International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Announces its 2015 Inductees

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2014) -- The International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame has announced eight women who have been voted into the 2015 class. The group includes six boxers from the modern era of female boxing (1990-2010), one pioneer female fighter of the 1950s and a ring official who trail-blazed past the gender barriers in the field of refereeing.  The IWBHF induction will be held on July 11, 2015, 1:30-4:30 PM in the Panorama Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, FL., in conjunction with the 2015 National Women's Golden Gloves Tournament, the finals of which will be held that evening.

The eight honorees include: Laura Serrano of Mexico, whose 18 year, 25 bout career included wins over Chevelle Hallbeck and Kelsey Jeffries along with her debut bout, in 1994, against Christy Martin, adjudged a draw but a bout many ringsiders considered a win for Serrano; Dierdre Gogarty of Ireland who compiled a 16-5-2 record over a seven year career and was a participant in what is often considered the first "major" female bout, a six round loss to Christy Martin in Las Vegas in 1996; Jeannine Garside, a hard punching Canadian, who compiled a 10-3-1 record, capping her six year career with a 2010 win over Ina Menzer for the WBC featherweight title.  The five Americans being honored are: Laila Ali, who carried a revered name into the sport of female boxing and lived up to that name with a record of 24 wins without a loss, including 21 KOs; Terri Moss who had 18 bouts during a busy five year career and, following her retirement, has stayed involved in the sport outside the ring as a highly regarded trainer, the force behind one of the most successful "white collar" boxing programs in the country in Atlanta and as a documentary film maker and author effectively depicting and advocating for the sport of Women's boxing; Ann Wolfe a hard punching middleweight who has surely set the sport's record for You Tube views of her spectacular one punch KO of Vonda Ward. In an eight year career, Wolfe, ranked close behind Lalia Ali in the middleweight ranks, put up a record of 24 wins, one loss, generating 16 KOs. Following her retirement, Wolfe has had a successful managing career most notably guiding middleweight James Kirkland; Sparkle Lee (non-boxer category) progressed from refereeing in the amateur ranks to become the first female referee appointed to the NY State Athletic Commission where she has been arbiter in several world championship bouts; Phyliss Kugler (posthumous pioneer boxer category) compiled a reported 55-1 record during the 1950s, her lone loss coming against Barbara Buttrick in a return bout following a four round draw with Buttrick, last July's IWBHF pioneer boxer inductee.  The 2015 inductees will bring to fifteen the number of honorees inducted into the IWBHF in the initial two years and this July's ceremony is expected to generate the same type of fan and media excitement and exposure that the initial event engendered. The IWBHF induction ceremony is a signal event that serves to raise the awareness of the sport of Women's boxing by honoring those individuals who have significantly contributed to the sport and who, in many cases, continue to be active in support, advocacy and growth of the sport. Sue Fox. founder of WBAN, the "Internet site of record for Women's boxing," and the prime mover behind the concept, creation and implementation of the IWBHF, looks forward to July 11: "I'm thrilled to have our 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in conjunction with the National Women's Golden Gloves in Ft. Lauderdale, FL., again this year. The opportunity to locate the ceremony where there will be so many associated with the sport at one event will prove a very fitting way to honor our 2015 IWBHF inductees."    Sponsorship and advertising opportunities:     The IWBHF offers a variety of advertising and sponsorship opportunities to showcase your company, including sponsorships during our ceremony, in all press releases, and will include logos of your company on our websites with direct links to your company, and will announce your company worldwide on the day of the event as it will be webcast live.  For more information, Go Here:  http://www.wbanmedia.com/sponsor-page2.htm

Holly Holm accepts challenge for potential Women's mega-fight vs. Cecilia Braekhus

Holly Holm                                                   Cecilia Braekhus  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (December 20, 2012) - Negotiations are about to begin for arguably the most anticipated match-up in women's professional boxing history between 14-time, three-division world champion Holly "The Preacher's Daughter" Holm (32-2-3, 9 KOs) and undefeated Cecilia "First Lady" Braekhus (21-0, 5 KOs), considered by most to be the top two female pound-for-pound boxers in the world, for July in Las Vegas. Braekhus issued a challenge by way of a video tape shown after Holm's recent victory against Diana Prazak at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque. After introducing herself as the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and World Boxing organization welterweight champion, Braekhus said the following, directed to Holm: "I have an important message for you. Your promoter (Lenny Fresquez) has been saying that this fight (vs. Anne Sophie Mathis) confirms that Holly is the No. 1 female fighter in the world. I do understand that you are avoiding me, but listen carefully: next July I will be in Las Vegas. You will meet me there? Let's find out who is the best female fighter in the world." The Colombian-born, Norway-residing Braekhus has fought only once outside of Europe (WDEC6 vs, Nicole Woods) as a professional, in 2008 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida.  Thirty-four of Holm's 37 home fights have been in her hometown, Albuquerque, where she regularly sells-out with crowds in excess of 3,000. "I'd love to fight her to make that happen," Holm proclaimed as she accepted Braekhus' challenge. "Lenny (Fresquez) will talk to them. I appreciate her wanting to make the fight, as well; that's the only way we can get a good fight. Two fighters mutually agreeing to fight is what it comes down to. I'm honored that she has challenged me. "I would never make a video of myself to send to someone. That's not my style. I'm open to fighting her, really, wherever. I've always been open to fighting, wherever, and I think there's a big misconception that, oh, I only fight here. I fight here (Albuquerque) because the opportunities have been here, and that's the bottom line. If there's an opportunity that it's going to be in Las Vegas, then, by all means, let's make it happen." Holm and Braekhus, combined, are 33-1-1 in world title fights, as well as 19-1-1 in fights against other world champions (Holm is 22-1-1 and 14-1-1, respectively, Braekhus 11-0 and 5-0). Holm has an overwhelming advantage in experience fighting quality opponents, having defeated a Who's Who of women boxers, from the light welterweight through light middleweight divisions, including Christy Martin, Jane Couch, Mary Jo Sanders, Chevelle Hallback and Terri Blair twice apiece, Duda Yankovich, Myriam Lamare, and Mia St. John. Braekhus, who has also defeated Hallback, is coming off a 10-round decision over Mathis, whom Holm split two fights with in the past year. An amazing 212 of Holm's 275 pro rounds fought have been in world championships; Braekhus has 100 of 154 Fresquez hopes that Braekhus and her promoter, Sauerland Boxing, are serious about coming to Las Vegas and fighting Holm. "I've been negotiating with them for two years and they've avoided Holly," Fresquez reported. "I sent Katie Sauerland, I think that's her name, an email but have not gotten a response back. I understand why - Holly is the pound-for-pound champion of the world. Cecilia carries a lot of belts but most are those that Holly vacated. Cecilia is kind of carrying Holly's leftovers. "I know who the best fighter is, the reigning Queen of Boxing, Holly Holm! It's Cecilia's job to fight Holly and try to take her crown away by beating her. We know that she's in the top five, pound-for-pound, but Holly is the best. You have to beat the best to be the best." The great Lucia Rijker, who trained Prazak for her fight with Holm, added, "That (Holm vs. Braekhus) would be a phenomenal fight." Women's mega-fights are difficult to pull off for a wide variety of reasons. Two perfect examples of mega-fights that failed to materialize are Laila Ali vs. Ann Wolfe and Rijker vs. Martin. Fresquez is pressing hard to make what potentially could be the greatest fight in women's boxing history. For more information go to www.fresquezproductions.com or follow Holly Holm on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HollyHolm.