1980 - 1989 Canadian Boxing

A GOLDEN DECADE OF CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING - 1980 - 1989: By Brian W. Zelley

The Eighties gave us many interesting stories in Canadian Amateur Boxing, on a provincial level,
a dawning of a new age would begin for British Columbia and regions like Vancouver Island
with the revival of the BC Diamond Belt tournament at Victoria in 1980.

In Olympic Games history, it started off on the wrong side with the boycott of the Moscow Olympic Games.
But, in 1984 at Los Angeles, Canadian boxers WILLIE DEWIT, SHAWN O'SULLIVAN and DALE WALTERS would win medals
and set the stage for various medals in subsequent Commonwealth Games and the 1988 Olympic Games and the
additional medal victories. Some of the Canadian boxers in 1988 Olympic Games were alumni of the 1984
Junior Nationals that took place in Burnaby, BC such as SCOTTY OLSON and MANNY SOBRAL.

Looking back there were many talented Canadian boxers with various terms as a Canadian Champion and high level performance on the International stage - a sample of names to remember:

Lennox Lewis, Ray Downey, Scott Olson, Asif Dar, Steve Beaupre, Steve and Jaime Pagendam, Dan Sherry,
Eggerton Marcus, Howard and Otis Grant, Gregory Gayle and many more.

BOXING BC - 1980 to 1989

Attempting to highlight the Boxing BC story in the Eighties is an interesting case study from 1980 Diamond Boy
GARY ROBINSON, to Canadian senior champions Champions such as DALE WALTERS, WAYNE WELSH, JOE PENDRY,
MANNY SOBRAL and GERONIMO BIE. Then there were the many boxers that performed on a regular basis from
Vancouver Island to the Alberta border:
Who could forget AL HARPER, ALAN BROWN, ALEX BANKIER, CLIFF BALLENDINE, CLINT DUMAIS, DEEP BUTTER,
GARY WOOD, GORDON JONES, KIT MUNRO, MIKE WOOD, SCOTT and TIM CESSFORD, TONY DUFFY, and WILLY CURRY.

Then there were the many officials and coaches such as officials - AL YOUNG, BERT LOWES, FRED FULLER, RICK BROUGH,
RON WHALLEY, VIC MURDOCH, and many others.

1977 - 1979 The Canadian Boxing Story

1977 - 1979: THE CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING STORY continues

As we roll along following the 1976 Olympics into the years 1977, 1978 and 1979, boxer IAN CLYDE
continues to tick away like a well oiled watch that appears to last forever, but over the three year period
there would be others that would appear for a little while. Some would be there for the three years stretch
such as BILL RANELLI,, or for a two year period such as DERRICK HOYT (The Pride of Cranbrook, BC). and
ROGER FORTIN and JOHN RAFFERTY. Some other names of interest was Spruce Capital's LAURIE MANN and
NOLAN, DOWNEY & BLAND from the east and not to be forgotten was KELLY PERLETTE.

In 1978 the Canadians did well in the Commonwealth Games with KELLY PERLETTE and ROGER FORTIN
being two standouts, but Canadians won their share of medals with the likes of IAN CLYDE winning silver
and a number of bronze medal winners including RODDY MACDONALD and GUY BOUTIN.

1976 - SPRUCE CAPITAL Boxer - McKnight

SID MCKNIGHT was a fresh new face in Canadian National amateur boxing and joined other champions
such as the veteran Ian Clyde and others such as Cleveland Denny, Chris Clarke, Chris Ius and Carmen Rinke.

Looking back to his term in boxing from 1970 to 1979, the year 1976 turned out to be a glorious year
for the Prince George boxer from the Spruce Capital Boxing Club. During the Seventies, he was
an active boxer in all sorts of tournaments from Bronze Gloves to Golden Gloves.

In time he would be recognized and inducted into the Prince George Hall of Fame
to join others from Harold Mann to Jack Meda and be a permanent boxing hero in
Prince George.

In 1976, Sid was part of the Canadian OLympic Boxing team to participate in
the MONTREAL OLYMPIC GAMES. Others were Ian Clyde, Chris Ius, Camille Huard,
Carmen Rinke, Michael Prevost, Bryan Gibson, and Roger Fortin.

