(DEC 25) First off--I would like to say "Thank You" to all of the writers, photographers, and others who contributed 24-7 daily news for WBAN throughout the year.   I have said this before and will say it again---WBAN would not be where it is today without all of the contributions that we have received from the public to keep the news going seven days a week. 

For some of the exceptional things that happened for WBAN this year, we had two world title fights for the WBAN Independent World title belts. In one match, we had Melissa Hernandez vs. Lindsay Garbatt. In the other match on another card, we had Holly Holm vs. Ann Marie Saccurato.  We are proud of all four of these women boxers for their accomplishments.

Holly Holm made boxing history for WBAN for the second time....In the first history-making event, Holm was the first boxer,  along with Chevelle Hallback to win a WBAN Belt in 2008, and now Holm is the first boxer to win a second WBAN world title belt in 2010.

In another tidbit of history---Holly Holm and Ann Marie Saccurato are the first women boxers to fight for a WBAN Belt twice. For any female boxer to even QUALIFY to fight for a WBAN belt----they are already considered THE cream of the crop in the sport.

We also had strong support for our WBAN Patch program and we have seen many women with the WBAN patches on their boxing gear. 

I personally decided to become more actively involved in being present at some of the boxing events and I did more traveling than usually during this year. It was a rewarding experience by doing this, and it has made me realize that I need to go to more of the fights, in person,  to meet up with more of the boxing community to network with them.

One of the most enjoyable times I had this year was in October, when I went to New Mexico to cover the all-women's boxing card that was promoted by former boxer Stephanie Jaramillo. The card was to help benefit the Susan B. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer.  It was truly a wonderful time---and Lindsay Garbatt and Melissa Hernandez was one of the best fights I had seen in a long time.  Jaramillo donated a boxing robe for the WBAN Archive. She had fought Holly Holm in this boxing robe.  I had to try the Robe on "of course" and while having it on me, Jaramillo autographed the back of it. [I later took the robe to New Mexico where Holly Holm also autographed it!]

Stephanie Jaramillo donated boxing robe to WBAN

Holly Holm signs Robe at the weigh-in in December

Another eye-opening experience this year was learning more about the Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF). I met Founder and President of the RBF, Alex "The Bronx Bomber" Ramos, and was able to learn more about this non-profit organization.

I hope that the boxing entities out there support the RBF as it provides an invaluable resource for the boxers who have retired and are in need.  On my "make a wish list" for 2011, I would like to see more promoters consider supporting the RBF when putting on boxing cards.  Promoters are the very ones who use boxers on their cards for entertainment---and it would be great to see them consider helping boxers when they retire and may now be in need.

WBAN will have the Yearly 2010 Awards Posted Soon!