NANAIMO BOXING 1963 to 2013: by Brian Zelley

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB (1971 - 2009)

Founded in 1971 by Dan Wright and Brian Zelley with assistance from John Ormandy and George Nepper

Two of the Canadian champions from the Nanaiimo Boxing club
 are Jack Snaith and Stefan Melideo..

Between Jack in 1973 and Stefan in 2009, the club has an interesting
history, and before Jack Snaith's in 1973, both Dan Wright and
 Brian Zelley engaged in bouts on the first two club shows hosted
 by the club. Also, a number of young boxers competed in Bronze Gloves tournaments.

One of the important lessons that was learned early was the need for
public awareness, acceptance and education to ensure growth and activity.
This was done at an early stage with direct contact with
sports editor Mark Kiemele of the "Nanaimo Daily Free Press".

May 9, 1974 Nanaimo Daily Free Press
"Good Man To Have Around" By Mark Kiemele

"For the past three years Brian Zelley has been a regular contributor
to this column, providing an insight into the game of boxing.while
giving astute comments on the local and international scene in the sport."

"One of the co-founders of the club. he Dan Wright, John Ormandy...
built the club & nbsp;from a shoestring operation into one of the more respected
glove groups in & nbsp;British Columbia."


January 25, 1982 Victoria's "Times-Colonist"
Sports editor Jim Reid

"There is no denying Zelley's interest in and
knowledge of boxing, his concerns for the image of the sport 
and the safety of the boxers, his desire for boxing to be presented 
properly to the public"

Some of the Faces and Names from 1971 to 2013

* Dan Wright, George Nepper, John Ormandy,                             Brian Zelley,   Bob Pegues,
Darren Lussier, Jack Snaith, Bob Jamison, Clarke McLellan,
Joe Preston, Mickey Griffin, Fred Thorsell, Wayne Peace,
 Ricky Evenson, Dale Creswell, Barry Creswell,
Dwayne Evenson, David Houlistan, Allan MacLellan, Lee Ranger,
Malcolm Eldridge, Mark Gutenburg, Kelly Gourley, 
John Navarolli, Wayne Morgan, Barry Neufield, Britton Gillette,
Tak Sasagawa, Doug English, Mark Barr, 
Don Preston, Robbie Wentland, Ron Williams, 
Stuart Springett, Norm Greenwell, Lyle Jack, Kevin Jolly, 
Bob Walsh, Rob Argyle, Gordy Sutherland, Melan Sears, 
Steve Venuti,  Wade Marling, Mike Murray, 
Robin Murray, Lloyd Anderson, Wilf Ballendine, Pete Yawney,
Larry Cooper, Fred Wicks sr., Fred Wicks jr.Stevan Melideo,
Zack McKay.  Some experienced  boxers from other Island club
would also train and fight for Nanaimo for a brief period such as
 Gary Wood, Alan Brown,  and Tim Cessford  Then of course not to be overlookedis Mike Nagra.

some of the names
comnected to the 
history of boxing in
Nanaimo and other
parts of
Vancouver  Island

                                                                               

George Nepper was the founder of the Newcastle Boxing Club 1963

Nanaimo Boxing - 1963 to 2013

Lasting Ranking  - October 18, 2013

Top Ten Names - Boxers and Builders

.

Six of the top ten names between 1963 and 2013 were
members of Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing club, and some
were also previous members of the Chemainus - Ladysmith
Boxing club before September 1963 including Skimp Williams
and the members of the Nepper family.  One that did not
make the top ten, but would be in the top ten of junior 
boxers of Vancouver Island is Mike Lazare. 

Adds from October onward:  More Newcastle history:
*since adding the golden years of 1963 to 1968 

this story has jumped in popularity into number 2 spot of
the week and month, and to number three of all time.
Due to this popularity more data will be added to 
recognize those glory days of the past with the likes
of the Nepper brothers and George Nepper, Ted and
Chris Balatti, Leo Rock, Brian Zelley, Skimp Williams,
Harry Pollitt, Jerry Sorensen, the Seriani brothers,
and many other boxers such as Ken Stant, Mike Lazare,
Wayne Barnes, Rick Johnson, Murray Glover, and many
more.  

