ANGLEO DUNDEE

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANGELO DUNDEE

MEETING MUHAMMAD ALI

MUHAMMAD ALI

MEETING ALI  1972:  By Brian Zelley

With the birthday of Muhammad Ali, many boxing fans and alumni of boxing 

recall meeting Muhammad Alia aka Cassius Marcellus Clay at some 

event, some club or at a Boxing tournament.

My personal meeting with Muhammad Ali took place in 1972.

I had seen him in an exhibition in Vancouver the night George Chuvalo 

defeated Charley Chase in a Canadian heavyweight fight.

Also, I saw him at the gym in North Vancouver  training for a bout

with George Chuvalo.  At that time, a fellow amateur boxer named

Dan Wright and I were hanging our with one time 

welterweight contender Manual Gonzalez and his trainer from

Houston, Texas Billy DeFoe.

Also at some of the gatherings was Ray Ormandy,

a cousin to John Ormandy who helped Dan and I start the 

Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971.

Manny was scheduled to fight Canada's CLYDE GRAY 

in the semi-main event to ALI - CHUVALO so we took Manny and Billy 

to the gym for training during the same time that Ali was training.

MANUEL GONZALEZ

THE REAL MEETING

Of interest, for Dan Wright and myself, there was never any plan to 

visit Ali, but due to a number of circumstances, there was an opportunity

 to meet him face-tp-face and in the privacy of Ali's penthouse suite

at the Hotel Georgia.

It was after dropping Manny and Billy off  and walking them

 to the ninth floor to say goodbye until the next day.

On our way out we happened to run into a well known 

boxing promoter (in future years) and he wanted to know

 why we were on the floor .  So we told him and he asked us

if we would like to see MUHAMMAD ALI.

Now we had all ready seen him at the gym, but this was

an opportunity to visit him in person.  So he gave us some Ali

 photos and told us where he was staying.  But, there was

no guarantees that he would give us the time of day.

That's when I remembered the story of 

a young Cassius Clay knocking on a hotel door  to 

see WILLIE PASTRANO.

WILLIE PASTRANO

THE MEETING

So, we left the 9th floor to go to the top floor and Ali's penthouse suite.

We knocked on the door, and the door opened, and a larger than life 

MUHAMMAD ALI stepped out to talk to WRIGHT and  ZELLEY.

After a bit of small talk, I mentioned to Ali about the Willie Pastrano

 moment  and his meeting a young Cassius Clay so many years ago.

Those few brief comments created an instant change in the

face of Ali from a serious athlete spending a few moments

with possible fans to a great big smile and a grin.

Then while still in the hall Muhammad opened the room door wide 

and said come on in.  So we did,

Then we got to chat about serious stuff like  about

Luis Rodriguez and other boxers.

Before leaving he asked to sign the photos that we had in our hands.

It was after this meeting with Muhammd Ali

and Manuel Gonzalez that I would have my last

fight and I would win big time in one of my

most perfect fights ever.

BRIAN ZELLEY vs CLARK MACLELLAN

"The post fight pose of the last fight"

My performance was aided by my 

days with Manny Gonzalez who 

showed me some great moves of moving

only inches instead of feet to make them miss

and be in range to score punches with ease.

Part of our experience was included in the 

Nanaimo Daily Free Press when I visited sports editor Mark Kiemele

but we did not talk about the visit with Ali because at the time

it was a private moment  and not a hot media story. 

(Note:  For those that do not know who Billy DeFoe is:

Think of Willie Pep, the all-time great featherweight champion,

then think of former lightweight champion Joe Brown.

And, a name behind those two great champions was 

Lou Viscusi, but Billy was a trainer, and after Joe

lost his title to Carlos Ortiz, Billy became the 

full time trainer of Joe Brown then known as "Old Bones"

Back in Houston Texas there was a whold gym full

of talented fighters including Cleve Williams and

a young Manuel Gonzalez who had a classy style

handed down by the likes of Pep and Brown.

Then in the mid-Sixties, the stylish Manny

turned puncher when he faced top contender 

Garland Rip Randall and the rest is history. 

