Saturday, December 24, 2011

EMERALD GLOVES in 2011 Revisited

The following list was prepared by Mission City boxing coach DALE GATIN

GREATER VICTORIA AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION

THE 1990 REVIVAL OF THE GVABA: By Brian Zelley

Introduction
The Greater Victoria Amateur Boxing Association was revived in the Nineties,
as a result of the expected 1994 Commonwealth Games and was first considered
as an important starting point for Games' volunteer organization by the boxing
committee comprised of Hassan Sunderani, Brian Zelley, Mike Sartori and BVABA
president Glynn Jones. This idea was later approved by the commmittee and other
interested persons at a public meeting held in April 1990 which included others
such as former Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing Commissioner Rick Brough.


FOUNDING MEETING OF THE GVABA,May 13, 1990
With the assistance of then Executive Director of the Victoria Commonwealth
Games Society, JIM STOTHART,
the meedting took place at the Princess Mary
Restaurant on May 13, 1990 which was attended by 23 individuals including
Commonwealth Games Committee member Sunderani, Jones, Sartori and Zelley.

The founding meeting was completed and the first official meeting of new group
was commenced with the election of directors, officers, committeees etc.

TIMES-Colonist news:
The following was reported in Victoria's Times-Colonist:
Brian Zelley was named president of the Greater Victoria Amateur
Boxing Association during the group's organizational meting held Sunday.



the association has been formed to help rebuild amateur boxing in the area
and to create a strong awareness of the sport in Victoria prior to the
Commonwealth Games coming her in 1994.


The rest of the group's executive are:
J. R. Smith, Wes Byrnell and Ian Duddy.
The first vice-president, PUD SMITH



The group's directors are Tom Duncan Mike Caird, Mike Sartori,
Ian Weir, Rick Brough, Etsel Ross, Dr. Dan Buie, Hassan Sunderani,
Bert Wilkinson and Tom Black.

RICK BROUGH, Director

Prior to attending various meeting in the Nineties, Rick had been
active in Vancouver Island Boxing in the Seventies and Eighties.
He was one of the officials at the "Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves
at Nanaimo in 1978 and one of the organizers for the 1984 V I
Amateur Boxing Championships, and a co-founder of the Ladysmith ABC.
Rick Brough is an inductee of the British Columbia Amateur Boxing
Hall of Fame.





Glynn Jones, president of the B. C Amateur
Boxing Association, was present at Sunday's organizational meeting.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING 2012

The Canadian Senior Nationals boxing championship set for January 10 to 14th.
on Cape Breton Island at the Membertou Trade and Conference Centre.
Special guest will be former heavyweight champion LARRY HOLMES.

BC BOXERS, bantams and feathers

A LOOK AND PAST BANTAMS AND FEATHERS: by Brian Zelley
PHOTOS:
Alan Brown and Roger Adolph
John Gamble and Wayne Boyce
Frank Scott and Brian Zelley
Jess Brown and Dale Walers


The following is 29 former boxers that engaged in ring activity
in the bantamweight and featherweight divisons, Over time, sme
would have competed in other divisions from flyweight to
welterweight. Add two of the best from Portland and Seattle,
RAY LAMPKIN and NEIL KNIGHT and some great bouts are guaranteed,
and it makes for some exciting boxing through the ages.
Then add current champions like Jess Brown.

BOXERS FROM 1966 to 1990
Alan Brown, Barry Lowe, Bob Kacer, Brian Gray, Brian Zelley
Butch O'Gurien, Chris Ius, Cliff Ballendine, Dale Walters, Del Deugau,
Frankie Scott, Freddie Hughes, Geronimo Bie, Greg Laboucan, Harold Handlin,
Jimmy McMillan, Joe Cooke, John Cowan, Ken MacDonald, Ken Henderson
Ken Stant, Leo Chabot, Les Hamilton, Michael O'Reilly, Mickey Griffin,
Orlan Ralph, Roger Adolph, Ron MacEachern, and Wayne Boyce.





If we take the time period from 1939 to 2011, there would be many more.
We could try to select who was the best at a certain point intime, but
that is open to subjective opinions. And there is likely no one we
could try to compare boxers such as Roger adolph or Ken MacDonald of
1966 with the likes of Les Hamilton of the Seventies or Bie of the
Nineties.