                           A great way to end the first year of action
with Gilles Nepper and Brian Zelley winning titles, and 
coach Skimp Williams presenting the Skimp Williams 
trophy for the first of a three years run in boxing
 activity in Victoria.

Involved in that last tournament were Leo Rock and
one of our future builders: Roger Nepper.

The first six boxers to see action for the Newcastle
club:  Leo Rock, Chris Balatti, Gilles Nepper, 
Leon Nepper, Roger Nepper and Brian Zelley
But, Jules Nepper, Ken Stant and Mike Lazare
would quickly follow before long.

Video

VICTORIA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

VICTORIA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION - 1976 by brian zelley

The Victoria Athletic Association was founded on August 31, 1976 and would sponsor a variety of sports including
amateur boxing. The three boxing coaches would be Caird, Zelley and Lou Bujdoso.

the first boxing card hosted by the newly formed VAA would be in November 1976 at 1600 Quadra Street
in Victoria, BC with eleven boxers from Victoria matched against clubs from Nanaimo, Powell River, and
Vancouver's Hastings Community Centre Boxing Club.

To ensure the growth of amateur boxing in Greater Victoria and Vancouver island, the next day after the
boxing card, the VAA hosted an "official's clinic" to develop local judges and referees under the rules of
the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association (Boxing Canada) by experienced BCABA officials.

THE MARITIMES BOXING

EAST COAST AMATEUR BOXING - CANADA

A Maritimes committee for the Canadian Amateur Boxing History
and Wall of Fame has been established in 2012 with steps taken to
select ten names to be submitted to a  CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING
WALL OF FAME site

ONTARIO AMATEUR BOXING

ONTARIO BOXING - Past & Present

Ontario has a long rich history of amateur boxing with many clubs such as the Beaver Boxing Club in Ottawa.

MANITOBA AMATEUR BOXING

MANITOBA AMATEUR BOXING

From out-off the ring dust of yesterday to the achievements of
current boxers, officials and coaches, Manitoba Amateur Boxing
has and will provide some rich history to Canadian Amateur Boxing.

Two stars of the past that also had some activity in British Columbia
were EDDIE HADDAD and BILLY PINKUS.

EDDIE HADDAD

There have been a few stories touching on the achievements of
Eddie Haddad. Some of them can be found on the pages of a
"Sports Hall of Fame". For Eddie, they include Canadian Forces,
Greater Victoria and Manitoba Sports Halls of Fame.
Another story is written on the wall of "Tragic Boxing Stories
& Lost Warriors". The specifics may be cloudy, but in Hope, BC
Eddie was killed in a road accident.

KEN JOHNSON - A SHOT FROM THE DARK

Len Johnson was well known in boxing circles beyond the borders
of Manitoba. By 1984, his son KEN JOHNSON had hopes and dreams
to make the Olympic Team. But his hopes and dreams were dashed
beyond the ring activity.

In 1984, Ken Johnson faced BC bpxer and a Canadian champion
WAYNE WELSH in Olympic Box-off action during the staging of the
Junior Nationals at Burnaby in the BCABA's boxing training centre.
Ken won the ring fight, but was overlooked when the final team was
selected that included Willie deWit, Shawn O'Sullivan, Dale Walters,
Steve Pagendam, Wayne Gordon, Lennox Lewis, John Lalbhenn,
Rick Duff and Billy Dunlop.

Johnson has not been the first to be left off of a Canadian Amateur Boxing team,
and he will not be the last. The story of boxing is scattered with lost hope,
wishes and dreams of many - sometimes it is freak or poorly timed accident,
but then again sports politics from a Provincial to a National and a
International level often delivers the fatal blow like a shot from the dark.

SASKATCHEWAN BOXING

SASKATCHEWAN AMATEUR BOXING

REGINA - KEN GOFF

There is much boxing history in the clubs of Saskatchewan of which one long serving one is the
REGINA BOXING CLUB founded by KEN GOFF in 1949. Since 1994, the boxing club hosts
the annual "Ken Goff Memorial Boxing Classic. This annual show was initiated by
George Goff and Pat Fiacco.

