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WBAN AWARDS 2000
The WBAN Award(s) is a prestigious
recognition of those who stand out in the sport and who has
significantly attributed to the sport either in the ring and/or outside
the ring. We have recognized many of those throughout the
years since 2000, and continue to do this each year.
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HIGHEST
ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE |
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MARGARET SIDOROFF
Margaret Sidoroff was not only one
of the best women boxers in the world, holding several world championship
titles, but she wanted to set the best example for other women boxers to
follow. She paid her dues in amateurs before turning
pro. She would fight anyone when she was boxing
professionally, and she retired to dedicate herself to working with others
as a boxing coach.
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FIGHTER
OF THE YEAR |
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VALERIE "THE WOLFE" MAHFOOD
There is no doubt that this fighter
will fight anyone that will step up to the plate. She has been very vocal
about how she feels about the sport, and will pull no punches in voicing
those opinions. She ended the year with a bang when she KO'd
"feared by many" Anne Wolfe!
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MOST
INSPIRATIONAL |
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KIM "FIREBALL" MESSER
Messer has proven to not only be
one of the best pound for pound in her weight class, but she is a true
inspiration and leader to all in women's boxing. Messer who was abandoned
as a child in Korea, went back to Korea to fight world title fights and
she has shown to Korean boxing fans and the world the champ she is, in and
out of the ring.
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FIGHTER
WHO CREATED BIGGEST UPSET |
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BRITT VANBUSKIRK
Could this award go to any
other? Britt shocked the boxing community when she defeated
Sumya Anani on September 17, 2000, delivering Anani her first loss in her
professional career...... Anani was given this award in 1998
when she created the biggest upset against Christy Martin. Ironically, the
following year, Christy Martin was voted the Fighter who created the
biggest upset of 1999 when she ran over Daniella
Somers, like a Mack truck -- ending that fight in the 5th round,
making a knot on Somer's head the size of a silver dollar!
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MOST
OUTSTANDING |
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DORIS HACKL
Doris is not only one of the top
and most outstanding fighters of the year, but she was one of the few
fighters willing to step into that "squared circle" with
Chevelle Hallback. She not only stepped into the ring with Hallback
on April 26, 2000, but she won the fight, and became the IFBA Jr.
Lightweight Champion of the World. Doris is a highly respected
boxer, and is very dedicated to hard training and work in the sport.
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MOST
IMPROVED |
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LAYLA MCCARTER
Another no brainer....in 1999,
Layla experienced four losses that included matches with Laura Serrano,
Margaret Macgregor (twice), and Sandy Yard. In the year 2000, Layla
came out like gang-busters, and won ALL six of her fights, including
the IFBA Featherweight Championship! She defeated Jamie Day, Linda
Tenberg, Elena Reid, Jessica Treat, Shelley Lay, and world champion Sandy
"The Shark" Yard!
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MOST
ACHIEVEMENTS |
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KATHY "WILDCAT" COLLINS
In 1990, Kathy Collins weighed 240 pounds. She was a
size 22, and was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. In the
year 2000, Collins fought Denise Moraetes for the IBA Jr.
Welterweight championship, and won the title bout after ten action-packed
rounds, earning her FOURTH World Championship belt. As the
ole' cliche holds true on this one.... "You've come a long way,
baby!"
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BEST
ALL-AROUND FIGHTERS OF THE YEAR |
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LAURA SERRANO
MARISCHA SJAUW
DENISE MORAETES
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TOP
EUROPEAN FIGHTER |
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MICHELE ABORO
Aboro is considered one of the top
women boxers of the world and fights principally in Germany. She is
18-0 with 11 KO's, and this year fought IFBA world champions Eva Jones
Young and Leona "Downtown" Brown (From the USA), defeating both
with a unanimous decision.
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ROOKIES
OF THE YEAR |
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LIZ MUELLER
ELENA "BABYDOLL" REID
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TOP
AMATEURS OF THE YEAR |
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MELINDA COOPER
TRISHA HILL
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BEST
ALL WOMEN'S CARD OF THE YEAR |
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IFBA - PROMOTER -RICK KULIS
February 11, 2000 - Kenner, Louisiana
Jolene Blackshear/Margaret Sidoroff
Trina Ortegon / Kendra Lenhart
Marischa Sjauw / Zulfia Koutdouvva
Kim Messer / Yvonne Caples
Marsha Valley / Patricia Demick
Ann Wolfe/ Mary Ann Almager
*Title fights were televised on ESPN2
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TOP
FIVE FIGHTS OF THE YEAR |
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Jolene Blackshear vs. Margaret
Sidoroff
Melissa Salomone vs. Laura Serrano
Kathy Collins vs. Denise Moraetes
Belinda Laracuente vs. Christy Martin
Doris Hackl vs. Chevelle Hallback
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BEST
"KNOCKOUT" FIGHT OF THE YEAR |
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Ann Wolfe vs. Mary Ann Almager
February 11, 2000 - Kenner, LA
By Sue TL Fox 12/25/00 (Merry Christmas!) |
