Best Fight of the Year

#1: Tapia vs. Gomez

Johnny Tapia vs Famosito Gomez
March 17th @ the Albuquerque Convention Center
In a bloody battle, Johnny comes off disputed loss to Paulie Ayala in October '00 to stop Mexican veteran Famosito Gomez in the 6th round.

#2: Fernandez vs. Reyes

Andres Fernandez vs. Jorge Reyes
June 15th at Sky City
Fernandez defends his NABA title in a brutal rematch against Jorge Reyes. It was Fernandez's last fight, as he sustained near-death injuries in the fight.

#3-#4 (TIE)

#4
Joseph Brady vs. Nito Bravo
December 15, 2001 - Sky City
Brady steps up in competition yet again and outboxes Bravo from the outside.

#5
Shaun Gallegos vs. Jorge Cruz
September 22, 2001 - Santa Fe H.S.
Gallegos gets caught in the 1st and goes down - but comes back to stop Cruz in the 3rd.

#6
Tommy Aragon vs. Robbie Lovato
September 22, 2001 - Santa Fe H.S.
Lovato gets out of prison and stages a comeback - against the slugger Tommy Aragon. He wins on a narrow margin but Aragon nearly upstages Lovato with his hard punches.

#8
Jose Ramirez vs. Eric Holland
June 15th @ Sky City
Ramirez and Holland fight a tough one for eight rounds but the "Goose" outshines the "Rock" for the decision.

#9
Trina Ortegon vs. Mary Ann Almager II
August 17 @ Sky City
The rematch is not as competitive - Almager hands Ortegon her second straight loss with hard, rocking shots. Ortegon's corner throws in the towel in the later rounds.

#10
Johnny Tapia vs. Cesar Soto
June 30, 2001 - Mandalay Bay, Vegas
Tapia takes out Soto with a devastating left hook to the body.

Worst Fight of the Year

#1: Payne vs. Rudy Lovato

Vernon Payne vs. Rudy Lovato
October 5 @ Sky City
The ugliest battle of the year: Repeated blows give Payne the win by DQ. Lovato throws his game plan away as Payne begins to show his skills - until there's one low blow too many and the ref says no mas.

#2-#3 (TIE)
Linson vs. Lopez - Sanchez vs. Bojorquez

#4
Joseph Brady vs. Jo Jo Varela
August 17th at Sky City
Brady steps up in competition and fights a brawlin'-wrestlin' match with Tucson's Varela, winning the decision. 

#5
Joseph Brady vs. Star Johnson
June 7 @ Las Vegas H.S., NM
Last minute replacement Star Johnson gets borrowed from the local morgue to give Brady his last easy win.

#6
Ray Sanchez vs. Rafael Labacena
March 17 @ Abq Convention Center
Sanchez makes his pro debut against 0-2 Labacena, who lasts less than a round. 

#7
Danny Romero vs. Ratanachai Vorapin
October 2001 - NYC
Romero comes back after a year lay-off and loses a close decision to Vorapin on the Hopkins vs. Trinidad undercard.

#8
Jose Ramirez vs. Eric Regan
August, 2001 on ESPN2
Following his stablemate, Adriano Sanchez, on TV, Ramirez gets stopped in the 1st.

Best Fighter in New Mexico (outside of Tapia, Romero)

#1: Ray Sanchez III

Now 3-0 with 3 KO's, Albuquerque's 9-time national amateur champ Little Ray Sanchez makes his pro debut in March and after signing up with America Presents, picks up two more impressive knockout wins at the end of the year. 

#2: Frankie Archuleta

Las Vegas, NM's super bantam prospect and last year's #1 Fighter returns to the ring in the first half of the year in tune-ups, but then falls out of action again.

#2: Shawn Gallegos

Also from Las Vegas, NM, Gallegos ranks in #3, just a shade away from fellow hometowner Frankie Archuleta. Gallegos picks up three solid wins in '01, raising his record to 5-0, 4 KO's.

#3: Adriano Sanchez
Not the greatest year since loss to Bojorquez, but still had solid wins. Record stands at 11-4-1 with 8 KO's.

#4: Joseph Brady
Undefeated at 8-0, 3 KO's with 1 NC. Most active fighter in NM and stepped up in last two fights.

#5: Chris Linson
Linson came in at #5 despite a dormant year. Last year, he tied at #2.

Honorable Mentions
Also receiving notable votes:
Andres Fernandez
Tommy Aragon

Best Female Fighter in NM

#1: Trina Ortegon

Two losses to Almager (the first very close) followed by a hometown decision loss to Valerie Mahfood give Ortegon a 0-3 record for the year -- but she still comes out on top, for two years in a row now.

#2: Jackie Chavez

Los Lunas' Jackie Chavez makes pro debut and ends the year at 2-0, 1 KO.

#3: Jayla Ortiz

Santa Fe's Ortiz fights twice in NM and ends year at 11-5-3, 3 KO's.

