2022 Now at 11 choices

The  names of potential. Clarke McLellan        **           Lou Buldoso* London Boxing Club/VAA  * George Nepper  * Eddie Haddad, *** Fred Desrosiers * *       Harry Morris *** Rick Brough* TOMMY BLACK and LARRY CARDINAL No.11 is an event: The 1994 Commonwealth Games Boxing (1989 to 1994)

Which ten will join Donnie Orr, Brian Zelley, Jason Heit, *** Mickey Griffin * Jeannine Garside * * Billy Townsend **

 The challenge is trying to pick ten choices out of the 15.  If one of the choices is a boxing club then should it be the London Boxing Club/VAA or the Nanaimo Boxing Club.         The Nanaimo Boxing club was formed in 1971 by Brian Zelley and Dan Wright with assistance from George Nepper and John Ormandy. As of September 2021, the club will be starting it's 51 st. year. A major tournament in 1978 was the Island Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves. The club would change coaches over the years with Barry Creswell  and Clarke McLellan, but Barry's  retirement resulted with a new start in January 2021 There would be other tournaments after !978, but they were somewhat watered down. The London Boxing Club was started by HARRY MORRIS in the early Sixties.  It's major tournament was the 1964 Vancouver Island Championships, and later in 1974, the coaches would be Mike Caird and Brian Zelley.  In 1976, the London Boxing Club would host a BC Juniors select to compete against an English boxing team.  Mike, Brian and Howard Curling would receive Certificates from Boxing BC's president WALTER BOYCE. Then in August 1976, the London club would be replaced by the members to change it to the Victoria Athletic Club the initial coaches were Mike Caird, Lou Bujdoso and Brian Zelley.  But after a couple of years, Lou would start the Jaycees Boxing Club.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Lloyd Anderson fought has a boxer for a number of Boxing clubs, and would start the Comox Valley Boxing Club in the eighties and for a while Jack Snaith would help.                                                                                                                                                                                                 The other potential inductees all have a variety of Achievements, Contributions and Participation such as ELLEN CONNOR who formed the Sooke Boxing Club. Of all the boxers , two standouts that competed in Olympic Games are FRED DESROSIERS and EDDIE HADDAD. Both boxers are also Inductees of the Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame and the BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.  But, Haddad is also an Inductee of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, and the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.

2022 V I Boxing Hall of Fame: by Brian Zelley

2022 'nominees  Barry Creswell, Clarke McLellan, Lloyd Anderson, Fred Desrosiers, Harry Morris       Lou Bujdoso, Gordie Racette, Ellen Connor.  Bryan Colwell,  Bert Wilkinson, Eddie Haddad, George Nepper, Harry Pollitt,       Joe Bayley, Mickey Griffin, Vic Murdoch, Shane Sutcliffe, Rick Brough, Skimp Williams, Jim Hills, Sammy May, Art Smith,  NANAIMO BOXING CLUB and LONDON BOXING CLUB/VICTORIA ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION.

The selection date will be sometime in 2022, and at least ten will be added to the 6 in 2021: *

 Donnie Orr, Brian Zelley, Jason Heit, Jeannine Garside * Mickey Griffin * Billy Townsend.

 Trying to pick ten names out of this group of boxers, builders and clubs is no easy feat.  Folks voting their select choices may determine popularity, but that alone doesn't measure their contributions to the sport, their individual achievements or forms of participation.  So the supporters should be given a chance to show support for them to narrow the field to say 15, then the administrators need to select the best choices based on history of the group of 15.  For variety , one of the clubs needs to be selected the London Boxing Club/Victoria Athletic Association or the Nanaimo Boxing Club.*** Of interest in September. the Nanaimo Boxing Club will be entering it's 51 year.  The club was founded in 1971 by Brian Zelley and Dan Wright, helped by George Nepper and John Ormandy.  The former coach for many years was Barry Creswell who has retired and now four others have taken over the coaching.  For a while Bob Pegues was also serving as a coach.  The London Boxing Club was started by HARRY MORRIS in the Sixties, and was replaced by the Victoria Athletic Association August 31, 1976 (see photo above)

VI Boxing Hall, a 2022 Poll in progress: B. Z.

ISLAND BOXING by Brian Zelley
 Well a fresh new poll for 2022 VI Boxing Hall has been started. It would be nice if the London Boxing Club/VAA gets selected in the VI Hall and the BCABHOF.

Vancouver Island Boxing Hall of Fame

In the year 2021 a new hall of fame site has started with the first year. selection of  6 for the year one

 The initial from 30 choices are:  Donnie Orr, Brian Zelley, Jason Heit, Jeannine Garside and Billy Townsend and Mickey Griffin

Donnie Orr was a member of the 2000 Olympic Canadian boxing team. Also, Donnie was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame and an inductee of the British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall Of Fame.                        Brian Zelley is a former boxer, coach. ring official, Boxing BC former director, a former member of the boxing committee of Victoria for the 1994 Commonwealth Games and served one year as the boxing committee chairman in 1991.  A co-founder along with Dan Wright to form the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971.  And in 2010, one of the six founders of the BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame including Ray Beaulieu, Scott Galloway, Steven Kodiak and Steve Wood.  Jason Heit was a Canadian Champion in the mid nineties and involved in International competition. Jason is currently a boxing coach in Victoria.  Jeannine was one of Canada's women champions and involved in International competition. Billy Townsend was a professional champion and fought many world champions.

There are many more outstanding boxers and builders involved at one time in the sport of amateur boxing some of which have fought pro.  Over the coming years there will be others that will be recognized in the Vancouver Island Boxing Hall of Fame.  Special thanks to the many supporters along the way such as Lou Bujdoso Jr., Jane Racicot, Stuart McLellan, Andrew Schuck, Wally Doern, Fred Wicks, Kevin Penner, Kevin Lyons, Don Shaw, Arnold McEwen, Steven Lowry, Justin Pagani,  Mehran "Hotstuff", Gary Labbe, Chris Trinkwon, and  Derek Hoyt. ***** It is expected more names will be added in 2022 including one of two different groups London Boxing Club/Victoria Athletic Association VS the Nanaimo Boxing Club. Some other potentials include Fred Desrosiers, Eddie Haddad, Harry Morris, Lloyd Anderson, Lou Bujdoso,  George Nepper, Tommy Black                                                                                                                                                                                                        

There are hundreds of names over the years, but many will not be selected.  For instance will folks such as KEN ALEXANDER or BILLY TAYLOR be nominated and what about Gary Van Buskirk, Mike Lazare, Ken Stant, Tony James, Richard Johnson, Mike Miller, Mike Caird, Dan Wright, Ian Weir, Ian Duddy, Gary Robinson, Wayne Crowe, Chris Jones, Tom McGaw, Gordie McGaw, Les Vegas, Murray Glover, Roger Nepper, Bob Pegues, Barry Creswell, DELUCA FAMILY and many more.