Thursday, September 13, 2012

ARCHIE SPARROW, boxer

| SPARROW ARCHIE WILFRID THE CHAMPPASSE | LifeNews.ca

*The above link relates to Archie Sparrow, a former boxer
that is a member of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame.

*Of interest in a book titled "Memoirs  Of Brant Inn"
by Stewart Brown, there is a caption that reads:
"More Like An Eagle Than A Sparrow".

*As expected for most boxers, Archie did not win all of 
his bouts such as the 1939 Dominion Championships.
In the finals, Archie dropped a decision to Gaston Eichel
of Indian Head, Saskatchewan.  Some other boxers in that
tournament included Kenny Lindsay, Jerry Blanchard, 
Henry Devine, Mack Scott and many others.

ARCHIE SPARROW

| SPARROW ARCHIE WILFRID THE CHAMPPASSE | LifeNews.ca

*The above link relates to the death of ARCHIE SPARROW, 
former boxer in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame.

*Of interest the book "Memoirs of Brant Inn"by Stewart Brown
has a caption: "More Like An Eagle Than A Sparrow" in 
reference to Archie.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

THE MARC LEDUC BOXING STORY



It was 1989 and Marc Leduc and Dominic Filane Figliomeni were there.

THREE YEARS LATER - 1992
*The year was 1992 and Marc was selected for the
Canadian Olympic Boxing team  with the
following boxers:
domenic figliomeni  
ray downey
marty o'donnell
chris johnson
michael strange 
 dale brown 
billy irwin   kirk johnson
marc leduc    tom glesby

1992:  Special Reception for Mark in Kingston
















mark leduc (1962 - 2009)
*It was the saddest day of the year
for many in the boxing world who
knew marc as a club mate or a team
mate, a friend and a leader:

the saddest song of the year - 2009
*One of the reports was by Danielle Wong who reported
the sad news for the "Sun" that Marc Leduc, a silver
medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics died at
St. Michael's Hospital.

Marc's brother- in-law Mark Johnson was quoted 
with the following two comments among others:
"They thought that he would be the worst (of  '92 taam)
but he knew how to hit...and not get hit", and to 
measure the character of the man, Mark stated:
"He was a caring giving person who would
give the shirt off his back for you."

*FOREVER REMEMBERED:  MARC LEDUC*

Canada's own Billy  "the Kid" Irwin
sums it up with two words:
**********"Friend"  &  "Leader"**********

HALLS OF FAME:
Marc Leduc is one of 18 select inductees
for the ONTARIO AMATEUR BOXING
HALL OF FAME.

Marc is presently one of about 55 amateur
boxing folks that are presently nominees for
a new CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING 
WALL of FAME included in the list are some
of his former team mates from Canadian teams.


CANADA's Boxing Hall of Fame

THE CANADIAN BOXING HALL OF FAME

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

NANAIMO's MICKEY GRIFFIN

MICKEY GRIFFIN ** The Nanaimo Boxer:  by Brian Zelley





















Mickey Griffin in the middle with Bob Pegues
Nanaimo Boxing Club activity about 1975

Mickey is one of many that has 
boxed in Nanaimo and Vancouver Island
**** some of the faces in the mix ****


The following sums-up the general feeling in Nanaimo:                                                                          


















During the Seventies, Mickey would have a very interesting
boxing journey with some rock solid victories.  His first
significan victory was a decision over former club mate
and 1973 Canadian champion JACK SNAITH.

During those early years, he would become a top
junior boxer and would earn the important special
award for junior boxers in British Columbia and 
that was the JIMMY SYME award.  Mickey was the
first Vancover Island boxer to win this award, and
in subsequent years two other Island recipients
would be CLIFF BALLENDINE and ALAN BROWN.

It was August 1975, and the opening headline in the
local Nanaimo paper read: "Boxer Off To Games"
and this news about Mickey's trip to Regina for 
the Western Summer Games included some names
of other BC boxers with great experience including
Ed and Joe McCaffrey, Jamie Ollenberger and others.

The final news had a  more interesting headline:
"Griffin strikes Gold"  with the key part of the narrative
being: "Nanaimo boxer MICKEY GRIFFIN  brings home 
a gold medal from the Western Summer Games held in 
Regina,Saskatchewan.

Mickey would announce his retirement  and would later
earn a title in kickboxing.  Years later, Mickey would 
turn to coaching boxing in Victoria.  For awhile in
Nanaimo, in the late Seventies he would assist in 
coaching duties.  Some of his well known Nanaimo
club mates that would also turn to coaching would
be BOB PEGUES in Prince George and 
then BARRY CRESWELL  in Nanaimo.
(photo: Mickey Griffin, 1974)

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT - Mid Seventies
*although the Cubans were high in the ratings, the
Canadians were there in force to compete in 
Montreal including Nanaimo's MICKEY GRIFFIN  
who joined the tournament on short notice as a
replacement for Pan Am Gold Medalist  Chris Clarke.