Tying to compare activity of boxers of the Sixties with boxers of the
Eighties and Nineties would be an interesting academic exercise but it
could not compare the skills and abilities of one boxer over another.

Monday, December 5, 2011

BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING NEWS, May 1985

BC BOXING NEWS from 1985: By Brian Zelley editor

Introduction
Recently found this copy of BC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS with an assortment of other stuff.
It includes some fight cards of 1985 and a look back at the Sixties with numerous photos
such as a group photo of some of the officials active in the Seventies and other years.
Profile photos of Johnny Creanza, Jeff Demmery, Joe McCaffrey, Ed McCaffrey,
Greg Demmery, Happy Seigner, Ian Pye, Garry Tatton, Ken Mitchell, Brent Lackie etc.

Some names from that 1968 Silver Gloves revival: Perry Demosten, John Gamble, Joe Cooke,
Lanny Thom, Tony James, Alf Cool, Joe Shannon, Gordie Lawson, Ron Trainor,
Some names from the 1966 Bronze Gloves:
Ron Way, David Kirby, Robbie Grant, Gary Bridal, Rick Johnson,
Uwe Blank, Kelly Barrows, Gerry Chu, Richard Gsllant and Gary VanBuskirk.


1985/1986 BOXING BC EXECUTIVE
George Armson, Fred Fuller, Sid Knopp, Marg O'Reilly, Bing Bakaan,
Shirley Knopp, Bert Lowes, Brian Zelley, Dave Thompson and Glynn Jones.


THE SIZZLING SIXTIES
Five of the 12 pages were devoted to highlights of the sixties which included
a general overview, and some quick highlights of the Golden Gloves, 1967 Diamond Belt,
Emerald Gloves, 1968 Silver Gloves Revival, 1966 Brone Gloves, 21 Seect
Vancouver Island Champions, a "The Never ending Story" and the quote
From Tiny Acorns Mighty Oaks Grow.

BETWEEN ROUNDS' THE PRINCE RUPERT BOXING CLUB
A page devoted to the Prince Rupert Boxing club from it's beginningd
in 1971 at the Prince Ruper Recreation Centre and the 1979 changes
that saw Dick St. Louis and Larry "Lefty" Logan took over
the direction of the club. Then into the Eighties with a few touches of
theSalmon Belt Tournament and contributions by the
INDO CANADIAN SIKH ASSOCIATION.
The 1985 recipient of the
Salmon Belt Award aka "Guru Go Bind Singh" was Fort St, John's
ROSS LEBREAUX. Som of the boxers and coaches mentioned in the
story include:
Milan Novak, Dwayne Fiddler, Zrake Stevens, Frank Genaille, Mark Jaeger,
Brent Daschuk, Ken Doll, Joe Martin, Albert Smith, Gerard Moore & Glen gardner.


RING ROUND-UP
covered recent club shows:
April 13, 1985, Nanaimo Boxing Club AND March 16th. Cranbrook Double "E".

The Nanaimo club show included boxers from Kamloops, Courtenay, Parksville,
Nanaimo, Gold River and Washington State and vancouver, boxers included
Nanaimo's RALPH TORRIE and CHRIS RATHY. A highlight bout in the Cranbrook
affair was a "BC Box-off between JOE PENDRY and AL HARPER. this bout
would lead to Joe being selected for the Senior team and winning a Canadian title.

NORE SIXTIES FLASHBACKS - VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAMPIONS
Island Champions Of The Sixties
(reprint from May 1985)
A great tradition on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands
was passed on from the Fifties with the continuation of the
Isand Golden Gloves until 1963. In 1964, an all Island championship
Tournament was held. After 1964, the All Iland Tournament would
remain dormant until a number of current members from Victoria to Gold River
revived the Vancouver Island Championshis twenty years later in Parksvile.
May 1984. throughout the Sixties, the tournaments provied an excellent
preliminry towards provincial tournament. Some of the

CHAMPIONS from 1960 to 1964:



21 SELECT VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAMPIONS - 1960 to 1964
Ken Alexander, Bruce Baille, Tommy Black, Mike Caird,
Larry Cardinal, Danny Daniels, Buck Delaronde, Len Diggs,
Fred Francis, V. Jack, Bob Mosse, Gilles Nepper, Cal Osmond,
Earl Pilgrim, Wayne Powell, Fred Price, Sgt. Ed Remin,
Howie Rabey, Rifleman Walsh, Skimp williams and Brian Zelley.


