Lowlight: To Ryan Wissow for letting a Championship farce take place between Frazier and Taylor. Neither "fighter" even remotely deserved a title fight. One is a "has been" and the other a wannabe.   I'm beginning to see why this sport is getting trash talk from within. This is a sad day. Letting things like this happen will lead to the retirement of many good fighters and understandably so. What is he thinking?

Lowlight: USA boxing held their women’s Nationals that determined the world team within one week of the 9-11 disaster. This should have been delayed, regardless of any logistical situation. Only 50 women in all entered this very important qualifying tournament. This is one reason why the U.S. did so poorly in the worlds.

Lowlights: Once again, the National silver gloves refuses to allow girls in their National tournament. It is Ray Rogers, the president of the National Silver Gloves, and the board of National silver Gloves call. Apparently there is pending litigation about this issue.

Highlights: This year there were over 120 women who entered the national Women’s Golden Gloves, and even better is that their were over 40 Junior Olympic age girls (age 10-16), included in this 120+. Both a statistical record for a women’s tournament.

Highlights/Awards comments: Good events - Inaugural AIBA Amateur World Titles, Pardo's All-women card, (even if he did do the wrong thing by some people, the idea was good & some boxers benefited from the exposure) & one brief stand-out fight from Rolanda Andrews, exposing an over-hyped boxer. Good sportsmanship award should go to Val Mahfood (interview with Fox) for comments after her KO loss to Lenhart. She's always been a good sport. Great Pretender award should go to Juli-Julie Crockett. A close 2nd for being a Great Pretender is Mia St. John---But she is the undisputed champion for Bad sportsmanship. Example of that would be St. John’s comments on Fightnews/insidewomensboxing Nov.12: Andrews supposedly beat her with a lucky punch and would fade back into oblivion, `she does not replace me, I am still Mia St. John..... Christy and I will make the biggest purse in the history of womens boxing..' Does WBAN have greed & arrogance awards as well? People who claim to have lost to a `lucky punch' always want a rematch. MSJ hasn't mentioned it.

Highlights/Lowlights: I think the first-ever amateur world championships in Scranton deserves a mention. The fact that we now see AIBA sanctioned European and World Championships is a very good sign that the sport is getting accepted and growing world wide. It is also a good sign for the future of the pro game; The GOOD of 2001: The 2nd round knockout of Mia St.John by Yolanda Andrews. Say hello to a reality check, Mia!; The BAD of 2001: Ali - Frazier 4. Women's boxing definitely does not need this kind of phony hoopla event. To be taken seriously the sport needs TV exposure of the more talented women on a regular basis; The UGLY of 2001: Don King, Bob Arum, Cedric Kurshner, et. al., who unfortunately control all the purse strings in boxing and who would top this category in any year; And the BEST thing in Women's boxing for 2001 was this website.....!!

Good Guy Award - The award for the person with the most forgiving heart and good guy award for 2nd chances would be Sue Fox when she decides to return the FORUM. There are just no others (I have looked and looked) that serve the many purposes that yours did. Come on, let’s get the gang back together!!! Bill Whaley

Good and Bad: Mia St John of course is the bad and also the good because she got what was coming.......

Hightlights/Lowlights: 2001-"Best"-Sue Fox and WBAN. "Worse"-Female Boxing becoming a Side Show of Boxing -"Ugly"-The General State of Boxing- It makes an honest lawyer look like Sister Theresa! 
Richard Weintraub, Attorney at law

Highlights/Lowlights: Best Fight: Christy Martin vs. Kathy Collins [PPV] great fight, the commentators even said it was the most exciting fight on the undercard--Great for boxing; Worst Fight: Mia St. John vs. Rolanda Andrews... just because Mia is so hyped and at the forefront of women's boxing, and looked just awful on National T.V.; Surprise of the Year: Ali vs. Frazier-Lyde wasn't half bad. I'd say it ended up being good for the sport - although they *could* have included another women's bout or two on the undercard, it was great that the main event of the PPV was a women's fight; Worst of the Worst: okay, this wasn't women's boxing, although some un-pc males would call it that: Hector Camacho Jr. being a wussy-boy and quitting in his fight against Jesse James Leija. I was there. Leija was bleeding worse. Camacho Jr. could have kept fighting, his cut was nothing. I would say it was a waste of my hard-earned dollars, but in a sense, I'm glad I was there to witness this travesty of boxing first-hand. I don't know how Jr. can walk around with his head up; Curiouser and curiouser: ESPN2 and Fox Sports Net actually showed a few women's matches! I practically had a heart attack when they came on. Let's hope they do in more in '02.

