(DEC 31)   It has been quite a year in 2015. There has been some definite ups and down in the sport throughout the year. 

In 2015, we saw the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF) Induction Ceremony as one of the top events for the sport that took place on July 11, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.   This was the second Induction ceremony held for the IWBHF, that was held in conjunction with the Women's National Golden Gloves 2015. 

In another great event, where we had a female boxer giving back to the sport, WBO flyweight champion Kenia Enriquez (13-0, 6KO) held her first ever all-female amateur boxing tournament in her native city of Tijuana this past Saturday, February 7th. Held at the city-run gym adjacent to the Municipal Auditorium, over ten amateur fights were held to determine champs in five categories.

Cool story that took place in 2015 - While on break from training with Mexico’s national boxing team at the Olympic Center in Mexico City, Sulem Urbina, Mexico’s amateur representative at flyweight, participated in various National Football League charity and celebrity events centered around Super Bowl XLIX. The events included the Players and Pets Charity Party, Wounded Warriors Amputee Football Game (WWAFT), Knockout Bullying Day Event, Madden Bowl, Super Brawl Showdown, and DirecTV’s Super Bowl Party. Urbina, a twenty-four year old, Mexican born, U.S. resident, and a 2016 Olympic hopeful, talked about her busy week in Arizona. She said, “I really enjoyed all the events last week. Each event touched my heart in different ways, allowed me to give back, and meet so many new people.”

Cool story that took place in 2015 -  India’s five times World champion and Olympic Bronze medallist Mary Kom spent International Women’s Day in Europe visiting the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland at the invitation of the International Olympic Committee.  As a bronze medallist at the Olympic Games London 2012 and the third Indian woman to win an individual medal at the Games, Kom has made a name for herself both inside and outside the ring as a fantastic athlete and an inspiration to countless girls and women in her country.

Historical Event in New York:  On May 15, history was made as the New York State Athletic Commission and Ronson Frank/Uprising Promotions, supported their women in boxing.  Susan Merlucci Reno rematched Paula Ortiz. In their first meeting the rounds were fast and furious and too close for two of the three judges to call. They fought four 2-minute rounds. Now these women had 18 minutes to strategize, set traps and box, not just punch.

Cool story in 2015 - In July of 2015, Stephen Blea, got an opportunity to o see the work of  Asako Tonaril while he was in Japan working the WBC Female Mini-Flyweight World Title fight in Osaka, Japan, between Yuko Kuroki & Masae Akitaya.  At this present time, Asako is the only female working in Japan as a Referee.  When Asako, came in she was the second female, other than another woman who is now is gone.  Blea did an excellent interview of Tonaril.

Cool Story of the year - In August of 2015, at the Linq Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada,  the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame [NVBHOF} held a champions welcome reception. Many of the inductees were in attendance including Marvin Hagler, Lennox Lewis & Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. Las Vegas multi-world Champion Layla McCarter received  an award from the NVBHOF "Female Fighter of the year". She also received a beautiful painting from famous artist Nicolosi Wade at the NVBHOF Special party. [photos by Mary Ann Owen] 

  

WBAN Story - July of 2015:   Katie Taylor elicits apology from WBO Pro challenger Billy Joe Saunders after his outrageous anti-female outburst:

English Boxer Billy Joe Saunders hit the headlines in Britain and Ireland last week with an outrageous statement on women who box with these weasel words on iFL TV :  “I think women are there for sex every night; hard sex. Cleaning, cooking, washing, and sex. They’re not there to put on headgear and get punched. That’s my opinion on women, but I’m just a sex maniac.” More

Cool Story of the Week: Maureen Shea spoke at the "Taking a Punch out of Domestic Violence" Event - Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the "Day of Unity" held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. Maureen Shea spoke at the "Taking a Punch out of Domestic Violence" Event.

Women Behind Boxing:  Up and Close with Jean Dancy -  WBAN had the pleasure of meeting up with Jean Dancy--and we were absolutely fascinated at her background in the sport outside the ring.  WBAN for many years have not only covered women boxers, both amateurs and pros----but women outside the ring, and behind Boxing."

Jean didn't just meet Ali, at one time she was the only female boxing manager in his Deer Lake training camp! Later she became a boxing promoter. As a sports-writer, and boxing enthusiast, Dancy has connected with some of the most elite boxers, trainers, and promoters in the history of the sport. That list includes Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Don King, Evander Holyfield, Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, and the Mayweathers.

Cool Story on WBAN:  The boxing industry is full of vibrant, intelligent, strong women, and on the morning of the Canelo-Cotto mega-fight (Dec. 2), 70 of these women who gathered together at Mandalay Bay to laugh, network, honored one of boxing’s most dynamic women, Golden Boy Promotions’ Vice President of Operations, Monica Sears.

Attendees of ‘Stay Golden,’ hosted by “Raging Babe” Michelle Rosado and “The First Lady of Boxing” Jackie Kallen, sipped unlimited mimosas at Mandalay Bay’s Border Grill, overlooking Mandalay’s Lazy River, as Kallen and others addressed the group, which boasted over 500 years combined boxing experience.