Nanaimo Boxing - 40 years - September 2011

THE NANAIMO BOXING CLUB STORY
One of the many boxer in his year of glory - 2009
Nanaimo boxer to fight in Caribbean
a piece about STEFAN MELIDEO.

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB (1971 - 2011)
-  September will mark the 40th. official anniversary.

NANAIMO ALUMNI - BOXERS 
(sample of names only, as many trainees were not that active)
- Barry Creswell - Bob Jameson - Bob Pegues
Bob Walsh - Brian Zelley - Britton Gillette - Barry Neufield 
Chris Rathy - Clark MacLellan - Dan Wright - Dave Alton
Darren Lussier - Cody Redford  - Don Preston - Don Williams - Jack Snaith  
John Navaroli - John Ormandy - Kevin Jolly -  Kevin Long - Lee Campbell
 - Lloyd Anderson - Lyle Jack - Malcolm Eldridge
Mark Barr - Mark Guttenberg - Mickey Griffin
Mike Murray - Norm Greenwell - Ralph Torrie - Rob Argyle
Rick Davidson - Ron Williams - Stefan Melideo
Steve Venuti - Stu Springett - Takashi Sasagawa -
 Wade Marling -Wayne Peace - Zach McKay -
others: kelly gourlay,   dwayne evenson, dave houliston,  doug english,  
robbie wentland, 

(there are others including some of the active members and some
of the trainees that did not compete)
FOUNDERS - Brian Zelley - Dan Wright - assisted by John Ormandy
and George Nepper. Some of the past and present coaches/trainers -
Brian Zelley, Dan Wright,  Clark MacLellan,
 and current head coach Barry Creswell. 
In 1976 Nanaimo boxer Mickey Griffin assisted in coaching;
Long time supporters of the club were Dorothy and Sid Runacres.

The Foundation for the Nanaimo Boxing Club was the Newcastle Boxing Club
* the club was founded by George Nepper in September 1963.
Prior to the formation of the club, George would trave on a 
regular basis to Chemainus/Ladysmith with the local boxers
to train with the likes of Skimp Williams, Danny Daniels and
many others including Terry Eastman.  The initial folks to help
with the coaching in 1963 would be Harry Pollitt and Skimp Williams.
Some of the early boxers in Nanaimo were the Nepper brothers
Gilles, Jules, Leon and Roger, the Balatti brothers  Chris and Ted,
Brian Zelley, Leo Rock and Mike Lazare, but many others would follow. 
The first fight card would be  January 1964 in Victoria, and the first
boxer to step into the ring for Nanaimo was Roger Nepper.  

Vancouver Island Boxing 1984

VANCOUVER ISLAND BOXING - An Important Step Forward: By Brian W. Zelley

Of the many amateur boxing event on Vancouver Island from 1980 to 1985, one event
stands the test of time as being an important event that would lead to the revival of a
tournament that had not been seen since 1964 - the Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing
Championships.

It began with a club show in Ladysmith at the Sportsplex on January 28, 1984.
In the boxing show, ten bouts were held by the relatively new boxing club.

To recognize the boxers from Ladysmith, Gold River, Gibsons, Crofton,
Nanaimo, and Parksville the names of the boxers were:
Graham Henry, Raymond Barton, Robert Rice, Dean Townsend, Chris Wigard,
Tony Willis, Rowland Powel, Robin Murray, Paul Bottomley, Hank Sampson,
W, Hinchcliffe, Lee Dmani, Trent Storey, Dani Koughan, Craig Kelly,
Tony Duffy, Dano Everts, Bill Franklin, Russ Lyon, Tim Cessford.

Official In Charge - Rick Brough, Branch Executive Officer - Brian Zelley

Referees & Judges: Rick Brough, Brian Zelley,
Howard Curling, Frank Bowers and Roy Maycock
Timekeeper: Walter Brownlow, Announcer: Ian Allan,
Glovers - Garry Doherty and Harold Barton

Coaches in attendance:Bill Cox, Niel Garda, Alex Riley, Monty & Alan Brown,
Joe Preston, Art Smith and Brian Sacho, and Barry Krangle.

The important event in planning took place on Sunday, January 29, 1984
with a combined coaches and officials meeting under the direction of Rick Brough.
The purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of amateur boxing on
Vancouver Island and make plans for future shows in Parksville, Gold River
and Campbell River, and consider plans for the Island Championships in the
spirit of "BC Winter Games" of Participation & Competition.

ZELLEY'S ROUND - December 22, 1982

(Photos - Referee RICK BROUGH in the ring)

Zelley's Round:
"Amateur Boxing News": By Brian Zelley, the "Sportcaster" - December 22, 1982

The newly formed LADYSMITH BOXING CLUB added to the growth of amateur boxing on Vancouver Island
by hosting an 11-bout card at the Ladysmith Sportsplex on Saturday December 11th before
an enthusiastic crowd.

The boxing club was formed in October through the efforts of BILL COX, DAVE ALTON who are the club coaches
and RICK BROUGH (ring official and recreational director for the town of Ladysmith) and Dave Stone.

Through the coaching efforts of Alton and Cox, and the administrative experience of Brough,
the club was able to host a club show after only two months of activity. Vancouver Island Clubs
were well represented with teams from Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Crofton and Parksville.

Ring officials included Rick Brough, Howard Curling, Brian Zelley, Frank Bowers and Joe Preston.
Mike Sartori, a coach from Victoria Jaycees, announced at a special meeting following the bouts
that the Victoria club is in the process of organizing regular Sunday afternoon shows on amonthly basis.
It was also announced that the Crofton Boxing Club will host a show in February while the Ladysmith
club will host another show in March.

Results:
Val Worden over Greg Pierce, Danny Cross over Daryl Hickey, Louis Leach over Tony Willis,
Craig Shaw over Scott Nugent, Alex Johnny over Hank Sampson, Danny Koughan over Wade Stewart,
Wayne Doherty over Mike Rochon, Dean Bohn over Steven Schwan, Jamie Rose over Jerome Crocker,
Pete Seggie over Rick Walton.

In the main event, SCOTT CESSFORD of Parksville used a combination of hand speed and foot speed
to win a split decision over the harder punching LLOYD ANDERSON of Nanaimo in a lightweight
contest.