ONE OF THE STORIES

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

CHAMPIONS OF THE SIXTIES

VANCOUER ISLAND GOLDEN GLOVES and ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
- article by Brian Zelley, editor
Source: BC Amateur Boxing News, May 1985

Island Champions of The sixties

A great tradition on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands
was passed on from the Fifties with the continuation of the
Island Godenn Gloves (1960 to 1963, and in 1964
an All Island Amateur Boxing Championship tournament.
After 1964, the all Island tournament would remain dormant
until a number of members from Victoria to Gold river revived
the Vancouver Island championship twenty years later at
Parksville May 1984.

throughout the Sixties, the tournament provided and excellent
preliminary towards provincial tournaments from 1960 to 1964.



21 SELECT VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAMPIONS 1960 to 1964
Ken Aleander - Bruce Baille - Tommy Black - Mike Caird
Larry Cardinal - Danny Daniels - Buck Delaronde - Len Diggs
Fred Francis - V. Jack - Bob Mosse - Gilles Nepper
Cal Osmond - Earl Pilgrim - Wayne Powell
Fred Price - Sgt. Ed Remin - Howie Rabey
Rifleeman Walsh - Skimp williams - Brian Zelley



POST 1964 on The Island
There would be any club shows on the Island from
Victoria to Port alberni in the Sixties and one
standout "All- Star Show" show took place March 29, 1968.
at the Club Tango on View Street in Vicotria



The host club was the London Boxing Club
Top boxers that were listed in the promo ads were:
FREDDY FULLER, BRIAN ZELLEY, LES VEGAS, GARY VAN BUSKIRK,
KEN MACDONALD, BOBBY KACER, TONY JAMES and DICK FINDLAY
and 1966 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist FRANK SCOTT.

Friday, November 25, 2011

THE NINETIES BOXING REVIVAL GREATER VICTORIA

THE HEADLINES: by Brian Zelley

It was May 11, 1990 and the story in the "Times-Colonist
by JEFF RUD, Times-Colonist staff was titled
"Approaching Games to lift amateur boxing's profile".

"Amateur boxing ..., is about to receive a shot in the arm from the
Victoria Commonwealth Games Society. ..."We want to increase
the popularity of the sport" said JOHN STOTHART, executive director
of the Games Society.

"One objective of the Games is to 'strengthen sport', Stothart said.

"The first step towards that goal will be a meeting to re-establish the
Greater Victoria Boxing Association... The last major event
held here was the 1987 Diamond Belt tournament", recalls organizer
MIKE SARTORI."

"Sartori, who has been involved in the sport since his teenage years in Italy...
believes boxing can make a comebck here. So do other Victorians including former
British Columbia Amateur Boxing Association director BRIAN ZELLEY?.

"Zelley is one of several Victorians with strong boxing backgrounds who are
planning to form the Greater Victoria Boxing Association. Besides
serving as a BCABA director, he has also been an official and a coach in the sport"

(Note both I and Sartori were also former boxers but that reference was not included
in the story by Jeff Rud,)

" 'We have people here in Victoria" Zelley said..."The thing we need to do is to get some of
these experienced people involved to build on the positives of all the different
decades. You need a combination of these veterans along with some new blood.' "

THE OTHER WORLD, RING ACTION IN 1990
By the time the action of 1993 rocked into the history books, a few of the boxers
would be part of the 1993 and 1994 action in Victoria.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

1968: FIVE MONTHS OF BC BOXING ON THE UNKNOWN JOURNEY

A JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF BOXING GOLD: by Brian Zelley
(for some of us it would be a six month journey on the roller coaster ride
when the action first began in December 1967 at a club show)
                  from the Pacific Northwest: Earl McLeay, Frank Scott,  Jack Meda, 
           Brian Zelley, Darryl Olsen, Freddy Fuller , Dick Findlay,  Dave Wylie.

