THE BEST OF BOXING CANADA: by brian zelley
Attempting to select the top 25 Canadian amateur boxers of all time is a subjective game based on our understanding of the sport and our experiences. Thus, it is likely the same 25 would not appear on all lists.
As a starting point, the select seven would stand a good chance of being on many lists:
EDDIE HADDAD, HAROLD MANN, DONATO PADUANO, WALTER HENRY, IAN CLYDE, LENNOX LEWIS and MICHAEL STRANGE.
For BRITISH COLUMBIA amateur boxing, some of the other ones that should be considered are:
JIMMY WALTERS, DICK FINDLAY, FREDDY FULLER, FRANK SCOTT, LES HAMILTON, CHRIS IUS and DALE WALTERS.
Showing posts with label Eddie Haddad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eddie Haddad. Show all posts
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Monday, November 16, 2009
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.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, November 09, 2009
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.
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