It was a tough Olympics with a blue chip USA team that included:
Leon & Michael Soinks, Ray Leonard, Howard Davis and Davey Armstrong.
Then there were the Cuban boxers such as Tefilio Stevenson.

1975 - CHRIS CLARKE arrives

CHRIS CLRKE JOURNERY: by brian zelley


1975 was the year of the Pan Am Games and one of the stars was Canadian boxer CHRIS CLARKE.

CHRIS was one of eleven Canadian champions. Chris joined returning champions Ian Clyde, Cleveland Denny,
Michael Briere, Michael Prevost, and Bryan Gibson. Another interesting new champion was CARMEN RINKE.

When all is said and done, 1975 belongs to Nova Scotia boxer CHRIS CLARKE. In the Pan Am Games he defeated
AARON PRYOR to win Gold to join the likes of USA boxers DAVEY ARMSTRONG and RAY LEONARD, and Cuban sensation
TEFILIO STEVENSON. Some other names were LEON SPINKS and TREVOR BERBICK.

The Chris Clarke story would continue into 1976 when he moved from lightweight to light-welterweight where he defeated Victoria, BC boxer WAYNE CROWE and joined the 1976 Canadian Olympic Team. Later he would turn pro, and fight various boxers from CLYDE GRAY to SHAWN O'SULLIVAN, Lawrence Hafey and Dick Ekland.

1974 -Canadian Boxing Champions & Contenders

1974 - West vs East Canadian Boxing: By Brian W. Zelley

In 1974, it was an interesting East vs West match-up for the Canadian
Amateur Boxing titles. DON ORR was expected to face JULES BOSSE, but
the actual match was Victoria boxer WAYNE CROWE vs JULES BOSSE. Once again,
Quebec's IAN CLYDE won the National senior championships with a victory over
BC boxer Rick Eady, but not all reigning champions were victorious.
Three time champion DALE ANDERSON was replaced by CAMILLE HUARD.

Richmond's BILL GARIEPY was expected to win a title, but it was
STAN WILLIAMSON that had his arm raised.

In pre-fight publicity, some of the other line-ups were:
GUY BOUTIN vs TONY SALVATORE - CLEVELAND DENNY vs LORNE DAIGNEAULT
- MICHAEL PREVOST vs STEVE TOHILL,

Back in the early part of the 1967-1968 boxing season, my first fight as a member of the Firefighters was
against Richmond's BILL GARIEPY of which I won the decision, so it was nice to see Gariepy move into Canadian National competition. WAYNE CROWE was fighting at the Victoria Boy's Club in 1974, and he would return to the National stage in 1976.

1973- Nanaimo Boxer Shines

1973 CANADIAN CHAMPIONS

As in 1972, returning champions were Caroll Morgan, Chris Ius, Dave Anderspn, Ian Clyde, and Marvin Arneson.
But there was a surprise from the west coast shores of Vancouver Island when Nanaimo boxer JACK SNAITH
earned the senior light-flyweight title. Then there were Leo Sauve and Denis Belaire

For Nanaimo boxing, it was a significant achievement for the club
 had started
less than two years earlier in the summer of '71. The story behind the formation
of the Nanaimo Boxing Club
is interesting. Of interest, three of the key players of the new club
had former connections of Vancouver Firefighters Boxing Club under the direction of Bert Lowes and Pat West.
The three being co-founders Brian Zelley and Dan Wright and Canadian champion Jack Snaith.

1972 - The Dawn of the Elite Champion

(Photos - Ian Clyde, and fight picture referee Joe Cooke and boxer Les Hamilton).....



THE DAWN OF THE FIRST OF THE ELITE CHAMPIONS (1969 -2010) By Brian Zelley

In many ways the year 1972 was much the same as 1971 with seven returning champions
including Ius, Hamilton, Anderson, Martinez, Arneson, Guindon and French,
but a fresh new star was about to step on the stage and his name was IAN CLYDE.
Another new boxing star would be CAROLL MORGAN who would replace Jack Meda as the
amateur Canadian heavyweight king.

Some of the returning champions such as CHRIS IUS would be around after 1972 and some wouldn't.
Of course, for those in British Columbia, the Ius name was well know with the likes of Elio Ius (boxer and coach),
Mel Ius, David Ius and then Chris Ius.