Between January to May 1968, many boxers would begin the journey
from competition to decide on the BC Team for the Tacoma Golden Gloves
to the Canadian Championships and Olympic Trials. Some would not be
there for the first event in January, but would be there for much of
the ride through the Tacoma, Oregon, B.C., Seattle Golden Gloves
Tournaments, an all-star card in Seattle, and the mid-May
Championships in Edmonton.

THE BEGINNING - 14 senior boxers step forward to begin the ordeal.
It all started January 5, 1968 with 14 boxers facing potential
elimination from making it to the TACOMA GOLDEN GLOVES.
The boxers in no particular order were:
Eddie Ostapovich, Nicky MacDonald, Jake Wiebe, John Carr, Brian Gray
Jim Dixon, Chester Douglas, Dave Allerdice, Ron McEachern, Derek Austin,
Brian Zelley, Ken Henderson, Pat O'Reilly jr, and Les Vegas.

Of this initial group of 14, only six would be there at the final date
in Edmonton along with some other BC boxers that did not make the
first test.

Some of those boxers would participate in the Tacoma Golden Gloves
along with others such as Wayne Boyce of the Astoria Boxing Club.

In the next tournament, it was the Oregon Golden Gloves
in Portland, Oregon.
Following the prelim action and the
semi-finals, the seven boxers to make the finals would be:
Frank Scott, Brian Zelley, Jake Wiebe, Earl McLeay,
Dick Findlay, Wayne Boyce and Pat O'Reilly.


1968 BC Golden Gloves

BC BOXERS - finals of the 1968 Golden Gloves:
Bill Taylor, Brian Zelley, Dave Allerdice, Denis Rorick,
Dick findlay, Earl McLeay, Frank Scott, jack Meda, Joe Cooke,
John Carr, Les Vegas, Neil Austin, Nicky MacDoanld, Rick fleck,
Robbie grant, Ted Kellenger 


BC boxers in semi-final action:
Dave Johnson, Brian Gray and Dave Codville. and there
were many others in prelim action such as the excellent
performance by Nanaimo's Tony James vs Wayne Boyce.



1968 Seattle Golden Gloves
A team of 19 BC boxers would make the trip
to this Pacific Northwest AAU Championships and
at the end it was FREDDY FULLER who shined
the greatest.


THE FINALS IN SEATTLE
(note, correct name spelling: GLENN MCGEE).

All-Star Boxing, Seattle
*For some of the BC boxers on the Seattle card, six days later it was
a trip to Victoria, BC for one of the many London Boxing Club's
Vancouver firefighters:  Fuller, Zelley, and Scott.





Diamond Belt and BC Olympic Trials



The Last Gate - 1968 Canadian Nationals
and 1968 Canadian Olympic Boxing Trials.

For the final tournament for those still remaining,
there were 12 plus one BC boxers that woould travel
to Edmonton. The first three to be eliminated in
the ring were Ken Henderson, Dave Allerdice
and Les Vegas.


And in the finals it was down to nine BC boxers
for the hope of getting a shot on the Olympic team.
The cast of nine:
Frank Scott, Ron MacEachern, Fred Fuller, Dick Findlay,
Chester Douglas, Pat O'Reilly, Rick Fleck,
Darryl Olsen and Earl Mcleay. And the rest is history.
.

Summary
This small piece is only a part of the full
1968 story for BC boxers. Along the way, there were
many other club shows from Victoria to Langley
The names included are a cross section of names of
folks that were there in the ring in major tournaments
but there were many others novice and junior boxers
in the action waiting to step into the open senior 

in 1969 or the Seventies such as Alf Cool, John Gamble and Gordie Lawson.
but their own combined journey is another story parts of which
have been told and shared.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

REVELSTOKE to host BC BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE 2011/2012 PROVINCIALS at REVELSTOKE: by Brian Zelley

2011/2012 Provincial Championships
Host Club: Revelstoke Boxing Club.
Coaches: Sam LeRose and Angelo LeRose
SAM LEROSE, Coach and Manager




REVELSTOKE BOXERS EXPECTED TO COMPETE
From early announcements, Revelstoke is expecting four of it's
boxers will be ready for action in the home town Provincial
tournament that will assist in selecting the various BOXING BC
teams for National Championships.

