The pride of South Korean boxing, newly-crowned UBO Female World Junior Flyweight Champion Ju Hee Kim confirmed her standing as one of the best women boxers in the world when she decisively beat Thailand’s Ploynapa Sakrungrueng for the second time on December 15 in Seoul.

Once one of the youngest female professionals in the world when she turned over at only fifteen in 2001, she has now compiled a very impressive record of 17-1-1 (8) and captured numerous world championships along the way. She is the 2012 UBO Boxer Of The Year!

Monroe, Michigan’s own Bronco McKart successfully defended his UBO World Middleweight title on April 28 in a pulsating battle with Mexican Jose Medina, coming out at the other end with a majority decision victory.

In front of 4000 fans at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, McKart and Medina went toe-to-toe from the start, and after eight rounds of entertaining boxing it appeared that the fight could go either way. McKart managed to finish strong and pull away on two of the scorecards (116-112 on both), while the third had it even at 114-114.

“I knew I had to finish strong, but I have been training my whole life to go twelve rounds and that’s what I did tonight. It’s no different from the beginning of my career”, said McKart after his fifty-fourth victory in 64 professional fights (54-9-1, 32 KOs).   

This year’s “New Male Champion Of The Year” award goes to one of the most devastating punchers in the Cruiserweight division, and UBO World Champion, Rodion Pastukh from Russia.

In a country full of world class Cruiserweights, “Iron Fist” Pastukh won the Russian national title in 2011 and a WBC regional championship later that year, proving himself ready for bigger things in 2012.

On October 13 in the city of Krasnodar, he won the UBO World title in only his ninth professional fight, which is an amazing accomplishment for any boxer.

Mikaela Lauren from Sweden won the UBO Female World Super Welterweight title on October 5 in Stockholm, when she scored a unanimous decision over Serbian Eva Halasi on a show promoted by Baltic Probox Promotion.

With an excellent professional record of 18-2 (6), Lauren has established herself at the top of her division, and is steadily building her name as one of the leading sports personalities in Sweden.

25-year-old Rex “Wonderkid” Tso underlined his potential and skills when he destroyed Torsak Singabasak of Thailand in the very first round to capture the UBO Asia Pacific Super Flyweight title on April 26 in Hong Kong.

Tso has won five bouts in 2012, and is currently undefeated at 8-0 (5). Fast hands, significant power and talent is what makes him the 2012 UBO Prospect Of The Year!

There is absolutely no getting around Jay Lau and his DEF Promotions when it comes to crowning the 2012 UBO Promoter Of The Year!

DEF Promotions staged the biggest professional boxing event in Hong Kong History on April 26, with no less than four (!!!) UBO Title fights on the bill:

Fernando Lumacad won the World Bantamweight title, Lefoumbou Ngoma captured the World Light Heavyweight title, Rex Tso lifted the Asia Pacific Super Flyweight title, and Lawrence Tauasa won the International Heavyweight championship.

 

A former world champion, Krisztina Belinszky knows a thing or two about the game of professional boxing, and she is doing a magnificent job these days in her capacity of being a manager.

On July 28 at the Emperor Garden in Budapest, Hungary, two of Belinszky’s fighters won UBO titles on the same show, when Laszlo Fazekas and Istvan Kiss took home Youth titles at Super Lightweight and Lightweight respectively.

Just as is the case with the Promoter Of The Year Award, there is no competition when it comes to “Event Of The Year”. The April 26 mega-show in Hong Kong promoted by DEF Promotions takes the price, hands down!

Four UBO title fights on one card, and the most significant professional boxing show in Hong Kong history. Enough said!


 

The 2012 UBO Special Tribute Award goes to two people, but two people who together deserve recognition for keeping professional boxing in Algeria alive and kicking during the last many years:

Promoter Mohamed Guenif and UBO World Heavyweight Champion Mohamed Benguesmia!

Guenif and Benguesmia again did their valuable part on June 28 at the Sports Palace in Guelma, when the boxer won the UBO World title and the promoter did an excellent job of staging the big event.