FIDDLER, SUNSHINE & LINKLATER

There have been a number of outstanding amateur boxers over the years.
In the early Eighties one of many was CURTIS FIDLER of the Prince Albert Boxing Club.
In 1983, he received "The John Galon Trophy" as Saskatchewan's "Boxer Of The Year".
There would be other outstanding boxers such as WESLEY SUNSHINE and VERNON LINKLATER.

IAN's CORNER - SOO LINE BOXING and Coach Hartenburger

In late 1973, Saskatchewan's Weyburn boxer from the "Soo Line Boxing Club" IAN WEIR and Nanaimo's
DAN WRIGHT and BRIAN ZELLEY would join the Victoria Boxing Club that was being operated out of the
Victoria Boy's Club in Victoria, BC which was then being operated by MIKE CAIRD and GORDIE MAGAW.
With the arrival of Ian and the two from Nanaimo, it would begin a major revival in for boxing in
Victoria in the 1973/74 boxing season that would see boxer WAYNE CROWE winning a silver medal in
the Canadian senior natioal boxing championships.

Weir's Soo Line coach was HANK HARTENBURGER and one of his teammates was noted boxer and official
MORGAN WILLIAMS. Over the years, Coach Hartenburger would have fine boxers such as DON GRANT
and KELLY NELSON an many others.

In recognition of boxing coach Hank Hartenburger, he was roasted at the
Royal Canadian Legion to recognize his long service in amateur boxing.

ALBERTA BOXING - Then and Now

ALBERTA AMATEUR BOXING: by Brian Zelley

The sport of amateur boxing in Alberta has played
an important role in Canadian Amateur Boxing and has
produce many fine boxers,coaches and officials.

Some past names to remember include Bill Page Harvey Reti,
Paul Hortie, Billy McGrandle, Alan Ford, Willie deWit,
Rick Duff, Scotty Olson, Denis Belair, Jim Titley and
DALE BROWN. And, who could forget the amateur and pro
record of WILF GREAVES.


But, the Alberta Amateur Boxing story is more than a few names,
but it is about the many clubs such as the Cougar Boxing Club
or the West Edmonton Knights or boxing in Medicine Hat, Calgary
or Edmonton and other small towns scattered throughout the Province.

It is about club shows in Alberta or boxers traveling to
British Columbia in 2009 or 1985 for club shows in Cranbrook or
Prince George, and Golden Glove tournaments such as Calgary's
VERN FOUTH in 1967, or National tournaments staged each year
across Canada from east to west.

It is about novice boxers starting out,and Canadian champions
engaged in International tournaments
and the Alberta coaches and officials that participated in
the action far and wide such as the 1994 Commonwealth Games
in Victoria or the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angele.

HERE & NOW = A door to the past

In order to understand the past, we must look at the here and now
because each coach, official, executive member and active boxer
involved have a story that touches on the past.

Some of the names of today in executive positions with
BOXING ALBERTA have interesting stories that touch on
past events from local shows to Canadian events. some of
the names include Denis Belair, Ginnie Brown, Kerry Fahlman,
Sylvio Fex and Rosemary Page.

CLUBS & COACHES - The Here & Now

Some of the clubs and club officials of today have moments
to remember from the past as they weave new thread for
the tapestry of Boxing Alberta.

There is the the Bowmont Boxing Club with Ginnie BROWN
and the team, but also Stuart McGrandle with the West Edmonton
Knights with that old time family connection with our Alberta star
of the Sixties - BILLY MCGRANDLE.

Or slip over to Medicine Hat with Stan INSKO or at Camrose
with Don WILSON and "The Force", then in Lodgepole we find
DOUG BOLIANATZ who has some interesting stories of
Commonwealth Games memories and moments such as
those interesting days in 1994 at the Commonwealth Games
of Victoria where the boxing action took place in Esquimalt
which was the hot bed of amateur boxing in the Fifties & Sixties
with the likes of Alan Curtis, Fred Desrosiers, Taylor Gordon
and many more.

Or, slip into Red Deer with the likes of Rob Carswell,
but some will remember BOB CARSWELL from Vancouver to Halifax
and other location far and wide.