FLASHBACKS - 1984
One of the many past Provincial Championships tournaments in
the past was the 1984 tournament that took place in the
BVABA Training Centre in Burnaby. The head official in-charge
was FRED FULLER.

In the senior open divisions, the champions were:
Roger LaFlame (Williams Lake), Joe Pendry (Kimberley).
L. Rolfe (Astoria), T. Holmes (Shamrock), Wayne Welsh
(Kelowna) and heavyweight Dan Zaleski of Astoria.
Intermediate (Youth) champions were:
Gauthier, Wilson, Brown, Noel, Beltrame and Butter.

in preliminary action in the senior middleweight division.
Shamrock Boxing club boxer TREVOR HOLMES upset veteran
boxer from the Astoria Boxing club ALEX ANGELOMATIS, and
in the finals earned a unanimous decision over K. Price of
Williams Lake.

An interesting result was Langley welterweight AL HARPER
earned a RSC victory over DANNY THOMPSON of Olympus, but
failed to make the final bout against JOE PENDRY who had
stopped GERALD PETERS of Vernon in a prelim bout, while
Harper earned a unanimous decision over S. JACKSON of the
Queensborough Boxing club.

THE CHAMPIONS
One of the first news reports was the victory by three members
of Thistletown Boxing Club coached by Graham McIntosh in Kelowna
with a three for three result. One of the names announced was
Connor McKinley.

Tom Speirs, Spruce Capital Warriors earned two
victories to win the Provincial ligh-heavyweight open senior
division. The Prince George club coached by Wayne Sponagle
was expected to have four boxers compete.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

BOXING BC Prepares for 2011/2012

BOXING IN BC READY FOR ACTION IN 2011/2012 by Brian Zelley
BOXING in BRITISH COLUMBIA AT THE BELL

THE BOXING BC CLUBS are warming up for potential action in the ring
with tentative schedule of events:

BC PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
THE FIRST major tournament will be the Provincial Championships
scheduled for Vancouver Island November 26 and 27th.

This tournament is an important first step in establishing the
various teams for action in National oompetition in junior,
youth and senior open competition.


The senior and youth novice tournament is expected to take
place in December, and all the other regular tournaments
will take place in different regions of the province.
They would include Diamond Belt, Silver Gloves, Emerald
Gloves, Golden Gloves, Bronze Gloves and the Buckskin Gloves.


RECENT YEARS EVENTS:
A previous S.I.N. Tournament was jointly hosted by two Kelowna based clubs.

FORMER GOLDEN BOYS FROM 1968 and 1969 BC GOLDEN GLOVES tournaments include
1968, RAY LAMPKIN of Portland, and 1969 NEIL KNIGHT of Seattle.

The 2012 BC GOLDEN GLOVES is expected to be held in april in
the Okanagan region, in 2010 it was held in Langford community of
Greater Victoria when the 1960 Golden Boy, Al Curtis was recognized.


The Golden Gloves is the oldest annual tournament in British Columbia
and was started in 1939 with the help of The Vancouver Sun newspaper
and The Active Club. In 1967, Dick Findlay become a double golden boy,
he had won the special award in 1966 and 1967, and in 1968 he was named
Golden Boy runner-up. The 1959 Golden Boy was Jack Straza


DIAMOND BELT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Names from 2011:
Abdul Hamil, Christopher Cordova, Dave Funk and Dylan Bishop.


Tournament expected to take place in January 2012. The tournament
has an interesting history with the 1967 tournament being one of
the 2011 inductees into the BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME.

Guest referee for the 1967 tournament was ROCKY MARCIANO. The Diamond Boy
was Dave Wylie. Dave defeated three opponents to win the
special award during the Cenntenial year of 1967.

BC Boxers in the finals:
Derek austin, Ron MacEachern,
Frank Scott, Wayne, Boyce,
Brian Zelley, Dick Coulson,
Freddy Fuller, Pat O'Reilly jr.,
Dennis Rorick, Ron Wilson,
Marijan Kolar, Bill Taylor.


some of the other boxers were;
Dick Findlay, Kalman Santosi,
Clint Page, Rick Fleck,
Chester Douglas and Ed Williams.

EMERALD GLOVES
The Emerald Gloves will be a
March 2012 engagement in Delta.


The Emerald Gloves as a long history
that was founded by Bro O'Grady
The first double Emerald Boy was
JIMMY WALTERS On a traditional
basis it was for many years a junior
open tournament, but now it is wide open.

in the mid-Sixties one of the Emerald
Gloves champions was the London Boxing
Clubs' Gary Van Buskirk and
the Nanaimo Newcastle Boxing Club's
Mike Lazare. Of course, over
the years there have been many boxers
that have gone on to open class senior
competition with a variety of results.

2011 EMERALD GLOVES



SILVER GLOVES
The Silver Gloves will take place at the end of
February 2012 in the Fraser Valley region.

During the Sixties some of the shows were hosted by the Richmond
Boxing Club. In 1968, Nanaimo boxer Tony James competed
in the Silver Gloves and then turned to 1968 Golden Gloves
held in Vancouver and in his opening bout, James faced 1967
Canadian Featherweight ChampionWayne Boyce, Astoria Boxing Club.
Wayne won the decision, but many thought the unknown
Tony James earned thedecision.


Over the years the Silver Gloves gave Novice senior boxers an opportunity to
gain experience, and for many it served as a stepping stone towards open
senior activity.

In 1981, the tournament was held in Campbell
River. Now, thirty years later it will be
held on the mainland, but the thrill for
the many boxers competing in their
first tournament will be the same.

1979 Flashbacks
In Chilliwack, Nanaimo boxer Lee Campbell scored three KO's
to win the 1979 Silver gloves middleweight division.
But, Nanaimo boxer Norm Greenwell
lost a decision to Kelowna's Joe Mercer in
the finals of the light-welterwight division,
Dale Walters of Burnaby edged Don Preston
of the Nanaimo Boxing Club.
BUCKSKIN GLOVES
This tournament was revived in the Seventies
due to the efforts of ED WILLIAMS and ROGER ADOLPH.
For 2012, this tournament will be the last in the 2011/92012
BC Amateur Boxing season. It is expected to take place in
June 2012 in the Vancouver Squamish region.

CHANGES in the PROCESS for BOXING BC
As of October 2011, Boxing BC has three interim executive members
until additional steps are taken to elect a new president
and other executive members and board of directors.

There are no clear front runners for the position of president.
But, recently a name that has come forware is ROGER ADOLPH.

SIXTIES FLASHBACKS - ROGER ADOLPH

Monday, October 3, 2011

COACHES CORNER

UNSUNG HEROES, Assistant coaches and Trainers: By Brian Zelley

photos, Alan Brown and Dan Wright

Looking through the pages of old boxing programs or the list of
clubs on an old BOXING BC annual report will seldom
include the many names of all of the coaches and trainers
many of which are the key reasons boxers become skilled.

Looking back to the Sixties for instance one of the coaches
was ex-boxer BILL SELFRIDGE but his name would not
appear on any Provincial tournament programs.

Take the Seventies and Eighties an the names of most
of the coaches and trainers of the Vancouver Island boxing clubs
were not high profile names on a Provincial basis such as
JOE PRESTON and CLARK MCLELLAN, DAN WRIGHT,
JACK SNAITH and active boxer ALAN BROWN and others.


In Victoria in the Seventies and Eighties, how many will
remember names such as GORDIE MCGAW and
LARRY MONTGOMERY. coach LOU BUJDOSO
had to quit
the Victoria Athletic Association and form his own club
the VICTORIA JAYCEES before he was recognized.
Then there was IAN WEIR in the Nineties.

2010/2011 BC REGISTERED COACHES

some of the registered coaches that are often invisible in
publications include names such as Todd Alain, Steve Bailey,
Andre Mavros and many others,

PAST COACHES and TRAINERS
Difficult to select specific coaches for top ten rankings
because we all judge them by different yardsticks. But,
one overlooked coach was BOB DECKER. Maybe that was
because he did not coach long enough in British Columbia.
However, if we consider his performance in the Sixties in
Seattle with boxers like Gary Ferrari and Neil Knight
then our whole evaluation of him in BC would change. But, I am
sure some of the boxers that trained at the Shamrock Boxing Club
at the Main Street Gym would have to credit Decker with above
average coaching skills. Another name that is not likely to
receive wide spread ratings would be former Chemainus boxer
SKIMP WILLIAMS. When he coached, he did not try to
teach boxers his own style of boxing but was flexible. And,
for me on a personal level he was the best dude to have working
your corner. He only worked two of my fights in 1964, but those
two times cemented his standing as one of the best cornermen in
BC Amateur Boxing. He demonstrated his skills in the dressing room
and then before the opening bell and aced the corner work by knowing
what to say, how to say it and when to say it. Great timing in the
verbal corner work and the ability to get the boxer to take control
and keep it throughout the bout. I will not try to compare the others
that I had from 1964 to 1973, but if I had him in 1967 and 1968 who knows
what could of happened.

FEB. 9, 1961, Chemainus-Ladysmith Chronicle
"SKIMP WILLIMS WINS DECISION OVER DANNY MACDONALD"

The event was a boxing card hosted by the Salt Spring Island
Boxing club.
Danny was from the PPCLI Boxing Club.

Monday, July 11, 2011

NAMES and FACES of BC BOXING

BC BOXERS 1970 to 1975
                       (photo from the files of the Victoria Athletic Association)

Larry Adams, Rick Albrechtsen, Peter Alec, Nelson Ali, Dale Anderson,
Ken Anderson, Lloyd Anderson,  Shane Anderson, Alex Angelomatis,
George Angelomatis, Derek Austin, Neil Austin, Cliff Ballendine, 
Scott Bannink, Mark Barr, Steve Bellis, Peter Beltrame, Willie Benallie,
Alex Beveridge, Rick Biden, David Blair, Jimmy Blair, Peter Blair,
Barry Blatter, Wayne Blatter, Dean Bohn, Gary Bridal, Graydon Britton, 
Alan Brown, Dean Bruckshaw,  Fred Buckle, Murray Burton, 
Kevin Carney, Barry Cartwright, John Casano, Fred Clarke, 
Steve Connolly. Joe Cooke, Lou Cooke, Mike Cote, Danny Crawford,
Wayne Crowe, Lorne Daigneault,  Capi Damani, Bob DelRio, 
Perry Demosten,  Gary Desrosiers,  Paul DiBenedetto,  Rod Dickie, 
Chester Douglas, Ian Douglas, Sid Douglas, Randy Durante, Rick Eedy,
Bruce Edwards, Malcolm Eldridge, Danny Elgie,   Ron Elgie, Dwayne Evenson,  
                              NEIL AUSTIN - JOE COOKE - FRANK SCOTT
                              (Courtesy of Freddy Fuller and the Scott Family)

Jim Fidler, Derek Flanagan, Mike Frank, Tony Francis, Freddy Fuller
Kerry Gallagher, Scott Galloway,  John Gamble, Bill Gariepy, Titch Gill, 
Mickey Griffin, Roman Grimard, Lorne Hamer-Jackson, Les Hamilton, 
Billy Hardie, Todd Hatley, Danny Herman, John Herman, Kevin Howard,
Derrick Hoyt, Shane Hoyt, Jim Hunter, Keith Hunter, Tim Hunter, 

Hamid Ismail, Chris Ius, David Ius, Gary Ivers, Mike jaeger< Lyle Jack
Ken Jesson, Clyde Johnson,  Billy Johnstone, Brian Jones, Kelly Justaon,
Arnold Kelly, Hugh Kelly, Bill Kennedy, Gary Kuipers, Roger Laflame, 
Kurt Lang, Gordie Lawson, Don Louis,  Wes Luke,  Darren Lussier,   
WILLIAMS LAKE BOXING CLUB
Leif Albrechtsen, Coach

