(DEC 23) WBAN received some very cool news this week.  Babyface Boxing and Bad Girls Boxing was nominated for an amateur show they did in California for the following:

1. The FIRST all-amateur boxing card in Norcal "The Beautiful Brawlers." To vote

2. Event of the Year and show of the year (the Beautiful Brawlers, first all amateur boxing card in Norcal)  To vote

3.  Blanca Gutierrez was nominated for Amateur trainer of the year. To vote

Photo: Eliza Olsen, Blanca Gutierrez and Graciela Ortega First ever Beautiful Brawler winner 11 yrs, 80 lbs

Bad Girls Boxing / Babyface Boxing
Lori Steinhorst, Blanca Gutierrez, Eliza Olsen and Martha Salazar

Gutierrez said, "When Lori Steinhorst and I set out on this project together, we had one goal in mind. To give the talented young female boxers a platform to shine. We wanted to give them a venue all to themselves. A venue where they would be with other female warriors and bring out the best possible fight they had in themselves. From the arrival of the first girls who came from out of town the night before. Faith Franco, Duarte Gym, 152 lb #4 ranked, Kayla Jones from Warm Springs Indian Nation, Katherine Interian and Deana Estrada the Oregon State and Pal champ to the weigh ins where we met standouts Bernice Hernandez (Las Vegas), Marina Ramirez (Sacramento) and Paola Estrada (Palm Springs), and Jamie Mitchell all decorated boxers and Olympic hopefuls. We had 3 sets of sisters on the card that are the best boxers in Norcal: Brenda, Nancy and Saira Gutierrez. And a second set of Gutierrez sisters Lupi and Lela who both are 2010, 2011 silver gloves and desert showdown champs. Both the Contreras sisters Iris and Julia from DF, Oakland, CA participated and won their bouts. All of the were highly competitive and evenly matched. Shanne Ruelas ranked #4 and Tatiana Almaraz , Old School Boxing had the crowd on their feet- fight of the night. We had Jasmine Jones 2011 Jr National Champion who fought a tough bout with Brenda Gutierrez who won the first ever Beautiful Brawler belt. Yvette Pancoatal from Oregon fought a hard and tough fight against one of our own Norcal standouts Cinthia Leon. Our Babyface team debuted Athena Herrera and Babyface Eliza Olsen corned one of our favorite boxers Serena Rojas from Fresno who won the belt and kept busy fighting another Brawler winner Iris Contreras 2 consecutive weeks in a row and winning. Our main event brought Faith Franco from Duarte gym in Southern California against another bay area Olympic hopeful Lauren Petit in a bout that did not disappoint."

"The young 8 and 9 year old boxers Graciela Ortega, Lehla Gutierrez, and Haily Zepada showed what we can all aspire to do- box with grace, skill and solid fundamentals. If I started boxing at 8,  wow."

"We did this for our female warriors and the show ran smoothly. We had entertainment, big screen TV's surrounding the venue and the atmosphere was electrifying. Each girl walked into that ring knowing they were going to box the best. The winners got the first ever BEAUTIFUL BRAWLERS BELT and second place won custom trophies. Great job ladies. Together we were nominated for the Best show in Norcal and the Best Promoter. Give yourselves a hand for taking part in something that was bigger than just another boxing show. We showed what female boxers bring to the table: skill, heart and dedication. We made history!", added Gutierrez.

WBAN would like to add, that no one, unless you are "in" boxing helping the sport, has not a "clue" as to the time, the cost, the personal dedication it takes to do an event as Steinhorst and Gutierrez did this year, not only with this all-amateur show that took place, but I saw it first hand with Steinhorst's dedication when I went to one of her boxing camps for a couple of days in California.  It is a "thankless" job at times----but WBAN recognizes their hard work and dedication to the sport.  

WBAN is also very proud of Martha Salazar and Eliza Olson, both excellent and accomplished pro boxers who have found a way to help the sport, not only in the ring, but outside the ring.