Honorable Mentions
Also receiving notable votes:
Adriana Delgado
Delia Gonzalez

Who’s the best NM fighter to make a pro debut in 2001?

#1: Ray Sanchez III

Need we even say it? Ray Sanchez III received a whopping 94 percent of the votes. Also topped off the Best NM Fighter category.

Honorable Mentions
No one came close to a #2 spot but these fighters received a handful of votes:
Jackie Chavez
Tony Valdez

What was the best overall fight card this year in NM?

#1

Tapia vs Gomez Card 
Showtime
March 17, 2001 
Fresquez & Don Chargin Productions

#2

Brady - Bravo Card
Sky City Casino
December 15, 2001
Fresquez/Sky City

#3

Fernandez vs. Reyes Card
Sky City Casino
June 15, 2001
Fresquez/Sky City

#4

Lovato - Aragon Card
Santa Fe H.S.
Sept. 22, 2001
KOX Productions

#5

Archuleta vs. Guerrero Card
Las Vegas H.S.
June 7, 2001
Fresquez Productions

Best Amateur Fighter in NM

#1: Adrian Lopez

#2: Matthew Esquibel

Honorable Mentions
Over 80% of the votes went to Lopez and Esquibel
(who was a very close 2nd), but the remaining votes
(in no particular order) went to:
Arturo Crespin
Austin Trout
Luis Gutierrez
Steve Trujillo
Moises Herrera
Ira Strain-Bey
Daniel Solano
Mark Lopez

Most Improved Fighter

#2: Joseph Brady

#5: Lorenzo Estrada

Honorable Mentions
Over 80% of the votes went to Lopez and Esquibel
(who was a very close 2nd), but the remaining votes
(in no particular order) went to:
Andres Fernandez, Steve Aragon

Biggest Disappointment of the Year

#1: Danny Romero
Voters either put down "Romero vs. Vorapin" or simply "Danny Romero"

#2: Andres Fernandez Tragedy

#3: Robbie Lovato Going Back to Prison

#4: Sanchez & Ramirez on ESPN2

#5: That Brady vs. Sanchez Did Not Happen

#6: That Brady vs. Ramirez Did Not Happen

#7: That Gallegos vs. Aragon Did Not Happen

#8: Johnny Tapia's "Retirement"

#9: Trina Ortegon Losing Three Times

#10: Chris Linson, Jr.

Is there enough boxing in NM?

What Fights Do You Want to See Happen?

#1: Chris Linson, Jr. vs. Vernon Payne

#2: Ray Sanchez vs. Shawn Gallegos

#3: Joseph Brady vs. Vernon Payne

#4: Joseph Brady vs. Adriano Sanchez

#5: Joseph Brady vs. Jose Ramirez

#6: Joseph Brady vs. Chris Linson, Jr.

#7: Frankie Archuleta vs. Danny Romero

#8: Shawn Gallegos vs. Tommy Aragon

#9: Shawn Gallegos vs. Steve Aragon

#10: Steve Aragon vs. Tommy Aragon

These Fights Were Also Mentioned:
Shawn Gallegos vs. Brian Romero
Joseph Brady vs. Elco Garcia
Jesus Banuelos vs. Steve Aragon
Adriana Delgado vs. Jackie Chavez
Johnny Tapia vs. Frankie Archulta
Johnny Tapia vs. Paulie Ayala III
Johnny Tapia vs. Naseem Hamed
Johnny Tapia vs. Marco Antonio Barrera
Adriano Sanchez vs. Vernon Payne
Ray Sanchez vs. Steve Aragon
Ray Sanchez vs. Juan Diaz
Ray Sanchez vs. Francisco Bojado
Danny Romero, Sr. vs. Danny Romero, Jr.
Danny Romero vs. Anyone
Chris Linson vs. Robbie Lovato
Joseph Brady vs. Joaquin Zamora
Chris Cozzone vs. Andy Rivera
Chris Cozzone vs. Monica Michel
Johnny Tapia vs. Willie Jorrin
Max Heyman vs. Julio Gonzalez
Jackie Chavez vs. Imelda Arias
Ray Sanchez vs. Anthony Mora
Shawn Gallegos vs. Adrian Mora
Chris Linson vs. Hector Camacho, Jr.

What does NM Boxing Need?

#1: More Promoters

#2: More Fight Cards

#3: More Amateur Opportunity/Shows

#4: Better Opponents for NM Fighters

#5: Better Promoters

#6: A More Knowledgeable Athletic Commission

#7: Better Venues

#8: Fights in Albuquerque

#9: Quality Sparring

#10: Less Politics in the Amateurs

These Items Were Also Mentioned:
Better Trainers
Opponents from states other than AZ, CO, TX
Big-time Promoters
More support, less badmouthing
More attention to injury prevention: CT scans and neurological exams
More fights here in Albuquerque
For Fresquez to stop making his fighters sell tickets for their own purses
More fans
Bring Louie Burke back to the Commission.