Zelley's Round - Nov. 24, 1982

BOXING PLANNED FOR VICTORIA: By Brian Zelley, November 24, 1982, "Sportcaster", Victoria, BC

Determination, enthusiasm and dedication paid off for local boxers KIT MUNRO and KIRK RANNERIS when both boxers won championships at the BC Bronze Glovesfor junior novice amateur boxers at Vancouver on November 5 and 6. Munro
defeated two opponents to win the 119lb. bantamweight title and Ranneris defeated two opponents to win the 125lb, featherweight title.

For Kit and Kirk, their wins mark the first level of amateur championship boxing. Both boxers made their
amateur boxing start in the current season against more experienced opponents in a club show
hosted by their opponents boxing clubs.

Kit made his amateur start against a Vancouver opponent in Vancouver last September.
He was winning his bout when he was forced to retire due to an injury.

Kirk made his amateur boxing debut in October against a Campbell River boxer ... and lost the decision.

Despite the initial setbacks, both Munro and Ranneris showed the determination of potential champions
by returning to the Jaycees gym for more instruction and training under the direction of their coaches.
The enthusiasm and dedication paid off with both Kit and Kirk displaying improved boxing skills at the Bronze Gloves.
Both boxers will now return to the gym for more instruction to smooth out their stance and footwork, improve
their defense and sharping their punching skills for a chance to compete in more advanced competition.

Both RANNERIS and MUNRO along with other Jaycees boxers may get a chance to compete in Victoria in the
New Year. The officials of the club are presently in the feasibility stage of determining if the Jaycees c;ib
could hold regular club shows in Victoria.

Also, BERT LOWES, the BC Amateur Boxing Association director of referees and judges, has indicated
an interest in hosting a judges and referees clinic in Victoria to upgrade present officials and an attempt
to recruit and train new officials in the Victoria area.

ZELLEY'S ROUND

(Photo - ALAN BROWN - 1984).

ZELLEY's ROUND - "The Sportcaster" - November 10, 1982

The following is a piece I wrote for publication in 1982 (partial reproduction)

Nanaimo, BC is considered by many fight fans to be the fight capital of British Columbia
especially after the success of the GORDIE RACETTE - JIMMY YOUNG and RACETTE vs TREVOR BERBICK
heavyweight fights...The city also has a strong amateur boing program under the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB.
The amateur club was formed in 1971by DAN WRIGHT and BRIAN ZELLEY...The highlight of the NANAIMO club
was the success of JACK SNAITH who won the light-flyweight championship in the 1973 CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

In amateur boxing news, DAN WRIGHT who was a co-founder of the Nanaimo Boxing Club and a former
Victoria boxer is now a registered judge with BC AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION.
Vancouver Island Boxing Commissioner, RICK BROUGH of Victoria has moved to Ladysmith
and is organizing an amateur boxing club.

Early results of the BC BRONZE GLOVES for junior novice boxers had Victoria's KIRK RANNERIS
winning one bout Friday night in the preliminaries...

Local boxer KIT MUNRO added a touch of class to the fifteen bout boxing card at CAMPBELL RIVER
ON October 30. Munro boxing in his second amateur bout gave an excellent performance to stop
Langley's JOHN RICHARDS midway through the second round of a bantamweight bout,,,

Kit won the first round with an educated left jab. In round two, Munro combined straight punches
and well placed body shots to stop Richards. Victoria's Kirk Ranneris put up a fine performance
but lost the decision to the more experienced MIKE WOOD of Campbell River.

Bantamweight ALAN BROWN of Gold River defeated featherweight RAY ABRAHAM ov Vancouver
in the Best Bout of the night. Brown, the 1980 Junior Canadian Champion survived several
thumping body punches to outclass the heavier Abraham. In the second best bout
Light-Middleweight ROMAN GRIMARD of Campbell River edged Richmond's LYLE HENDRIKSON
in a two-fisted battle.

The card hosted by the Campbell River Eagles Boxing Club was the first of three scheduled
by Campbell River in the current season. Officials for the club include JIM HOWIE, CHARLES JOHN,
GEORGE SHIELS and KEWAL BAINES...Clubs participating came from Campbell River, Crofton,
Langley, Parksville, Richmond, Gold River, Vancouver and Victoria.

