- From the outset, the WBF Female Fight of the Year 2016 for the vacant World Super Featherweight title was something special. South Africa’s Unathi Myekeni was a former WBF World Super Bantamweight champion with just two career setbacks, both on disputed majority decisions. But Hyun Mi Choi – a true all-Korean superstar – could top that: She had negotiated a full dozen of WBA world championships in two weight divisions without a single loss and now was looking for the icing on the cake: The coveted World Boxing Federation crown. So on May 21 in Jinju, South Korea, these two big names clashed and delivered a classic. However, despite trying mightily, Choi could not stop Myekeni and had to settle for a clear, unanimous decision win. On a curious side note, it was second time unlucky for the South African girl, as Myekeni was involved for the second time running in the WBF’s Female Fight of the Year, however, both times on the losing end of the judges’ scores. Hyun Mi Choi, on the other hand, solidified her standing as one of female boxing’s biggest stars.

- The 23-year-old from North France was a top amateur and as a professional is now a top prospect plus a hot candidate for world honors sooner rather than later. “Sego” turned pro in early 2015 and 15 months later won the French Super Featherweight title. She is now the WBF Intercontinental champion at Super Bantamweight, thanks to a win last November over former world title challenger Gabriella Mezei, and unbeaten at 6-0. While not a big puncher, Lefebvre is as ice-cool as they come in the ring and goes about outclassing opponents with a true poker face – and don’t be surprised if she hits big time in ’17.

- He does an excellent job and is always available for the WBF. He does it without much fanfare and is with us since the World Boxing Federation’s re-launch in 2009. We are talking about New Jersey’s Johnny Najjar, head of Masis Boxing Belts and now worthy recipient of the WBF’s Presidents Special Service award. This honor was created by WBF boss Howard Goldberg for him to personally recognize people who have made a valuable contribution to the WBF and because Najjar takes huge credit for not only designing and manufacturing our coveted, high-quality blue WBF belts, as well as providing a top professional service, it’s about time he wins this award, finally.

- It’s easy to be overlooked when your main boxer is female and campaigning at the lower end of the weight scale, but with continued success there comes the time when you can’t be overlooked any longer. That’s why William Guillaume is the WBF’s Trainer of the Year, hands down. The coach of WBF two-weight world champion Anne Sophie Da Costa solidified his status with two successful defenses in 2016, Da Costa retaining her Light Flyweight crown against Uruguayan Soledad Macedo (W 10) and Tanzanian Fatuma Yazidu (TKO 5). Previously, Guillaume lead Da Costa to the WBF world Strawweight belt in 2012, a successful defense in 2013 and after she lost the title in 2014, the pair went up a division to capture a second world title in 2015. That’s a great run for a trainer in everyone’s book.

- Lagosz is a man who goes about his job in a quiet, but distinguished manner. In his home country, he is not exactly Mr. Popular, because as a referee, he calls it as he sees it, not as promoters wish. He also doesn’t go around offering his services, thinking himself the best out there. He is simply a world class referee, who does a reliable job when appointed. In 2016, Lagosz was four times the third man in WBF championships and there wasn’t a single thing to complain about. This calls for recognition as the WBF Referee of the Year, nothing more, nothing less.

- The WBF team behind the scenes is definitely a team to be proud of and can’t be congratulated enough, because they are who make the World Boxing Federation the fantastic organization that it is. Therefore, it is time to inaugurate the Administrator of the Year award, which could be given to many people each year, make no mistake about this. The inaugural 2016 award goes to Christophe Hembert, who is doing a superb job in France. Christophe is the man who makes sure that French officials are appointed and meet the high standards the WBF sets, he affiliates with promoters and the French Federation (FFB) alike and generally does a highly efficient job without much fanfare. A worthy first winner as Administrator of the Year, if ever there was one. Congratulations, Christophe, and here’s hoping for many successful years together.