Manny got a not-title fight with the great Emile Griffith

 and won the decision.  It  led to a title fight and a lot of other

top fights with the world's best welterweights in

the mid to late Sixties with Billy Defoe in the picture)

A Facebook Site

http://www.facebook.com/groups/126275204108234/

The above site was established some time ago

but has not been active, but with Ali expected 

to arrive in Victoria, BC, Canada

May 26,  2012

attempts will be made to activate the site.

  

2011 ZELLEY ON BOXING REVISITED

LOOKING BACK TO THE 2011 STORIES:  By Brian Zelley
Although there were about 57 topics, the stories about individuals
were very rewarding to do with the help of those individuals and

others.


Summary of the key boxing stories of individuals:
*The Kenny Lally Boxing Story,
*The Alex Torres Rynn Story, 
*Tommy Paonessa, Boxing Pioneer,
*The Alan Brown Boxing Story,
*The Gordie Lawson Boxing Story
 - Finding The Golden Key,
*Lennie Walters - BC Boxing Legend,
*The Mike Kennedy Boxing Story,

*The Bert Lowes Boxing Story,
*The Tony Duffy Boxing Story,
*The Paul  "P-Mac" MacKenzie Story,
*The Roger Adolph Boxing Story, 
*The Mike Strange Boxing Story,.


THANKS TO THOSE THAT HELPED:
*Kenny Lally, Jamie "TNT" Taylor, Jaime Lynn Ward,
 Alex Torres Rynn, Paul MacKenzie, Marc Whelton, 
Kevin McDermott, John Paonessa, Steve Wood, Alan Brown,
Glenn McGee, Rick Fleck, Gordy Racette, 
Gordie Lawson, Monique, David Ius, Dale Walters,
Mike Kennedy, Roger Adolph, Marcus Hume, Adam Trupish,
Tony Duffy, Barry Krangle, Billy Irwin, Michael Strange, 
 Doug Bolianatz, Domenic Filane Figliomeni,
Graham MacIntosh, Scotty Olson and Vern Linklater.

PARKSVILLE BOXING, then and now

PARKSVILLE, BC boxing history:  By Brian Zelley

Between 1954 and 1969, there was no official boxing club in Parksville.
But all that changed in the late Seventies when ART SMITH and
BRIAN SACHO former a boxing club to begin an interesting
time in amateur boxing that would be part of the Eighties.

They would have one club show before April 1984, then when
officials and coaches on Vancouver Island agreed to revive
the Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing Championships
twenty years after the last tournament in 1964, the club
in Parksville was chosen to host the tournament.

As time moved on, the Parksville area would become inactive
for amateur boxing, but in recent years a new club has been
formed with the interesting name of Genesis.  Like the club 
of the Eighties, the club of 2010 and 2011 was given a 
chance to host a tournament.  It would be the 2011
BC Bronze Gloves.  Boxers from the club would do well
at the home town tournament.  Some of the boxers would
also participate in the 2011 Emerald Gloves. 

BC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS - May 1985

BC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS, MAY 1985: Editor, Brian Zelley


Introduction
By the time the May 1985 issue of the "News" was ready to roll
much of the 1984/1985 activity had come to an end, but there
were still some interesting things you report and there was 
always an opportunity to toss in some Flashbacks.


Photos:  The front cover included some boxing action from
the past, but the rest of the 12 pages was scattered with 
assorted profile shots or group photos.


Page 3:  Included a group photo of some of the folks that
had helped with boxing cards in Greater Vancouver 
including:  Len Robertson, Bob Fitchett, Tommy Paonessa, 
John McCluskey, Gary Wallace and Joe Magri.


Page 4:  Photos of Johnny Creanza, Jeff Demmery, 
Brian Zelley and Tony James, and Mike Caird.


Page 5:  Joe McCaffrey, Ed McCaffrey, Greg Demmery,
and Happy Seignor (Richmond and Astoria Boxing Clubs).


Page 6:  Ian Pye (with some stats), Gary Tatton and 
Ken Mitchell.


Pages 2,  7 and 9: Medal winners -  Boxers in the
1985 BC Winter Games.


Page 11:  Photo of Ottawa's Beaver Boxing Club
message about Steve Frame, and a photo of 
boxer Brent Lackie.


Page 12:  Included a photo of former boxer
Freddie Curtis and a small piece called
"The Last Round - Fred Curtis"
,the piece reported the April 19, 1985 funeral
service of Fred.  Fred was an action-packed
scrapper of the Fifties.  His brother Al Curtis
was the 1960 BC Golden Boy.