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION - 2009

Sometimes there is exciting action on many club cards,
in recent times one action packed boxing cards hosted by
the West Edmonton featured various boxers from Alberta and BC.
With the Best Fight being:

MARCUS HUME (Prince George) vs LEIGHTON KING (Camrose).

ALBERTA BOXING beyond 2009
*  Between 2010 and 2013, there have been some interesting
stories including the activity of those that have turned pro.

pUpdates:

GOLDEN GLOVES

GOLDEN GLOVES - PACIFIC NORTHWEST & ALBERTA: by brian zelley

Sometimes all that glitters is just the shine from a Golden Gloves tournament. Stepping back in time. the first Golden Gloves tournament in British Columbia was in 1939,and has continued
for years except for 1943.

The first Golden Boys were PHIL VICKERY, TERRY DOYLE,
BOB HICKIE, JACKIE HAMILTON, CHESTER ORR
Others would follow such as SAMMY MAY, EDDIE HADDAD,   MANN 



Chester Orr was presented his Golden Boy trophy  by Sid Beech
with announcer Tommy Cruise doing his thing at the conclusion
of the 1945 Golden Gloves sponsored by the Vancouver Sun and
hosted by the "Vancouver Active Club" and sanctioned by the
"AAU of Canada" and "BC AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION'.

Some of the boxers in those early years were a who's who of
amateur boxing in British Columbia and some would return
in future years to participate as coaches, officials or fans
such as Victoria's VIC MURDOCH who was also the 1944 Seattle
Golden Gloves flyweight champion. Then there were the likes of
Lyle Kehoe, Freddy Steele, Jackie Turner, Bobby Parker,
Tommy Symes, Gordon Grayson, Art Burgess, Bus Lindsay,
Jack Herwynen, Kenny Lindsay and Jimmy Crook.

As the years flashed by, there would be many new boxers to
shine under the bright lights of the BC Golden Gloves.
Some that saw action in amateur boxing in the Fifties were there
to continue the action, excitement and the history into the Sixties.

A sample of the boxers are ALAN CURTIS, SKIMP WILLIAMS,
TOMMY BLACK. LINDY LINDMOSER, MIKE CAIRD, GORDIE McGAW,
BILL ADAMS, JACK STRAZA, BOB GINETTI and WINNIE SCHELT

As the Sizzling Sixties moved forward to 1968 there
would be many more such as FRED FULLER, FRANKIE SCOTT,
EARL MCLEAY,  BRIAN ZELLEY, KALMAN SANTOSI, MIKE SARTORI,

ROGER ADOLPH, DICK FINDLAY, JACK MEDA,BILLY TAYLOR,
TOMMY BOYCE, RICK FLECK, HAROLD HANDLIN, DEREK AUSTIN,
RON WILSON, TONY JAMES, JOHN AMOS and DAVE WYLIE.

                                       brian zelley and neil knight

                          Golden Boy of 1959 - Jack Straza


Also, BC would also see some outstanding boxers from
Portland,Seattle and Tacoma
uch as Ray Lampkin, Neil Knight, Wes Craven
and GARY FERRARI.

Ray Lampkin and Neil Knight

In BC Junior Golden Gloves action one of the outstanding
stars was Victoria's CLIFF BALLENDINE - three time
Junior Golden Boy, but in the Eighties there were
many more to shine such as:
TONY FRANCIS, TONY DUFFY, MANNY SOBRAL, MIKE WOOD
JASON DOWNIE, ALAN BROWN and MANNY SOBRAL, JAMEY BALLARD,
and WILLY CURRY.

Looking back from 2009 to 1969, there have been
hundreds of names, that on a cold winter night
somebody may remember some golden memory from
the past and recall a moment in time when the amateur
boxer such as Neil Austin, Willie Benallie, Lou Cooke,
Perry Demosten, Chester Douglas, John Gamble, Bill Gariepy,
Mickey Griffin, Les Hamilton, Derrick Hoyt, David Ius,
Gordie Lawson, Sid McKnight, Mike O'Reilly, Buzz Montour,
Jamie Ollenberger, Darryl Olsen, Don Orr, Gary Robinson,
Jack Snaith,Steve Tohill,Dale Walters Ed Williams, and
Dan Wright, Mike Kennedy and Matt O'Brien were STARS.