1971 - MARVIN ARNESON and JACK MEDA remain champions

1971: CANADIAN SENIOR AMATEUR BOXING CHAMPIONS

Prince George boxer JACK MEDA remained "King of the Heavyweights" and retained the Canadian Amateur Boxing Associations
heavyweight title in 1971. Another comeback kid was MARV ARNESON. JOSE MARTINEZ who was edged by FRANKIE SCOTT
in featherweight action at New WEstminster's "Queen Park Arena" came roaring back in 1971 to win a title.
Then there were those new champions such as DALE ANDERSON, CHRIS IUS and LESLIE HAMILTON.

1970 - THe Start of A New Decade

1970 - Changes In THe BC Golden Gloves

From 1939 to 1969, the BC Golden Gloves was always the standard for excellence in Boxing Tournaments
and quality competition. One exception was the 1967 BC International Diamond Belt tournament that
sets the mark for excellence in competition, organization and public awareness..

However, in 1970 the BCABA (Boxing BC) changed the ground rules of who would host and sponsor
the annual event. And for 1970 that who would be the British Columbia Amateur Boxing Association.
In other provinces, they were also dealing with start-up issues with the new era of CABA -
Canadian Amateur Boxing Association (Now called by the name of BOXING CANADA).

For Canadian boxing, the big National Tournament would take place in New Westminster, British Columbia
at the Queen's Park Arena in May of 1970. At the end of the tournament, except for 1969 light-flyweight champion
NEIL AUSTIN, the "69 crew were replaced. Of interest, one of the new champions was New Westminster's FRANKIE SCOTT/
Frankie, however, was no fresh young rookie. In 1966, he won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games.

When the tournament ended and the bright lights were turned off, the champions were"
Austin, Cooke, Scott, Arneson, Fuller, Doiron, Malish, OLsen, and Meda.

For heavyweight JACK MEDA of Prince George. he had come a long way since tha first venture
into open class boxing in 1967 when he lost to Seattle's WESLEY CRAVEN in the 1967 BC Golden Gloves..

1969 A New Beginning

1969 A NEW BEGINNING : By Brian W. Zelley, B. Com, C A

As the excitement of the 1968 Olympic Games faded with the likes of DICK FINDLAY, WALTER HENRY an DONATO PADUANO
there would be a new beginning in Canadian boxing with the formation of the CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
and a team led by the likes of JERRY SHEARS.

When it was time to carve the names of the new champions on the wall, one champion from 1968 was still standing
- WALTER HENRY was his name. Then there would be other young ones like NEIL AUSTIN that would carry the torch forward into the SEVENTIES sand others like PAT O'REILLY that showed promise in 1968 tournaments such as the combined
1968 BC Diamond Belt Tournament and BC Olympic Trials and another name of note was the SUMMERHAYES name.
Not to be forgtten is KEN HICKS (not Hick).

So 1969 was like a bridge that crossed between two eras of amateur boxing and would open the door for a parade of stars
in the Seventies with the ultimate warrior of the Seventies being IAN CLYDE who would serve as the bridge builder into the dawn of the Eighties.

FLYWEIGHT to LIGHTWEIGHT

THE FAST & FURIOUS LIGHTER BOXERS - FLYWEIGHT to LIGHTWEIGHT - CANADIAN CHAMPIONS

For the 2010 Canadian National Championships, the bantamweight and lightweight divisions provided some interesting twists and turns in the history of amateur boxing in Canada. At the end of five days of action, it was Nova Scotia boxer
JOEY LAVIOLETTE that would regain the bantamweight title and Alberta's CAM O'CONNELL that would be declared
the new Canadian "Elite" Senior Open boxing champion that ended-up being an all Alberta lightweight final after both
Cam and Alberta's ALEX RYNN eliminated the competition in earlier action.

BANTAMWEIGHTS - With his back-to-back 2009 and 2010 victory bantamweight champion JOEY LAVIOLETTE
stands tall among other former bantamweight champions such as Chris Ius, Les Hamilton, Bill Ranelli, Dale Walters
and Geronimo Bie. Time will tell if he is able to win a Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games or Olympic medal,
but he has history on his side and the first test will be to make the 2010 Commonwealth Games boxing team.
Like some of the past champions by the time 2012 rolls around, he may be a featherweight contender.