There was also the discussion of the potential
"British Columbia Amateur Boxing Guide".


FLASHBACKS: THE SIXTIES
Reported in several pages were old stuff
from the Sixties which named the BC
Golden Boys from 1960 to 1969:
Al Curtis, Bill Adams, Buddy Palmer,
Kalman Santosi, Brian Bremner, Freddy Fuller,
Dick Findlay, Ray Lampkin and Neil Knight.


It included the Finalist of the 1967 Diamond Belt
tournament, Emerald Boys,  the Finalists in 
the 1968 Silver Gloves, Finalists in the 
1966 Bronze Gloves, and 21 names of 
Vancouver Island boxers that had won 
Island titles between 1960 and 1964.


BOXING CARD REPORT 
 April 12, 1985:
Host:  Nanaimo Boxing Club, 10-bout card.
March 16, 1985:
Host:  Cranbrook Double "E" Club, 12
regular bouts and a box-off bout between
"Smoking" Joe Pendry and Al Harper.


CROSS- CANADA - Letters from:
Bob Carswell, Rosemary Page, Ainslie Frame,
Jerry Shears, Stan Smith, Ken Marjoram,
Al Young, Dick St. Louis and Mike Sartori 


THE SELECT 21 of VANCOUVER ISLAND (1960 to 1964)
Ken Alexander, Bruce Baille, Tommy Black, Mike Caird, 
Larry Cardinal, Danny Daniels, Buck DeLaronde, Len Diggs,
Fred Francis, V. Jack, Bob Mosse, Gilles Nepper, Cal Osmond,
Earl Pilgrim, Wayne Powell, Sgt Ed Remin, Howey Rabey,
Rifleman Walsh, Skimp Williams and Brian Zelley. 
(note:  two other important names in the period were:
ALAN CURTIS, 1960 BC Golden Gloves "Golden Boy"
FRED DESROSIERS, 1964 Olympic Games boxer. )

THE MIKE STRANGE BOXING STORY

THE BOXING JOURNEY OF MIKE STRANGE:  By Brian Zelley


Introduction of the Michael  (Mike) Strange story:

When telling the rich history of Canadian amateur boxing about
the Nineties, one of the key former boxers that was there from
beginning to end was former boxer  MIKE STRANGE. 

I first saw Mike when he was in the Goodwill Games in Seattle
in 1990 and have followed his journey over the years from 
1990 to 2000. 

However, this will be a story through the eyes of many that were
part of his journey from club shows to International tournaments.


Before 1990: "Finding The Road of Excellence>
There are many stories that could be told about his
pre-1990 experience in the ring long before his 
open senior Canadian boxing champion. One of those
moments was being a member of Team Ontario's 
Boxing 1987 "Canada Winter Games Team" 
Mike earned a silver medal, but just as important
was it gave him another learning experience.

                   a young Mike Strange from the late Eighties 


THE YARDSTICKS TO MEASURE EXCELLENCE
There are many yardsticks that we can use to measure 
excellence and quality, and some of the words that 
could be used to judge the quality and excellence of
Mike are  "Efficient and Effective Consistency"
as demonstrated by the extreme ends of the time
period between 1990 and 2000.

The year 1990 was the first year that Michael Strange earned
a title in one weight division, and in the year 2000 it would be
more of the same but in a different weight class.  From 1991
onward, Mike  would win despite the weight class and be
a part of many CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING TEAMS
that would see action around the globe from Seattle, Washington
and Victoria, B.C to  the far reaches of the land down under in
 Australia to other locations in Canada and around the globe.


THE BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY 1990
Winning the Canadian featherweight title in 1990 was to 
be an important start for Strange, but it would also 
include being part of a team with some of the other 
champions.  In 1990 some would fight in one and
some would fight in the, Canada vs USA bouts,
Goodwill Games, the Commonwealth Games.


Some of the Canadian  boxers in competition 
March 1990 between Canada and the USA would be
Mike Strange vs Oscar de la Hoya in featherweight
competition and others such as Graham McIntosh,
Vernon Linklater and Domenic Filane Figliomeni.




