(DEC 25)  First off I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and  have a Happy New Year.  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 positive events for the sport that  took place on July 11, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.   The IWBHF was created and founded in 2014 (WBAN via myself).  This was the second Induction ceremony held for this organization.  (Some highlight thumbnail photos below taken by many in attendance).  The IWBHF held this in conjunction to an excellent amateur tournament, the Women's National Golden Gloves 2015, that took place from July 6 to July 11.  The IWBHF had the conclusion of the event with the attendees going to the finals of the amateur boxing event.  Another great year for Bonnie Canino and Yvonne Reis who put this event on.

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.