the BRODY BLAIR story

BRODY BLAIR The Boxer: by brian zelley

December 2010 marks the start of another boxing journey for
Nova Scotia amateur middleweight BRODY BLAIR. It has been a few decades since the name Blair became a Canadian and Nova Scotia boxing name
and that was middleweight BLAIR RICHARDSON.

In December, Brody became the new senior open (elite) middleweight
champion But, his boxing journey began a number of years ago and
he first became a national prospect when he won a title in the
2009 Youth National boxing championships at Edmonton, Alberta.
Some of the other champions included Nanaimo's
STEFAN MELIDEO, BC's Robert Couzens,  New Brunswick's
 Mitch Cormier and Kyle Gross. and Ontario's Matt Flynn.

THE GOLDEN MOMENT
An article called Golden Moment was produced by Adam Richardson
of THE NEWS (New Glasgow). The article would disclose
the travels of Brody from New Glasgow to Halifax to train
 under 1984 Olympic boxer WAYNE GORDON.

In 2009, BRODY BLAIR would join other Canadian boxers
 including Melideo, Cormier and Couzens in a joint tournament
with Puerto Rico.

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.

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.

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