Women Boxing: Best and Worst Picks of the

By Sue TL Fox

This was a very tough set of "picks" this year for 2000---there was the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY in the sport this year!

So here it goes.....
[] HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE
MARGARET SIDOROFF
Margaret Sidoroff was not only one of the best women boxers in the world, holding several world championship titles, but she wanted to set the best example for other women boxers to follow. She paid her dues in amateurs before turning pro. She would fight anyone when she was boxing professionally, and she retired to dedicate herself to working with others as a boxing coach.

[] FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
VALERIE "THE WOLFE" MAHFOOD
There is no doubt that this fighter will fight anyone that will step up to the plate. She has been very vocal about how she feels about the sport, and will pull no punches in voicing those opinions. She ended the year with a bang when she KO'd "feared by many" Anne Wolfe!

[] MOST INSPIRATIONAL
KIM "FIREBALL" MESSER
Messer has proven to not only be one of the best pound for pound in her weight class, but she is a true inspiration and leader to all in women's boxing. Messer who was abandoned as a child in Korea, went back to Korea to fight world title fights and she has shown to Korean boxing fans and the world the champ she is, in and out of the ring.

[] FIGHTER WHO CREATED BIGGEST UPSET
BRITT VANBUSKIRK
Could this award go to any other? Britt shocked the boxing community when she defeated Sumya Anani on September 17, 2000, delivering Anani her first loss in her professional career...... Anani was given this award in 1998 when she created the biggest upset against Christy Martin. Ironically, the following year, Christy Martin was voted the Fighter who created the biggest upset of 1999 when she ran over Daniella Somers, like a Mack truck -- ending that fight in the 5th round, making a knot on Somer's head the size of a silver dollar!

[] MOST OUTSTANDING
DORIS HACKL
Doris is not only one of the top and most outstanding fighters of the year, but she was one of the few fighters willing to step into that "squared circle" with Chevelle Hallback. She not only stepped into the ring with Hallback on April 26, 2000, but she won the fight, and became the IFBA Jr. Lightweight Champion of the World. Doris is a highly respected boxer, and is very dedicated to hard training and work in the sport.

[] MOST IMPROVED
LAYLA MCCARTER
Another no brainer....in 1999, Layla experienced four losses that included matches with Laura Serrano, Margaret Macgregor (twice), and Sandy Yard. In the year 2000, Layla came out like gang-busters, and won ALL six of her fights, including the IFBA Featherweight Championship! She defeated Jamie Day, Linda Tenberg, Elena Reid, Jessica Treat, Shelley Lay, and world champion Sandy "The Shark" Yard!

[] MOST ACHIEVEMENTS
KATHY "WILDCAT" COLLINS
In 1990, Kathy Collins weighed 240 pounds. She was a size 22, and was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. In the year 2000, Collins fought Denise Moraetes for the IBA Jr. Welterweight championship, and won the title bout after ten action-packed rounds, earning her FOURTH World Championship belt. As the ole' cliche holds true on this one.... "You've come a long way, baby!"

[] BEST ALL-AROUND FIGHTERS OF THE YEAR
LAURA SERRANO
MARISCHA SJAUW
DENISE MORAETES

[] TOP EUROPEAN FIGHTER
MICHELE ABORO
Aboro is considered one of the top women boxers of the world and fights principally in Germany. She is 18-0 with 11 KO's, and this year fought IFBA world champions Eva Jones Young and Leona "Downtown" Brown (From the USA), defeating both with a unanimous decision.

[] ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
LIZ MUELLER
ELENA "BABYDOLL" REID
<> [] TOP AMATEURS OF THE YEAR
MELINDA COOPER
TRISHA HILL
KINA ELYASSI

[] BEST ALL WOMEN'S CARD OF THE YEAR
IFBA - PROMOTER -RICK KULIS
February 11, 2000 - Kenner, Louisiana
Jolene Blackshear/Margaret Sidoroff
Trina Ortegon / Kendra Lenhart
Marischa Sjauw / Zulfia Koutdouvva
Kim Messer / Yvonne Caples
Marsha Valley / Patricia Demick
Ann Wolfe/ Mary Ann Almager
*Title fights were televised on ESPN2

[] TOP FIVE FIGHTS OF THE YEAR
Jolene Blackshear vs. Margaret Sidoroff
Melissa Salomone vs. Laura Serrano
Kathy Collins vs. Denise Moraetes
Belinda Laracuente vs. Christy Martin
Doris Hackl vs. Chevelle Hallback

[] BEST "KNOCKOUT" FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Ann Wolfe vs. Mary Ann Almager
February 11, 2000 - Kenner, LA

[] WORST MISMATCH OF THE YEAR
Laila Ali vs. 48-year old Majorie Jones
Nothing could have topped this fiasco.

[] DUMBEST REMARKS OF THE YEAR - (TIED)
George Diaz (Journalist-Orlando Sentinel)
"A woman`s place in the boxing ring is carrying a roundcard, wearing stiletto heels and a bathing suit with a bottom half the approximate size of dental floss." (Excerpt)

Vince Caruso (Question/Answer interview on insidewomensboxing.com - you can read whole interview on this site) "Now, going back to lesbians . . . here comes a girl with her girlfriend. How you gonna negotiate with me? Forget it, it’s like being in an airplane with a pilot who cannot fly a plane. Leave the lesbians at home." (Excerpt)

[] "I FORGOT TO TRAIN" AWARD
Donyale Williams 0-5 record
TKO2, TKO1, TKO1, TKO1, TKO1

*All of Freeda Foreman's Opponents televised on Fox Sports Net
Aicheria Bell (0-3)
Laquanda Landers (0-1)
Rachel Pembleton (0-1)

"SUCKER PUNCH OF THE YEAR" AWARD
Lucia Rijker earns this honor when she punched Christy Martin at a press conference.

MOST OUTRAGEOUS
Jacqui Frazier making pro debut and reportedly received $25,000 for a four-rounder with opponent – Tella Reese (Ashtabula fighter) getting a whooping $800. (reported in news sources)

[] BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THIS YEAR.....
Margaret Sidoroff, Brenda Burnside, Sandy Yard, Hannah Fox, retired from boxing.... Lucia Rijker not fighting once this year.......televised shows of inept women's boxing matches.....dream matches and public challenges being ignored by the true champs in this sport....

Thanks to WomenBoxing.com for sending this report in!

Be Sure and Visit WomenBoxing.com for all the "insider" news from the world of Female Boxing.