                                                         De La Hoya with Matt O'Brien


NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN
There are many names that did not get mentioned in the
above overview such as Glenn McGee, Wayne Crowe
and Mike Olajide Jr.

  A Freddy Fuller quick one minute video



The correction for one of the names"
Glenn McGee of the Astoria Boxing Club 1968
BEYOND 2009
2010 BC GOLDEN BOY, DYLAN BISHOP

The Golden Gloves story continues beyond the early narrative:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Golden_Gloves
The above link lays the groundwork for the Golden Gloves
stories with the names of the first BC Golden Gloves
champions in 1939 including boxers such as Kenny Lindsay.
Then it list a sample of boxers over the years, and then into
some specific tournaments

Expanded topics: 

Due to the involvement of California boxers in some of the
BC tournaments the Golden Gloves will be expanded to
include California golden gloves memories and moments.

Another link on the chain:
http://bzgloves.blogspot.ca/
*the above link covers a lot more detail of BC Golden Gloves action

YEAR 2000 - FRED WICKS jr., Nanaimo Boxing Club

      
A golden gloves video of various time periods.

BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME
* one of the nominees for 2014 is one
WILLIAM J. FINLAY who was one of the
key names behind the Sun Golden Gloves
back in 1939 and into the fourties such as 1946
when he called for a Canadian Golden Gloves
 Championship.  And, "Billy's Dream"
was realized 67 years later in 2013 with the first 
Canadian Golden Gloves tournament held in Ontario.

             THE 2013 CANADIAN GOLDEN GLOVES buzz

More  Golden Moments

2014 Canadian Golden Gloves

Will take place in Cornwall

during the month of July.

Several boxers were repeat winners

from 2013 including 

Rodolfo Velasquez.

VANCOUVER ISLAND AMATEUR BOXING

Photos: Eddie Haddad - George Nepper & boxers Alan Brown
Newcastle Boxing Club 1964 - Brown,Vic Murdoch & Zelley

VANCOUVER ISLAND BOXING

Throughout the decades, there have been many clubs from Victoria to Gold River, Port Alberni to Chemainus,
and hundreds of individuals from boxers Eddie Haddad to Donny Orr, Skimp Williams to Stefan Melideo.
Champions and contenders from 1964 Olympian Fred Desrosiers to 1973 Canadian senior champion Jack Snaith.
Vancouver Island Champions- Tommy Black to Brian Zelley, and Senior Golden Boys like Sammy May & Alan Curtis
to three time junior Golden Boy Cliff Ballendine.

There has been tournaments such as the 2000 Canadian Senior Nationals to the 1978 Nanaimo Bathtub Capital
Golden Gloves tournaments, and the 1976 English Schoolboy boxers vs BC Select Juniors like Dale Walters.

There have been many coaches and officials with the likes of Harry Morris, Taylor Gordon, Jim Hills,
Harry Pollitt & Skimp Williams.

Serving as ring officials like Jack O'Hanley, Howard Curling, Rick Brough, Bert Wilkinson,
Joe Preston & many more scattered from Campbell River to Victoria.

There have been boxing clubs with a short duration like the Ladysmith Boxing Club, to old ones such as the
Nanaimo Boxing Club from 1971 to 2009 and beyond. Or clubs that hosted two Vancouver Island Championship
Tournaments: London Boxing Club (1964) and Parksville Boxing Club (1984). And new boxing clubs
such as the Capital City Boxing Club

To document some of the history, there are The Sportscaster, Daily newspapers, Nanaimo Times,
Leisure Magazine, The Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing News (Spring & Fall - 1983) and then there
was the "B C Amateur Boxing News".

Then there was a few years to remember with the preparation of the 1994 Commonwealth Games
with some early members of the Boxing Committee in 1989 - Hassan Sunderani, Brian Zelley,
Mike Sartori, and Glynn Jones (Boxing BC rep).

1963 BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLDEN GLOVES:
*Four Island boxers would win in the finals of the 1963
Golden Gloves: Cal Osmond, Earl Pilgrim, Larry Cardinal and Mike Caird.