At least three of the Canadian champions would
be in action in Seattle in August of 1990 to see
action in the Goodwill Games.  At least three of 
the quarter finalists would be Mike and team 
mates Chris Johnson and Mark Leduc.
Some of the other boxers that competed were
Oscar de la Hoya, Ivan Robinson, Shane Mosley,
Felix Savon, Jeremy Williams and Larry Donald.





1990 A Moscow moment:  
Mike Strange and Billy Irwin
(photo courtesy of Billy "The Kid" Irwin)

THE END OF THE JOURNEY 2000
Of course, the year 2000 would not be a 
complete end of Mike's boxing story, but
it was the last great fighting moment when
Mike as one of the key boxers would lead
his fellow boxers into action in the 
2000 Olympic Games in Australia.

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD BETWEEN 1990 and 2000


1991 - The Champion Returns - Sacrifice and Power
It was 1991 and one of the hit songs was called
 "Sacrifice" and one was called "The Power",
 and through combination of sacrifice and power, 
Mike Strange, Domenic Filane Figliomeni, 
Bill Irwin, Mark Leduc, Greg and Chris Johnson,
Dale Brown and Vernon Linklater would return as 
Canadian senior open champions with Mike still
holding the featherweight title for another year.
The other champions in 1991 were Mark Irwin,
Steve Beaupre, Stephen Ouellet and Tom Glesby.  


One of the International tournaments in 1991
was the Pan American Games with some of the 
Canadians winning medals, but no gold.


1992 THE FIRST TASTE OF THE OLYMPICS:
The first step in the process is to win a title, or
win a couple of box-off bouts against a champ.
Returning champions for 1992  were:
Domenic, Michael, Bill, Mark, Greg, Steven, Chris,
Dale and Tom.  Some new faces would be:
Marty O'Donnell and Kirk Johnson.


The 1992 Canadian  Olympic Team:

Team Boxers: Domenic Figliomenti, Marty O'Donnell,
Michael Strange, William (Billy) Irwin, Mark Leduc, 
Raymond Downey,  Chris Johnson, Dale Brown,
 Kirk Johnson and Tom Glesby.


1993: The Returning Champions:
Mike, Domenic, and Dale would be returning
front and centre, but some new champions would
be those such as: 
Casey Patton, Fitz Vanderpool, Jamie Sparks,
Randall Thompson and Rowan Donaldson.


1993: The Commonwealth Games test matches:
Although the actual Commonwealth Games were 
one year away and the final team would not be 
decided until 1994, it was important to stage the
test match tournament in Victoria, BC in 
August 1993 called the Commonwealth 
Invitational at the Archie Browning Sports Centre
in Esquimalt.


In one of the first bouts by Mike, he scored a 
decision over Scotland's Bradley Welsh.  This was 
followed up Saturday August 28th bout with 
Australia's Joe Zabakly.  


1994:  The Road To The Commonwealth Games

The first step in the team process was the Nationals and Michael 
would be the lightweight champion.  There would be other 
returning champions and some new faces or former champions
of years earlier.  One of the new faces was Allan Bayne.


Like the test matches of 1993, the Commonwealth Games
would be held at the Sports Centre in Esquimalt, but the
boxers would be at the athletes village by the University
of Victoria.

     The other coach was Yvon Michell and other boxer Allan Bayne,


From a cast of hundreds of volunteers, coaches, officials and boxers, the
above list are some of the names.  There were other volunteers etc. but 
it is not possible to list or remember every name.


The Canadian team would win four gold by
Casey, Michael, Rowan and Dale.  Silver by
Steve Gallinger and bronze by Wald Fleming
and Domenic Filane Figliomeni.

(photo courtesy of  Doug Bolianatz: 
 includes Yvon Michell, Ron Donaldson, Doug Bolianatz
Michael Strange, Dale Brown, Domenic Filane Figliomeni
and Allan Bayne.)


Gold At The end Of The First Five
For  Ontario boxer Mike Strange it was now gold at the end of five
but this was not even the mid-way point of the eleven year run
as a senior open boxer and one of  the best in Canadian history.


1995 -THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ALONG 
THE MIKE STRANGE BOXING HIGHWAY


A very interesting fact is one other boxer that had fought
Michael when they were both young juniors of less than
100 pounds would be there as a Canadian champion
with Mike as a team mate for the rest of the Nineties
and who could forget Domenic Filane Figliomeni. 