Canadian boxers in addition to Griffin were:
Chris Ius, Pietro Contarini, Carmen Rinke, 
ian Clyde and Tim Taylor.  

Mickey would face USA boxer james Kenty in  the 
lightweight division.

A SPECIAL TOURNAMENT IN NANAIMO: NOVEMBER 1975
*In the days leading up to a special bout that
would be featured in what was billed as the
Vancouver Island Bronze Gloves, local boxer
MICKEY GRIFFIN would work with coach 
CLARK MACLELLAN punching a medicine ball
among other training routines has he prepared for his
main event bout against Canada's 1972 Olympic Team
boxer CHRIS IUS.  But, the ending proved to be a
controversial ending  with Ius getting a split-decision win.
The claim was there was referee interference which sided
with Ius.  However, claims of referee and judges bias that
have effected the outcome has been a rock solid claim 
before the Seventies and well beyond the Nineties.  

FROM THE BEST JUNIOR BOXER IN 1974 to 
setbacks in 1975 took their toll on Mickey so
he would announce his retirement in February 1976
with no real  hope to make the Canadian Olympic team.

BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL of FAME



                                                           Authorize by 2013 Administrators
                                                           Ray Beaulieu, Dean Bruckshaw Steven Kodiak,


                                                                   Seth Gotro, Steve Wood, Brian Zelley











Saturday, September 1, 2012

ONTARIO AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

ontario amateur boxing hall of fame
THE INDUCTEES for 2012:  by brian zelley







Asif Dar,  Billy Irwin,  Chris Johnson, Dennis Bradley, Egerton Marcus, George Chuvalo,
George Fraser, Horace Gwynne, Ian Clyde, 
Jerome McComb, Joe Sandulo, Lennox Lewis, 
Marc Leduc, Mark Simmons, Michael Strange, 
Nicky Furlano, Shawn O'Sullivan, Walter Henry .

selection committee:
 Lou Joshua Eisen, Bill Mackie,  Leo Marsh, and Brian Zelley 




Tuesday, August 21, 2012

ONTARIO AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME NOMINEES

THE FIRST 50 NOMINEES:
 ONTARIO AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME


Asif Dar, Bev Cartier,  Billy Haines,  Billy Irwin, Billy Lehman,
Bobby Proulx Chris Johnson, Domenic Filane Figliomeni, 
Dave Vent, Dennis Bradley,     Dennis McNeil jr.,  Doug Trembley, 
Earl Walls, Egerton Marcus, Frank Bricker,  Gary Broughton, 
George Chuvalo, George Fraser, Hank Boone,  Horace Gwynne, 
Ian Clyde, Jerome "Hook" McComb, Joe Sandulo, 
Jamie Pagendam,   Jerry Doiron sr, John Kalbhenn,
Ken Hamilton, Lennox Lewis,  Marc Leduc, Mark Simmons, 
Michael Strange, Nicky Furlano, Patsy Fern, Peter Wylie 
Sammy Luftspring, Shawn O'Sullivan,   Steve Beaupre,
Steve Molitor,Steve Pagendam, Troy Ross, Walter Henry, 
 and Willie Feathersrone
FAMILIES: Baggio, Bland, Doiron, Nolan, Marsh, 
MacDonald, Rannelli,  Summerhayes,  

PARTICIPATION, ACHIEVEMENTS and HISTORY
Blasting through the decades, it is likely that there is more
information on the amateur boxing achievements of those
boxers that participated subsequent to 1969 with the formtion
of  the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association, but some of 
others such as Sammy Luftspring, Earl Walls
 and George Chuvalo   are better known due to their professional 
records. Others are recognized by BOXING CANADA
for their medal victories such as 
Horace "Lefty" Gwynne, Lennox Lewis, and Marc Leduc.
Some are recognized for being long term National champions
since 1969 which would include WALTER HENRY who was in
the Olympic Games in 1968 and was a National champion in 1970.
Some of the multi-term champions would include a number of the
other boxers starting with IAN CLYDE and followed by names 
such as Billy Irwin, Domenic Figliomeni, Steve Beaupre,,
and Michael  Strange.

Some are recognized in various Boxing or Sports
Halls of Fame such as GEORGE FRASER, STEVE BEAUPRE,
at least two members of the NOLAN family and others.
But when we get back to where it all begins, we cannot
forget that it should be the folks of Ontario that decide.
There are some names that are well known in Ontario
and/or some of the cities and towns  some examples
include HANK BOONE and KEN HAMILTON.

From ASIF DAR to the RANNELLI and SUMMERHAYES
families, there are many positive and progressive 
moments that have been produced by the select 50.