TO THE BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING
HALL OF FAME: By Brian Zelley
*BUT THE STORY BEGINS IN 1963 with GEORGE J. NEPPER
AND THE NEWCASTLE BOXING CLUB.
To understand the Nanaimo
Boxing Club history, it is
important to recognize and
remember where it all began
in the history of amateur boxing
in Nanaimo during the Sixties.
For the opening round of the
story we need to revisit the
1964 story that appeared in
Nanaimo Daily Free Press
titled: "Boxing Club Operates Despite All Handicaps"
with sub-headings "Shoemaker By Day, Trainer By Night".
The opening paragraph introduces the main star as
follows:
"George J. Nepper dusted off the rough and rickety bench
in the cramped basement quarters which houses his
Newcastle Boxing Club...Leaning on his cane...
George apologized for the lack of space in the dingy
clubrooms of what probably is one of the most
important but least publicized sports organizations
in Nanaimo."
As the story continues about the boxing club and George,
it describes his role in the following words:
"...the former athlete, manager, trainer, coach and janitor,
matchmaker and father confessor to a small group of
boxing hopefuls who train night after night for a chance
to take part in a boxing show."
For a number of years, Nepper was hoping to start his
own boxing club, but it wasn't until 1963 that Jim Clark
offered the use of his hotel basement free of charge,
the NEWCASTLE BOXING CLUB came into being.
The active members at that time were Nepper's sons
Rene, Leon, Jules, Roger and Gilles, the Balatti
brothers Chris and Ted, Brian Zelley and Leo Rock.
But, there were other trainees, of which, some would
engage in ring competition. Those early members
were Brian Adam, Gerry Matson, Ron Wheatly,
Reid Mitchell, Mike Lazare, Phillip Joe, Dave Ballance,
Don Brown, Wayne Barnes, Jim Brown,
Leonard Brown and Lloyd Hepplewaite.
Those that helped in the training were:
Harry Pollitt, Frank and Albert Seriani,
Lorne Roberts and Skimp Williams. Rene
Nepper would also help in that first year of
operation.
As the years flashed by, there would be many
other trainees to fill the various gym locations
such as Rick Johnson, Ken Stant, Alan Windecker,
Larry McFadden, Tony James and others.
At the end of the 1968 season, the club would
end it's days of activity, but all of the equipment
was retained by George J. Nepper who had the
hope and the dream, that the club could begin
anew. That day would come when the newly
created Nanaimo Boxing Club was formed in 1971.
So, through the vision of one, came the hopes and dreams
of many over 41 years ago in the summer of '71.
BOXING CHEMISTRY 101:
*From those pre-1971 days, to the formation of the club
in 1971 and the long journey into the start of the fifth
decade there have been many involved in the progress
and the success. But, when all is said and done it was
boxing chemistry 101 that provided the fuel that would
see the club operating with many achievements for so
many yars. That chemistry would be found in the form
of: the old shoemaker, George Nepper, the force behind
the old Newcastle boxing club, the teenage exploits of a
current Prince George coach named Bob Pegues.
That chemistry would be the wisdom and vision
of the old shoemaker, and the hope, wishes and
dreams of the young teenager.
BOB PEGUES in the mid-Seventies
BEYOND NANAIMO and onto VICTORIA
*Another new beginning: 1974
***** IAN WEIR ***** MIKE CAIRD ***** BRIAN ZELLEY *****
Boxing Club history, it is
important to recognize and
remember where it all began
in the history of amateur boxing
in Nanaimo during the Sixties.
For the opening round of the
story we need to revisit the
1964 story that appeared in
Nanaimo Daily Free Press
titled: "Boxing Club Operates Despite All Handicaps"
with sub-headings "Shoemaker By Day, Trainer By Night".
The opening paragraph introduces the main star as
follows:
"George J. Nepper dusted off the rough and rickety bench
in the cramped basement quarters which houses his
Newcastle Boxing Club...Leaning on his cane...
George apologized for the lack of space in the dingy
clubrooms of what probably is one of the most
important but least publicized sports organizations
in Nanaimo."
As the story continues about the boxing club and George,
it describes his role in the following words:
"...the former athlete, manager, trainer, coach and janitor,
matchmaker and father confessor to a small group of
boxing hopefuls who train night after night for a chance
to take part in a boxing show."
For a number of years, Nepper was hoping to start his
own boxing club, but it wasn't until 1963 that Jim Clark
offered the use of his hotel basement free of charge,
the NEWCASTLE BOXING CLUB came into being.
The active members at that time were Nepper's sons
Rene, Leon, Jules, Roger and Gilles, the Balatti
brothers Chris and Ted, Brian Zelley and Leo Rock.
But, there were other trainees, of which, some would
engage in ring competition. Those early members
were Brian Adam, Gerry Matson, Ron Wheatly,
Reid Mitchell, Mike Lazare, Phillip Joe, Dave Ballance,
Don Brown, Wayne Barnes, Jim Brown,
Leonard Brown and Lloyd Hepplewaite.
Those that helped in the training were:
Harry Pollitt, Frank and Albert Seriani,
Lorne Roberts and Skimp Williams. Rene
Nepper would also help in that first year of
operation.
As the years flashed by, there would be many
other trainees to fill the various gym locations
such as Rick Johnson, Ken Stant, Alan Windecker,
Larry McFadden, Tony James and others.
At the end of the 1968 season, the club would
end it's days of activity, but all of the equipment
was retained by George J. Nepper who had the
hope and the dream, that the club could begin
anew. That day would come when the newly
created Nanaimo Boxing Club was formed in 1971.
So, through the vision of one, came the hopes and dreams
of many over 41 years ago in the summer of '71.
BOXING CHEMISTRY 101:
*From those pre-1971 days, to the formation of the club
in 1971 and the long journey into the start of the fifth
decade there have been many involved in the progress
and the success. But, when all is said and done it was
boxing chemistry 101 that provided the fuel that would
see the club operating with many achievements for so
many yars. That chemistry would be found in the form
of: the old shoemaker, George Nepper, the force behind
the old Newcastle boxing club, the teenage exploits of a
current Prince George coach named Bob Pegues.
That chemistry would be the wisdom and vision
of the old shoemaker, and the hope, wishes and
dreams of the young teenager.
BOB PEGUES in the mid-Seventies
Bob Peues, the coach
2010
(with Prince George boxer Jag Seehra)
BEYOND NANAIMO and onto VICTORIA
*Another new beginning: 1974
The above photo is one that highlights the big revival of amateur boxing in
Victoria, BC in the mid Seventies. After this photo, the London Boxing &Athletic
club renewed there support of amateur boxing in 1974/75 season. In 1976,
boxer Wayne Crowe would win the 1976 BC Golden Gloves and fight in
the 1976 Nationals. And in June 1976 the club would host one of the
English schoolboy vs BC juniors tournaments.
In August 1976, with formation of the Victoria Athletic Association, they
would sponser amateur boxing and the first three coaches would be
Mike Caird, Brian Zelley and Lou Bujdose.