LIGHTWEIGHTS - As new lightweight champion, it is difficult to predict the length of Cam's Championship
journey, but he has some slick shoes to fill with past champions such as Jose Martinez, Cleveland Denny, Asif Dar,
Bill Irwin and Michael Strange.

AS 2010 shifts into 2011, the question that can't be answered is what will become of KENNY LALLY and ALEX RYNN,
the same question could be asked of former champion BRANDT BUTT and light-welterweight STEFAN MELIDEO or
some of the new contenders such as MARCUS HUME and THOMAS SPEIRS. For British Columbia boxing, the coaches
need to study the history of boxing from 1966 to 1988, and try to go back in time to shine.

For boxing in British Columbia, there are many fine boxers, but they can't settle on being fine or nice. The boxers
and the coaches have a whole "heap" of rebuilding to do and that includes working on technical skills

BC's CANADIAN CHAMPIONS & CONTENDERS

THE HERE & NOW and CANADIAN FLASHBACKS: By Brian W. Zelley

THE 2010 SENIOR NATIONALS

For the 2010 Senior Nationals, the BOXING BC came up short with no Canadian Champions. One 2009 senior champion.,
KENNY LALLY from Prince George dropped a decision to Nova Scotia's JOEY LAVIOLETTE, and 2009 Cadet champion
STEFAN MELIDEO of Nanaimo stepped up to see action in open senior competition and lost. Then there was Prince George boxer MARCUS HUME who dropped a controversial decision. Other BC boxers also lost in early competition.

The various BC boxing clubs have received a wake-up call that they all need to step-up to meet future challenges
and reawaken the achievements of past decades when BC boxers did well such as the Seventies with such champions as
Chris Ius, Darryl Olsen, Derrick Hoyt, Frank Scott. Freddy Fuller, Jack Meda, Jack Snaith, Joe Cooke, and Les Hamilton.

In the Eighties we had the likes of Dale Walters, Wayne Welsh, Joe Pendry, and Manny Sobral
then came the likes of Jason Heit and Donny Orr.

Donny Orr was the Victoria warrior that despite injuries came back in 2000 to defeat the Canadian champion
twice in box-off competition to earn a spot on the 2000 Canadian Olympic Boxing Team, then followed-up with
the Canadian title in 2001.

Looking at those champions such as Fuller, Scott and Olsen, they were products of the Sixties,
and earned their accomplishments through a lengthy process with many actual bouts from numerous
club shows and tournaments including Golden Gloves activity in places like Vancouver, Portland, Seattle
and Tacoma. For instance between all of the heavy tournaments in 1968, they took time to travel with others
to engage in high level club shows such as an All-Star club show in Seattle which included some top level USA
competition.

Looking back from 1966 to 1984, in the lighter weight classes, how could we forget about the many boxers, fighters and warriors with the two brightest shining stars being FRANKIE SCOTT and DALE WALTERS.

THE BOXING HIGHWAY - 2010

(Photo - 2009 Champions)...........

2010 CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS: By Brian W. Zelley, B. Com, CA..............

After almost seven days of activity, the new men's senior Canadian amateur boxing champions
have been declared including:

Benoit FLEURY, Ahmed Kartella, Joey Laviolette, Tyler Asselstine, Cam O'Connell,
Ron Makavoz, Custio Clayton. Steve Rolls, Colin Fish, Shaver Henry and Didier Bence.

Of the list of 2009 Champions, those that retained their title include:
BENOIT FLEURY, JOEY LAVIOLETTE. STEVE ROLLS and DIDIER BENCE.

An interesting footnote from preliminary action was 2009 Flyweight champion KENNY LALLY of Prince George, BC
moved to the bantamweight division in 2010 and faced champion JOEY LAVIOLETTE from Nova Scotia.

It is unknown how many of the 2010 group of champions will be selected for the 2010 Team Canada team and
participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. There is a possibility that one or more champions could be replaced following the usual box-off matches some of which should take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia during the
Canadian Junior Nationals Amateur Boxing Championships. Also, earning a spot on the Boxing Canada Team may
not guarantee a spot on the team heading for India for Commonwealth Games action.

WOMEN's BOXING

Not to be overlooked or forgotten is the women's National Championships.
Five of the shining stars were MANDY BUJOLD, STEPHANIE WALKER, I. WOODROW,
SUSAN HAAS and KANDI WYATT.