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.

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: