Billy Townsend - Boxer

The Billy Townsend boxing story: by Brian Zelley

Billy Townsend was born in England

but called Nanaimo, BC, Candada home.
Billy would begin as an amateur and win
a number of titles before turning pro on
August 20, 1926.  His pro boxing 
journey would end years later in his
final bout against Sammy Luftspring.

*In the early years, he would fight
many bouts in the Pacific Northwest
with some of the opponents being
Ritchie Kink, Johnny Woods, 
Leo (Kid) Roy, Tommy Fielding,
Leslie (Wildcat) Carter,
Doc Snell and the great Todd Morgan.

* Along the way he would win the 
Canadian lightweight title with a 
victory over AL FOREMAN in 1929.
* Billy would then fight in numerous location such as Los Angeles, Toronto,
New York and Detroit, but would also appear on Vancouver Island with bouts
in Victoria, 70 miles from his old home base of Nanaimo. 

During these years, Billy would fight some world ranked boxers
and one time champions such as Benny Leonard and Tony Canzoneri.
He would also face that great "uncrowned champion" Billy Petrolle.
At the end of the journey, Townsend would have about 110 pro fights.

Billy Townsend - Boxer

William Townsend, BC Sports Hall of Fame:

* In the year 1966, Billy Townsend would be inducted into

the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame.  As of 2013,

Billy is only one of seven boxing folk that have been inducted.

British Columbia Amateur Boxing Association:

In the sixties and for many years, Billy Townsend

would be recognized at the annual golden gloves.

For instance, in 1967 in the centennial golden gloves

tournament, Billy was introduced before the 

featherweight final between Brian Zelley and Wayne Boyce.

BC would also have the annual "Billy Townsend Award".

BOB CLEROUX and the Canadian heavyweights

THE CANADIAN HEAVYWEIGHTS: by brian zelley

                 * One of the three George Chuvalo vs Bob Cleroux bouts for the

                            Canadian Heavyweight Championship

Bob Cleroux, the forgotten champuon: * Bob Cleroux was one of the best Canadian heavyweights but is ofteb

forgotten by those discussing the great Canadian boxers.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/weblog/news.php?p=12035&more=1

During his pro journey, it should be remembered that he defeated 
boxing icon George Chuvalo in two out of three fights.  .  The above
link is a complete outline of Cleroux's journey by Paul McGrath on
the East Side boxing  site.

YVON DURELLE, champion

YVON DURELLE, the story
http://yvondurelle.com/

* the above link touches on the life
and times of a Canadian legend by
the name of Yvon Durelle aka
"The Fighting Fisherman" and his
great wife Theresa.  We are forever
pleased with the decision to have
a special site for two special Canadians.

The biography of Durelle:
* In 1981, New Brunswick author
Raymond Fraser wrote the book
called " The Fighting Fisherman "  and 
included a record of his professional bouts
between 1947 and 1963.  Included in that list
were some notable bouts including the world
light-heavyweight title fight with Archie Moore.

FLOYD PATTERSON "Victory Over Myself"

FLOYD PATTERSO, a true champion: by Brian Zelley
*without a doubt, Ployd Patterson is a true hero of the ring
and in life itself  which was revealed in the black and white
pages of his book "Victory Over Myself".

The tell all book by Floyd Patterson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Patterson

The bouts with Ingemar were three great fights that established

Floyd has the first heavyweight champion to regain the title.

During his post championship years

Floyd Patterson needed to earn

some victories to earn another 

shot at the title.

Two of those bouts were against Eddie Machen and George Chuvalo

Boxing Illustrated, january 1975

"BOXING ILLUSTRATED": review by Zelley

When

*When I look back at the magazine, I rember my contribtion

to the magazine in the "reader's rights" section on a page 

of which I spoke about Gene Tunney and also 

requested more on Jose Napoles.

And this is what the editor said:

"Brian, you are probably right about Gene Tunney...

Have no fear about feature stories on Jose Napoles

in future issues...he's a super welterweight 

champion and has the kind of charisma that 

just naturally makes great stories.

Hurricane Carter story: 

The most important story in that issue of BI was the one about Carter

The title of the story was:

"Hurrican Carter Once Had world In His Hand,

Fights To Touch It Again" - by Jack Welsh, editor-in-chief

Beyond Carter, there weresome other stories including one on Tony Licata

and Alvaro Lopez.  Fight results included Ben Villaflor's title victory,

Bobby Chacon vs Alfredo Marcano, then the Canadians

Donato Paduano vs Jean-Claude LeClair

and there were 15,200 fans watching that fight in Montreal.

For Pacific northwest fans they may not have seen it live but they 

were following the Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Seales fight in Boston.

and back in New York a young Eddie Gregory and

 Eugene "Cyclone" Hart were in action.

A special feature was all about Sandy Saddler

the title of the Lew Eskin's story said it all

"Sandy Saddler A Street Fighter

In Ring Yet A mild Man On the Street"

Special section: "For The Cause of Women Boxers"

including Barbara Buttrick and joan Hagen.

Highlighted in the "Greatness file" was 

Harry Jeffra

(another great Italian-American fighter)

he fought the likes of Sixto Escobar,

Joey Archibald and Chalky Wright.

Special thanks to the crew at Boxing Illustrated and all the journalists

Jack Welsh, Lew Eskin, Ramon Gonzales, John Williams,

Art Taylor,  Eddie Coo. and many others.

BOXING ILLUSTRATED, December 1963

"Boxing Illustrated",  December 1963 review: By Brian Zelley

* the cover story of this issue of

"Boxing Illustrated" was  the

Liston vs Patterson fight which

took longer to read than the fight

lasted.  At the time Charles Liston

was a top level fighter.  Floyd

was a great person.

* Beyond the main event, there

were some good articles in this

issue of the magazine and would 

include various fights:

Fights covered In "Rings Around The World:

Eddie Perkins vs D. Loi, Eder Jofre vs Joe Medel,

Brian Curvis vs Ralph Dupas, Willie Pastrano vs

Rudolfo Diaz, and Swift vs Leahy. 

* For active boxers, one of the interesting stories

was called "Big Night For the Ripper" 

The lead into the story about Garland "Rip" Randall

was: "Young Garland"Ripper" Randall scores a major

win and becomes a serious threat  for welterweight

champion Emile Griffith"

Other stories of interest:

* They still love Sugar in England

* John Gutenko - Alias Kid Williams

*  Archie Moore's Training Headquarters

* A case Against a Junior Middleweight Division  

BOXING ILLUSTRATED, December 1966

BOXING ILLUSTRATED: by brian zelley

December 1966 Review:

This issue of BI was packed

with a cross section of 

current news and flashbacks.

Some of the flashbacks were

stories on:

Primo Carnera, Billy Soose, and 

 Eddie "Cannonball" Martin. 

Some of the 1966 fights covered:

* Floyd Patterson vs Henry Cooper

* Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena

* Howard Winstone vs Jan DeKeers

* Jimmy Ellis vs Billy Daniels

* Johnny Brooks vs Ernie Lopez

* Armando Ramos vs V. Salazar

* Joe Clark vs Ralph Dupas

Other articles covered such boxers

as Pete DeRuzza, Joe DeNucci and much more including a column by

former middleweight champion Terry Downes and "Trade Talk".

Terry mentioned British boxer Mark Rowe, Alan Rudkin, Frankie Taylor

and others.