The Eighties Flashback - Michael and Domenic
touched gloves and came out fighting after the
sound of the bell with the bright lights shining down,

                     Back in those early days of junior activity


But in 1995, there would be other faces that would travel for
a time down the same path as Canadian boxers on the world stage.
Some new names to add to Mike's ever growing list of fellow
Canadian champions and team mates in various shows would be
Jean Francis Bergeron, Jason Heit and Zaya Younan.


For the Canuck clouters there would be bronze and silver
at the Pan American Games in Argentina with Mike
winning the bronze along with Claude Lambert
and the silver would go to Jean Bergeron.


Olympic Boxing - Round Two for Mike Strange

       1996 - (courtesy of the champion  Domenic Figliomeni)
Randell Thompson,Casey Patton,Wayne Gordon, Yvon Michel,
Phil Boudreault, Jean-Francis  Bergeron and Mike Strange. 


The year was 1996, and once again Michael would
be part to the Canadian Olympic Boxing team
along with other Canadians

Michael would box his way into the quarter finals with two big
decision wins over Francisco Martinez of Mexico and then
Mekkhak Ghazayan of Armenia, but drop a decision to a
Bulgarian boxer.  Team mate David Defiagbon would earn
a silver medal in the heavyweight division.

Another Four Years (1997 to 2000)
The never ending journey of Mike Strange: 


As we follow the Mike Strange boxing story, there would be
many more highlights and some new team mates and many
opponents along the way.

1998 Another Round of Commonwealth Games Action:
The 1998 Commonwealth Games would be far from the
shores of Vancouver Island, but the results would be the
same with positive results.  There would also be the face
of Domenic Figliomeni who has travelled the journey for
the many years.  But, there would be other faces from 
the past such as coach Taylor Gordon who also has that
ol Vancouver Island connection and some may recall 
that he was once a boxer competiting in the 
1963 BC Golden Gloves.  Some of the others were:
Andrew Kooner, Chad Brisson, Trevor Stewardson,
Scott McIntosh and Troy Ross.

For Michael Strange it would be Commonwealth Gold,
but in a different weight division.  In 1998, he stands tall
with the light-welterweight gold.

The last major show would be the 2000 Summer Olympics.


SOME  OTHER  HIGHLIGHTS and AWARDS
Along the way there would be plenty of awards including
Boxing Canada's "Male Boxer Of The Year".  From 
1990 to 2000, the 1990 recipient was Raynond Downey
and the 2000 recipient was Scott McIntosh, but look again
for 1995, 1996 and 1998 the BOXER OF THE YEAR
was MICHAEL "Mike" STRANGE.


Then there is Boxing Ontario and it's list of  "Boxing Ontario
Legends" and two of the names are: 
Billy Irwin and Mike Strange.


GOLDEN MEMORIES AND SILVER MOMENTS
Introduction: by brian zelley
I was expected to meet Michael in 1990, 1993 and 1994.
but due to an interesting set of circumstances, that never
happened, so my only real golden memory of Mike is that
of the long-distant shadow boxer dancing in the dark with
some silver glimpses of him from far away.  But, it is 
through the words and sounds of others that we can
appreciate Mike's achievements and his long-term
dedication to the sport of amateur boxing from a 
local level to many experiences on the stages of 
International boxing.


From the words of some of his old friends and
team mates:


BILLY "The Kid" IRWIN 
A thousand words and a 100 photos would not be able
to catch all the memories and moments, but here is just
a few of Billy's thoughts:

GRAHAM MCINTOSH, former boxer and now
a boxing coach of his own club in Kelowna, BC.
Graham was a senior open boxing champion in
1990 the year Mike won the featherweight title.
One of Graham's memories relates to a dual
Canada vs USA matches with s strong view
of Mike battle with Oscar de la Hoya:
"I remember Mike beating de la Hoya in a
close counter-punching battle.  Unfortunately
the judges didn't see it that way, 2-1 split.