PRO BOXING - Vancouver & Tacoma regions

PROFESSIONAL BOXING'S COMEBACK: By Brian W. Zelley

VANCOUVER - RICHMOND, BC area:

Professional boxing has made a significant comeback in recent years through the efforts
of West Coast Promotions under the hands and eyes of MANNY SOBRAL, NEIL POPE and ALISTER BRODIE.
Recently, the last pro card featured Canadian Light-Heavyweight JUNIOR MOAR.

Of interest, both Junior Moar and Manny Sobral are former Canadian Amateur senior open boxing champions.
Although they fought at different time periods. Of the two Sobral was an amateur boxer in the
Vancouver region during the Eighties. One of his first major National tournaments was the 1984
Junior Nationals of which some other noted boxers participating were Alberta's SCOTTY OLSON, Nova Scotia's
RAYMOND DOWNEY and Quebec's STEWART HILTON.

Aside from Pro Boxing Promotion, Sobral also was involved with the North Burnaby Boxing Club
which until late last year was based out of the old BOXING BC Training Centre.

TACOMA Region

Professional boxing's main force in the Tacoma region is BRIAN HALQUIST PROMOTIONS.
In 1997, the Emerald Queen Casino and Brian Halquist Promotions commenced
"The Battle of the Boat" boxing series.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST BOXING

PAST & PRESENT BOXING in the PACIFIC NORTHWEST: By Brian W. Zelley

Throughout the decades, the Pacific Northwest including parts of British Columbia, Washington State
and parts of Oregon has had an interesting past and an active present with amateur and professional boxing.
Key amateur boxing includes the various Golden Gloves tournaments in British Columbia, Tacoma, Seattle,
and Portland. The BC Golden Gloves began in 1939 in Vancouver and the last one took place in Langford
(Greater Victoria) at the Eagle Ridge Community Centre. From the mid-Fifties, some names to remember
from Golden Gloves action in places like Tacoma include Canadian boxers Lindy Lindmoser and
Tommy Delvecchio and Seattle's BOBBY HICKS of the Chemeres Boxing Club.

In professional boxing there have been some world class champions and contenders such as champions
TODD MORGAN, DENNY MOYER, FREDDY STEELE, and AL HOSTAK, and top contenders such as
RAY LAMPKIN, FRASER SCOTT, EDDIE COTTON, SUGAR RAY SEALES and BOONE KIRKMAN,
and many others such as Vancouver's KENNY LINDSAY, JACKIE TURNER, FRANK and STAN ALMOND.
A sample of others include: Vic Foley, Doc Snell, Billy Townsend and Leslie (Wildcat) Carter.

During the current time period, there are a number of promoters in places like Vancouver and Seattle.

The Pacific Northwest has also been the site of some National and International boxing tournaments such as the
1954 British Empire Games, 1990 Seattle Goodwill Games. 1994 Commonwealth Games and the 1967 BC Diamond Belt
Tournament.

BC AMATEUR BOXINGS NEW HORIZONS - 2011

FROM THE ASHES TO THE BRIGHT FLAMING STARS - By: Brian W. Zelley -

The Moody Blues: "Vast vision must improve our sight"...

As a follow-up to OUT OF THE SHADOWS, I see a new horizon for the sport of amateur boxing in British Columbia.
I saw in it in the faces of some of the novice boxers in Victoria in April 2010, and I saw it in the faces of some of the officials
and coaches and ex-boxers that paraded into the ring along with George Chuvalo and some of the stories.

But, I saw it in the faces and heard
 it in the voices of members of the new or revived clubs as they look forward to more
activity in future days. But, the brightest stories were some of the post-boxing stories
of the boxers that regardlessof the results many realized it was just a learning experience
and they would do better next time.

THe good news is, the final day of the 2010 BC Golden Gloves was only12 days ago
and some of the boxing clubs are working on the improvements that will be necessary
 if the young boxers hope to step onto the path that will lead to the "Road To Excellence"
where all things are possible with dedication, desire and determination.

