It’s a Rap for 2021-Looking forward to 2022!
(JAN 3) Well, it has been quite a year in 2021! Let me do a review of all the good and the “Not so Good” of what happened in 2021. I am looking forward to tackling the good and “Not so Good” in 2022!
We began 2021 with the excitement of preparing, and working hard toward having one of the biggest hall of Fame events for women’s boxing that was to take place on August 14, 2021, at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada–the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.PROCLAMATION: WOMEN’S BOXING DAY -CITY OF LAS VEGAS – MAYOR CAROLYN GOODMAN DECLARED
OUR EVENT ON AUGUST 14, 2021
It was a little bit nerve-wracking, not knowing what Covid-19 had in store for us—-we saw events being postponed, moved to 2022 and more. I told everyone that unless they SHUT DOWN the city of Las Vegas, we would push forward to have our event on August 14th!
The Good: The International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame Event proclaimed Officially “Women’s Boxing Day” in City of Las Vegas!
We did indeed have our event with the mayor the city declaring a proclamation for August 14th, as “Women’s Boxing Day.” Our event was completely full and it was a highly successful celebration for our 2020 and 2021 IWBHF Inductees!
Moving on…..On May 18, 2021, WBAN celebrated 23 years on the net! At the time when WBAN went live on the Internet, would I have thought at the time that it would explode into being the top coverage and source worldwide, absolutely not. I barely knew how to put up a website at the time.
In June of 2021, WBAN was contacted by Charles Muniz, manager for professional female boxer Ivana Habazin, in regards to her professional bout which took place on April 10, 2021 in Dubai. After not being able to get her boxing record updated on the designated website BoxRec that has been given the “Thumbs Up” by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) to be the Official Record keeper of the sport he contacted us. This story ended up being a full file of complaints about Box-Wreck failing to report fights here and there at their pleasure, this was and (is) an on-going situation that WBAN has stayed on top on…and will continue to document. A couple of samples… Full Story 1 Story 2: A Female Bout in Mexico recorded on Box Wreck that was a total Mismatch
The Bad: This did not have to be! 18 Year Old Dies after fight in what appears to look like a mismatch Full Story
On August 28, 2021, at the IGA Stadium, in Montreal, Canada, boxing fans around the world heard after a six-round scheduled fight between Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, an 18 year old, getting stopped in the fourth round by 31 year old Marie Pier Houle, that Zapata was critically injured in the ring.
The Good: The Beautiful Brawlers 10th Anniversary Amateur Boxing Event a Huge Success!
This last weekend on October 30-31, the Beautiful Brawlers 10th Anniversary Amateur boxing event took place in Pacifica, California, and it was two full days of action-packed fighting from these young elite athletics. I was able to attend the Sunday, October 31st event, after flying in from Portland, Oregon, to cover this day, and I will say that it did not disappoint. I am amazed at what Blanca Gutierrez, owner of Baby Face Gym, coach, mentor, organizer, well, let’s put it this way—she wears so many hats I am bound to not mention one, or two…Full story on event
The Good: Behind the Scenes at the Underground Showdown 5 in Brookhaven, Georgia!
In December of 2021, I had the opportunity to attend the live boxing event entitled “Underground Showdown #5, hosted at the Buckhead Fight Club, in Brookhaven, Georgia. The card featured nine men’s boxing bouts. The event was broadcasted live on WBC Network. It was a unique opportunity to be “behind the scenes” at this event that promoted by Terri Moss, retired world champion, and hall of famer with the 2015 International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame. At the event, I not only got a bird’s eye view of what it takes to put on a boxing event—-but also had the pleasure of meeting and talking with many that I have only had social media contact with and to meet many of them in person.
The Good: Heading into 2022 for our next International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame taking place October 22, 2022!
The premier celebratory event in Women’s boxing, the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, has scheduled it’s ninth event on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. This is the second consecutive year the event will be held in the country’s boxing capital and this celebration of the sport of Women’s boxing expects to continue to draw the sold out attendance that has epitomized this event since it’s inception. The 2021 Las Vegas ceremony was highlighted by city’s mayor, Carolyn Goodman, declaring August 14, “Women’s Boxing Day” in Las Vegas. Full Story
It is indeed a “Rap Up” for 2021—but look out 2022—– WBAN is going to be going strong this year (as every year!) We are looking forward to what is in store for 2022!
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