayweather Boxing Gym in Las Vegas,
Nevada. The Special event was geared for boxing fans, upcoming
boxers, and anyone who wanted to do something that was totally
unique in Vegas. BoxerSponsors.com presented the ultimate boxing fan’s dream,
an interactive experience with the most iconic family in boxing
history - The Mayweathers that included Jeff, Roger and Floyd
Mayweather Sr. It was amazing how the Mayweather's were able to manage the
huge amount of people who signed up to do the Experience. They
had a great influx of attendees, from one as young as six years
old to, one of the most inspirational that trained from within a
wheelchair.
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#10:
Eight Women Honored with Hall of Fame Awards by the Golden State
Boxers Association! |
In November of 2013, and finishing out 2013 in great fashion...in Monterey Park,
California, the Golden State Boxers Association [GSBA]
presented "Ladies First" Hall of Fame Awards honoring eight
women, both prominent boxers and females outside the ring
who have had a significant impact in the world of boxing with
California connections to the sport. In addition there was a
special tribute
to Ken Norton, the American heavyweight boxer and WBC World
Heavyweight Champion, who recently passed. Norton was
honored with the Don Fraser Lifetime Achievement Award
presented by Don
Fraser to Ken
Norton’s daughter, Kenisha and brothers. Ken Norton was
also inducted into the Hall of Fame with the GSBA. All
honorees' who were inducted and receiving the Hall of Fame Award, also
received a City of Los Angeles, State of California Certificate, given
by BERNARD C. PARKS, Councilmember 8th District.