Most may never reach the victory stand in a National or International tournament,
but if they strife to be the best that they can be, then they
will stand-out as true Champions of the sport of amateur boxing.

However, the road will always be paved with unknowns and setbacks, so now is the time
for all amateur boxing clubs in British Columbia and Canada to look forward to the
new horizons and reach out to make all things possible. Part of that new beginning
will be for all clubs in each region to join together and through open and timely
communication, enthusiastic co-operation,
and with a clear vision make things happen and open the doors
to the many paths that will lead each willing trainee
to the "road to excellence" without setbacks, barriers and limited competition.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

OUT OF THE SHADOWS: By Brian W. Zelley -

LOOKING BACK it has been a long time since entering a boxing gym. Before 2010, the last visit was 1999.
Attending a live boxing match has been a long time coming, before 2010, the last time was during the
1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria Although involved with some of the planning between 1989 to 1992
by the time 1994 rolled around, I was just another face in the crowd. In 2010, it was interesting visiting the
Capital City Boxing Club and attending the 2010 BC Golden Gloves and meeting folks from the past and present
including Canadian great GEORGE CHUVALO. It was an opportunity to hear about the Golden Dreams of todasy.

Looking back so many folks from the Sixties throughout the Eighties did so much for the sport of Amateur Boxing,
but many are gone or just faded memories or the great unknown by most involved in amateur boxing in 2010.

Looking through the pages of Municipal or the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fames, the sport of boxing appears to be overlooked, but November 21, 2009 became an important date for amateur boxing in British Columbia and Greater Victoria
when former boxer and coach Mike Caird was inducted into Greater Victoria Sports Halll of Fame as a builder in the
area of coaching. Although Caird is one of many involved in the building of amateur boxing in Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island, it was a good choice because he is likely the best known for his involvement between 1995 and 2001. For folks like
Howard Curling, Rick Brough, and others it is too late as they are gone and largely forgotten and are unlikely to have their names
included on any Municipal Sports Hall of Fame. Curling for instance was there in the Fifties as a coach and administrator and there in the Eighties to help organize the sport on Vancouver Island.

On the Provincial level only seven persons that have been involved in boxing are recognized as inductees. Considering
the Golden Gloves began in 1939, that is less than one boxer or builder per decade. That my friends is wrong and
unfair - there are many worthy folks that should be inducted as athletes or builders, but as of 2010 the years keep
passing them by. Many are now forgotten or just faded memories by sports fans or those that operate the sport today.
Some possible names to consider include the late Frank Scott and Elio Ius , or 1968 Olympian Dick Findlay and others like
Stanley F. Smith. Or beyond Greater Vancouver a few others could be considered while we follow the golden dreams of the
today's warriors in their moment of glory.

October 1984

BC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS - October 1984 - Editor, Brian Zelley

For the month of October, there wasn't much in the way of current news to report, but communications with folks like Jerry Shears (Quebec) and Ainslie Frame of Ottawa's "Beaver Boxing Club" did provide some National data such as a focus on
Ontario boxer Steve Beaupre and the list of the 1984 National Champions.

In Seniors it was Steve Beaupre to Lennox Lewis in Intermediate it was Vitto Salvatore to S. Hervieux and in the Juniors held in Burnaby, BC it was Norman Tynes to Willy Curry. As a special awards judge along with Tommy Yule and Glynn Jones it
was a time of concentration watching all the Junior bouts in detail when it got down to the final selection it wasn't easy picking between Eric Grenier, Scotty Olson and Stewart Hilton. But, Grenier was picked in 1984.

An added addition to the News was a submission by Carol Brown of Gold River - she sent two photos of Canadian boxer Greg Johnson sparring with Alan Brown and break dancing in the Village Square.

A real special part of the edition was listing Canada's carded amateur boxers 1972 to 1984.
How many remember names like - Ian Clyde, Cleve Denny, Bryan Gibson, Kevin Howard, George Mason,
the Nolan folks Brian, Frank & Steve Nolan and others such as Carmen Rinke and Lawrence Rolfe.