Ed McCaffrey, Joe McCaffrey, Ken MacDonald, Tommy MacDonald
Sid McKnight, Jimmy MacMillan, Tom McMurchie, Brian Majors, 
Laurie Mann,  Jack Meda, Monty Mold,
Malcolm and Matt Montgomery, Buzz Montour, Sonny Mullis, 
JACK MEDA - Prince George Boxer

Danny Neal, Glenn and mike O'Connor, Mike and Pat O'Reilly
Danny O'Sullivan, Jamie Ollenberger, Darryl Olsen, Don Orr, 

Danny O'Sullivan and Brian Zelley
(photo courtesy of Dorothy Zelley)
(Training for the Silver Gloves)

John and Paul Panke, Roy Pattison, Bob Pegues,  Joe Pendry, Gerald Peters,
Harold Prince, Ian Pye  Robrt Ratcliffe, Gary and Geoff Robinson,
Laurie Rorick, Sheldon Samuels,  Taac Sasagawa, Frank Scott,
John Silver, Arnie Smith,  Jack Snaith,  Jim Stevenson, Andrew  Swim, 
Kelly and Super Sumra, Danny and Gary Tatton, 
Lance Taylor, Ron taylor, Lanny Thom, Danny Thompson,
 Dave Thornhill, Steve Tohill, Glenn Tubbs, Tom Turnbull, 
Victoria Athletic Association - Boxing photo

Mike Vukelic, Ed Wainright, Gary and Rick Walker, 
Dale and Dave Walters, Bill Watson, Ian Weir,
 Rick Wentland,' Ed Williams, Ron williams,  Lyle Wold,  
 Gary Wood, Dan Wright,  Brian Wise, Dave Wylie, 
Dean Yourng and Brian Zelley
Ian Weir, Mike Caird, Brian Zelley - 1974 Victoria, BC
Start of a Revival  of Amateur Boxing in Victoria
(photo  courtesy of the Greater Victoria  Sports Hall of Fame)


DIRECTORS, OFFICIALS and COACHES
The Seventies BC Amateur Boxing

Jim and Maureen Airey, Leif Albrechtsen, Alex & George Angelomatis
Uto Arnold, Walter Austin, Len Barker, Gordon Bens,
Rudy Bianco, Walter Boyce, Wayne Boyce, Bill Brenner
Bernie Brisch, Rick Brough, Lou Bujdoso, Gerald Burton,
Mike Caird, Ian Carmichael, Darcy Clayton, Joe Cooke,
Terry Cooke, Dave Coventry, Howard Curling.

Joe Deslaurier, Ian Douglas, Robert Edge, Bob Eedy,
Earl Elgie, Darrel Elmore, Tommy Fagan, Dick Findlay,
Fred Fuller, Freddy Fuller, Lawrence Fuller, Jim Gallagher,
Ernie George, Ian Gibson, Ed Gilmore, Bob Ginetti,
Gord Griffin, Ed Higginbottom, Wally Hill, Andy Hinds,
Jim Howie, Elio, Leo and Mel Ius, Sid and Shirley Knopp

John Kovak, Thorky Larsen, Paul LeMay, Lindy Lindmoser,
Sandy Lorenzen, Fred & Walt Louie, Bert Lowes, Arnold McEwan, 
Mickey McMillan, Cliff McNabb, Harold and Irving Mann, 
Ken Marjoram, Nick Martin, Peter Mazurak, Bram Melis,
Jack Mellor, Bob and Joe Mercer, Mike Moore, Vic Murdoch, 
Peter Murray-Driver, Marg and Pat O'Reilly,  John O'Shea,
(Courtesy of Gordie Lawson - Firefighters)
Coaches:  Lindy Lindmoser, Bert Lowes,  Sandy Lorenzen


Gary Oakden, Buddy Palmer, Bob Perry, Jack Pidgeon, Joe Preston
Denny Ross, Art and George Shiels, Ray Silver, Stan Smith, Joe Swift,
Dave Thompson, Alan Tummon, Bill Walker, Lennie Walters, Bill Watson,
Ron Whalley, Dave Wylie, Jeff and Tommy Yule, Brian Zelley.


RON WHALLEY, RING OFFICIAL  

(Courtesy of Boxing BC Memorial Photo of Ron Whalley)

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