Other boxers from Scotty Olson to Vern Linklater
have recognized and praised Mike.  Then of course,
Domenic Filane Figliomeni has not only said many
excellent comment, but remembers his junior bout
with Michael and there many trips and travels.
Domenic has been the go-to-guy for highlighting
and recognizing many of the past champions of
the Nineties including his outstanding video of
Canada's boxing team at the 1992 Olympic Games
and the Facebook site:
"Fans of  the Canadian & Olympic Teams Alumni"
and organizing a re-union of past champions where
many of those that were there in the Nineties came
together for a moment in time:

                       Michael Strange and Vernon Linklater 

In Summary, How do we measure Excellence?
There is no need to measure the excellence of Michael Strange.
Although, this is not a complete boxing story, it attempts to 
highlight some key moments in time.  There is no attempt to
try and rank Michael against any other Canadian boxer.
Mike's record stands on it's own along side the records of 
such long term champions as
IAN CLYDE and DOMENIC FIGLIOMENI.
Mike's three-time competition in the Olympic Games
is, for boxing, the sign of supreme excellence.
Along this long journey, Mike has come into contact
with hundreds of folks involved in boxing, and during
his time as a junior boxer to a senior elite champion
there have been many club mates and team mates
and some like BILLY IRWIN were there in the early years,
the championship days and the post-active boxing days. 

1984 JUNIOR NATIONALS and SENIOR BOX-OFFS FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM

MAY 1984 REVISTED and POST EVENTS:  Brian Zelley

Introduction

The 1984 Junior Nationals and Senior Box-offs for the

Canadian Olympic Boxing team had many individuals 

involved.  Now, 27 years later, that tournament that took

place so long ago is nominated for induction into the 

BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATER BOXING HALL of FAME.

From boxers, coaches, officials, Canadian and BC executive

members, there have been many stories and achievements by

some members of the cast and crew of that tournament that

was staged in the Boxing BC "Training Centre" in Burnaby.

Sadly, through the passages of time, a number of the athletes,

coaches and officials are only here in our memories including

the training centre and one of the folks behind the centre,
GEORGE ARMSON and the three BC officials
 that were part of the show, BERT LOWES,
 RON WHALLEY and FRED FULLER. 
 Also gone is Canadian director

and first president of BOXING CANADA,
 Jerry Shears.
(photo, the late Ron Whalley)

Senior Box-of Competitors:

Steve Pagendam
Steve Nolan
John Kalbhenn
Sylvain Thibeault
Peter Britt
Dennis Lambert
Shawn O'Sullivan
Lawrence Rolfe
Rick Duff
Darrell Flint
Ken Johnson
Wayne Welsh
Those that were added to the Olympic team were:
Steve Pagendam, John Kalbehn, Dennis Lambert,
Shawn O'Sullivan (see photo) and Rick Duff.
KEN JOHNSON defeated Canadian champ,
Wayne Welsh, but was not selected for the 
team.


Shawn  O'Sullivan would go to LA and be one 
of three Canadian boxers to earn medals.


1984 JUNIOR CHAMPIONS and RUNNER-UPS

THE CHAMPIONS:
Norman Tynes
Corey Burton
Aaron Wolfe
Eric Grenier
Scotty Olson
Mario Bergeron
Jeff Beliveau
Jamie Sparks
John Walker
Stewart Hilton
Tom Glesby
Mike Reuter
Willy Curry
(photo - Duffy)




1984 Silver Medalists:
Edgar Davis (Alberta), Wesley Sunshine (Sask.)
B. Christie (Ontario), Charles Beaudry (Ont.)
Rene Cadran (Que.), Giles Bisaillon (Ont.)
Tony Duffy (BC), R. Wiswell (Nova Scotia)
Shawn Downey (NS), Ray Downey (NS)
R. Walsh (NS), D. Stripe (Ontario)
Brian Hatfield (Nova Scotia).


Ray Downey would follow-up his achievements
with a medal in the 1988 Olympic Games.


TEAM BC BOXERS:
Curtis Peterson, Aaron Wolfe, John Turner, Suraj Jaswal,
Tony Francis, Tony Duffy, Manny Sobral, Clint Dumais,
and Willy Curry.

  BRITISH COLUMBIA's MANNY SOBRAL  and ALAN BROWN
       Training at Bob Decker's Shamrock Boxing Club, Vancouver
                   Sobral would  be part of the 1988 Olympic Team