HALLS of FAME - Canadian Boxing

Photos: Mike Caird (Victoria), Jack Meda (Prince George),

HALLS OF FAME - AMATEUR BOXING in CANADA

The year 2009 has seen a number of former boxers entered in a local, provincial of international sports or boxing hall of fame.
Names of interest include - Lennox Lewis, Steve Beaupre, Scotty Olson and Mike Caird

MIKE CAIRD - Former amateur boxer and coach - Victoria, BC, Canada

Caird will be inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame on November 21, 2009
at the Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence along with a number of others such as the late
Jack Short known by many as "The Voice Of The Races", golfer Bill Wakeham, fastball builder
Herb Bate, olympic medalist Jesse Monroe-Gonin, Moe Elewonibi and
the Victoria Lawn Bowling Club.

Some of the sponsors include:
IBM, Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence, Save On Foods, Pacific Sport Victoria,
Pemberton & Holmes, Little & Davies, Mann Moulson & Co., Joe Frenette.
Brian Zelley, Times-Colonist, Chek News, C-Fax 1070 and Outside The Box Info.

CAIRD's JOURNEY:

For Mike Caird, his boxing journey began in the mid-Fifties as an amateur boxer
in Victoria with numerous bouts including his victory in the 1963 BC Golden Gloves
and participation in many club shows and tournaments including the
1964 Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing Championships.

His coaching journey began after 1964 until about 2001 when boxer Donny Orr Jr.
won a senior National Boxing Championship and in 2000 Orr was in the Summer Olympics
as part of the Canadian Olympic Boxing Team that included Michael Strange, Scott MacIntosh
and others (See listing).

Some of the other coaches that worked with Mike throughout the years were:
Gordie McGaw, Larry Montgomery, Brian Zelley, Lou Bujdoso, Jim Ballendine,
Ian Weir and Don Orr Sn.

Some of the boxers were:
Geoff & Gary Robinson, Wayne Crowe, Dan Wright, Ian Weir, Danny O'Sullivan,
Matt Montgomery, Paul Panke, Cliff Ballendine, Jason Heit, Theresa Taylor and Orr.

WHAT IS BOXING

WHAT IS BOXING - By Brian W, Zelley, B. Com., CA

For some it is a brutal sport, for others it is a hope, a dream, a wish.

It is a "question of balance" - "poetry in motion" - "a road to somewhere or a road to nowhere"

Boxing is a mix of chemistry of emotions, and basic physics of movement. leverage and force.
but you do not need a PHD in the Sciences or the Arts, but a generous level of logic, emotional intelligence
and communication skills could play an important role for whoever sets foot on the boxing highway.

Poetry in Motion - or a series of sepia photos flashing through
the mind. Beyond the power of the punch is the movement and motion
of the boxer dancing side-to-side, or executing a series of
fast flashing jabs. The boxer blocking and slipping the jabs
and firing back with a fast jab, hook or cross.

The boxer bobbing & weaving under the punches and being a drummer
in a band as he fires back with a rat-a-tat-tat of body punches
or a short right hand to the ear. The boxer shifting his/her weight
from left to right and back again or rocking back onto the right heel.

Boxing is a comedy, a comedy of errors, a drama for the fighters,
coaches and fans. And, for some it is a tragedy of lost hopes,
wishes and dreams, or the sad case of the lost warrior.

Then again boxing is a "magic trick" where the art of "feinting"
becomes the trap that fools the foe into countering or defending
against illusions in the mind.


HOW DO WE ENSURETHE GROWTH OF AMATEUR BOXING
The important question is why do many potential
boxers never join a club? Or, of the many that joinm
many will never compete or only train for a short time
before leaving the sport. So what are the reasons why
a select few stay? What can be done to improve the
membership and the length of time for those than join?

MANY ROADS TO TRAVEL TOWARDS GROWTH AT THE CLUB LEVEL
*Many steps can be taken to increase and maintain members.
*It begins with the overall attitude and the environment and
mood of and within each club.
*Once potential new trainees join, there needs to be an
enthusiastic attitude shown to them that they are important.
*Each new trainee need to have support from other boxers and
even have a mentor to assist them as they begin this new
journey into the unknown.