Highlights - by Valerie Mahfood: I was sitting at my desk thinking about your "2001 picks" for the year and how I felt about last years. I thought I'd write my piece of mind. For what's it's worth, this is how I feel. If you'd like to print it, it would be okay. Harry and Austin might even like what I had to say this time.........usually, I make them worry.  About this time every year we are inundated with "Best of the Year" awards:  fight of the year, boxer of the year, best knock out punch, come back kids,  you name it and people will generally rank it. While these lists are entertaining (especially when I'm on them), they don't always pronounce everything behind the reasons why something is as it claims to be…..am I making sense?  At heart today are my coaches: Harry Murdock and Austin Green. Last year one of the regular commentators on the message boards promoted an opinion poll in which boxing fans were encouraged to vote on who they believed was the best "Coach of the Year." Only one of my coaches was listed, Harry, but in my heart I felt the other was implied (Austin). I waited for the votes to be cast and the decision was announced. My guys didn't win.  Of course, it didn't matter to them. And at first, it didn't matter to me. It was just an opinion poll and when you think about it, whose opinion was it really? Did the people voting know my coaches? Did they know the other coaches nominated? For that matter, who even nominated the coaches? Were they selected only as a reflection of the fighters they train........?  As you can see, my supply of questions was relentless. I can only presume these challenges to last year's decision comes from my unwillingness to accept my coaches as any thing less than the mark of excellence. But mind you, this isn't an issue of pride on my part. I don't want them to be honored because they're part of a championship team. No, I want them to be recognized for the men that they are and the sacrifices they've made. If I never lose again, it won't change the fact that the only reason I ever won was because they continued to believe in me long after I stopped believing in myself.  Over the past six years, I've been through a range of experiences. While I don't believe the things I've seen are any different then the next female boxer; (the disillusionment, the heartache, and happiness) I do believe the way I was carried through them has made all the difference in how I feel about the sport I live in today. When I look back I laugh out loud at al the good times I've had. And even in the bad times, I still smile with resolution that what I did then is what I still believe today to be the best that I could have done. The source, the absolute source of my conviction lays in the men who train me. When I cry, they gently wipe my tears away. When I'm upset, they listen to me talk long after I've stop making sense. When I'm hurt, they comfort me. When I'm hungry, they feed me. If I'm scared, they reassure me.   In short, with them I don't have to worry about being a champion. I don't have to be strong. I only have to be myself. I can lean on them and with them I can find the faith to face my fears. Because of them, I can look my opponent in the eye and still believe that I am good enough to defeat her.  Don't get me wrong. I'm not always a bundle of nerves. I've had more good times then bad. And when I'm happy, they're sincerely happy for me. I've seen Harry laugh so hard he cried and Austin has almost choked to death trying to stop from cracking up. My God, we have had so much fun together. If I tried to tell you of even half the joy we've shared, I think I might actually get tired of talking (imagine that.....).   I know that as people get older they look back on their lives and think to themselves that those were the good old days. If they had known then how it would have ended, they would have enjoyed their time a little more. They would have taken the time out to notice what a beautiful place life can be...............Well, I realize now that these are the best days of my life. I'm thankful for the people that share them with me. Harry and Austin are more than just my trainers, they're my friends. I appreciate their presence in my life. It goes beyond telling me how to throw a punch or jump a rope. They share with me a common connection, the bond of human experience. I truly enjoy their company. I love them both as sincerely as I've ever loved another man, or woman, in my life.  With that being said, it wouldn't matter to me whether they win any "best" award. What matters to me is that they be aware that I realize how much of an influence they've made in my life. Boxing aside, they're still wonderful men. And if I had my way, that would be the award I would bestow upon them. Not just "Trainer of the Year", that's to limiting. Rather, "Men of the Year" because it acknowledges them for everything else they are besides just boxing coaches.  I love them both..........I love you both. Sincerely, The Big Bad Wolfe or to Harry and Austin: just plain val............Mahfood.

WBAN asked boxing fans to contribute their ideas of who should be nominated. WBAN received many emails from boxing fans, and would like to say thank you for many of the award picks. Sue TL Fox