(DEC 24)
This has been a bittersweet year for WBAN, and for me
personally. To begin with, I would like to thank the USA
Boxing Women’s Task Force for giving recognition to the efforts
of WBAN this month, in regards to the amateur female athletes. It
was a pleasant surprise to receive this accolade this month. [Link
to certificate]
10-year Anniversary for WBAN
This year marked the 10-year Anniversary for WBAN. We went live on
the Internet in June of 1998, and it has been a long journey for not
only me but for the women boxers in the sport. I was extremely
proud to make the 10-year mark for WBAN this year. [Link
for more]
WBAN Independent World Title Belts
A major achievement for WBAN this year---We made history. We are
the first organization in the history of the sport to award
professional women boxers Independent World title belts. We were
honored by being able to have the WBAN Belts featured in
what was THE BIGGEST boxing card of the year for women boxers, on
June 13, 2008, a Pay-Per-View card, featuring our four TOP #1 boxers
in the world with our WBAN Independent Ratings. [Link
to Weigh-in] [Link to
press Conference]
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Those boxers were
Holly Holm (our
champion),
Chevelle Hallback (our champion),
Jeannine Garside (who
fought Hallback), and
Mary Jo Sanders (who fought Holly Holm). WBAN
is proud of these four boxers who stepped up to the plate and
fought hard battles in the ring for these belts. I want to
also thank
cutting-edge boxing promoter, Lenny Fresquez, who made this very
important event possible. [About
WBAN Belts]
WBAN Independent Ratings, Master Search, fantastic biographies
What would WBAN do without the hard effort and work of Dee Williams?
Dee is a tireless contributor for the sport, and has been
instrumental in bringing the highest level of credibility to the
sport. Dee created the
computerized
world ratings, which are
recognized by the news media and the boxing community. Dee
also created the fantastic program “Master
Search” that is the
extensive database for women boxers on our WBAN records site.
Also, anyone who has read the
biographies on the women boxers on WBAN, have no doubt that
those bios are the most extensive and comprehensive on the net
today. I want to personally acknowledge and thank Dee for the
continued hard work on WBAN.
Writers, photographers and contributors to WBAN
WBAN would NOT be where it is today without all the great writers, photographers, and contributors who continue to send in news,
photos and more to us to give 24-7 news to the boxing community.
Thank you for all of your hard work on WBAN.
On a personal level…
This year I
celebrated my 19th year of being a cancer
survivor. Little did I know in 1989, when my life fell apart after
being diagnosed with breast cancer, having to endure a mastectomy,
and chemo therapy, that I would go on to become a police officer,
created WBAN, learn the saxophone, and many more noted events in my
life.
[Life
After Breast Cancer]
Police Retirement Party - January 2008
I would like
to say “thank you” to my police department, and to all the many close
friends that I have gained throughout the years of working with
these officers. This year I turned another chapter in my book,
when retiring from my job on January 31, 2008.
Playing at a weekend gig - 2008
One of the things that many of you do not know about what I have
been doing while covering boxing is that I play music part-time with
a co-band member. I had a great time this year playing in small
establishments, doing what I love to do when not covering boxing.
It has been a good year for playing many weekends this year.
I would like to give a heart-filled tribute to my sister, who
lost her battle with kidney failure and other devastating problems
in February of 2008.
The bittersweet part of this year for WBAN…
We saw some low-grade matches made for women fighting for "supposed" world
title bouts, and other minor boxing titles; Too
many boxing
opportunities that could have been potentially great fights that were
turned down by either the boxer or their management; too many bad
decisions when boxers ventured out into other hometowns and
countries; and not enough
television exposure for women boxers.
In conclusion….I hope that 2009, brings a prosperous year for
women boxers. I also hope that the boxers who have accumulated big
boxing records on opponents under their level, will take on tougher
competition and make women’s boxing something exciting for boxing
fans to see when they go to these boxing events; I also would
like to see boxing federations take in consideration using ratings
to sanction bouts. I don't see the point of them having
ratings if they allow one highly rated boxer to fight another boxer
who is not even ranked for title bouts.
To everyone---Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year!
