BC BOXERS - Ten of the best

in search of the best BC Boxers of all-time: by brian zelley

There are many yardsticks that can be used to measure achievements and performance.  Sometimes, we must rely on our own experiences and also
reliable sources such as sports reporters, the experiences and stories of others
and documentation from a wide variety of sources such as newspapers, books,
scrapbooks and even the many web sites.

In July, some former members of  boxing in BC started a journey to select
boxers and builders for a
 BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME.

After various steps, ten boxers are being considered for permanent recognition
as the elite of BOXING in BRITISH COLUMBIA.

The select ten are:
FRED DESROSIERS, DICK FINDLAY, FREDDY FULLER,
EDDIE HADDAD, CHRIS IUS, HAROLD MANN, FRANK SCOTT,
MANNY SOBRAL, DALE WALTERS and JIMMY WALTERS.

This list of ten is an interesting mix of some of the best boxers that have competed in and for British Columbia in a variety of club shows, tournaments,
Golden Gloves tournaments in places like Tacoma, Portland
and Seattle, and of course International tournaments from the
1948 Olympic Games to the 1988 Olympic Games, and various other ones such as the British Empire Games, Commonwealth Games and Pan American
Games. 

in fairness to the many other boxers there are others that could be in a list of ten top boxers from one of the first Golden Gloves champions such as
KENNY LINDSAY, or 2000 Olympic boxer DONNIE ORR, or some of the many other Golden Boys such as Jack Straza, Alan Curtis, Bill (Curly) Adams, and many more.

SCOTT, FULLER * FINDLAY

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.

SILVER GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIP - 1978

"SILVER GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIP" - By Brian Zelley, :The Sportcaster" - February 8, 1978

(Photo - 1975 Silver Gloves Champion Danny O'Sullivan & Brian Zelley)

HENRY HEGGELUND and MATT MONTGOMERY won championships
for Victoria Athletic Association in the 1978 Silver Gloves at
Vancouver Feb. 3 & 4.

Heggelund pounded out three victories in the tournament with a
combination of excellent boxing skill, punching power, durability
and conditioning. Heggelund won the senior novice welterweight
championship with wins over BRIAN WEST of Vancouver,
JAMES FIDDLER of Campbell River and BILL LEWIS of Nelson.

Henry also won a special award of senior silver boy runner-up.
The last Victorian to win a championship and the special award
was DANNY O'SULLIVAN in 1975.

Mat Montgomery earned the junior silver gloves championship
in the 95 lb. division when he stopped S Fettis of
Port Kells Boxing Club.

TOM TURNBULL was edged in the finals of the intermediate
novice light-middlewweight division by VERN KLASSEN of
of the NFA Boxing Club. Turnbull blasted his way into the finals
with a second round victory in an elimination bout.

(Note: Both Henry and Danny were two of the ex-boxers to attend the
2010 BC Golden Gloves tournament hosted by Boxing BC and
the Capitsal City Boxing Club.)

THE BUCKSKIN BOY - AMATEUR BOXING

BUCKSKIN BOY KO's THREE: By Brian Zelley
(from the "Sportcaster") - From March 1980

(Photo 1 - 1980 buckskin Gloves, Vernon)
(Photo 2 - series of photos of the author)

- (From 1974 to 1983, I was a regular contributor to the Sports paper
called "The Sportcaster", the following is portions from one of the 1980's articles)

VAA boxer CLIFF BALLENDINE added to his growing list of championships. special awards
and victories on March 8, (1980) when he defeated three opponents in the annual Lumi
BUCKSKIN BOXING TOURNAMENT.

In early bouts, Ballendine scored a pair of knockouts in the first and second rounds
in the featherweight division. In the championship bout, Ballendine scored a third
round KO over his opponent to win the championship and was selected BUCKSKIN BOY.

Ballendine is scheduled for more activity in Native Indian tournaments in coming weeks,
including the BC Buckskin Gloves in Vernon and the Native Indian Championships
in Langley. He will also see action in the BC Junior Golden Gloves in Kamloops.

Teammate GARY ROBINSON will see action in the BC GOLDEN GLOVES for open
intermediate and senior boxers on March 21 and 22 at Vancouver's PNE Gardens
Auditorium while junior boxer Cliff Ballendine is expected to be engaged
in a special bout in the Golden Gloves.

DYNAMITE DAN IS BACK - NOVEMBER 10, 1976

DYNAMITE DAN IS BACK; By Brian W. Zelley

( Sportcaster, November 10, 1976) MATT MONTGOMERY,
and GARY ( Tiger ) ROBINSON will see action in Nanaimo. )

(Top Photo - "Dynamite" Dan Wright - photo by Dorothy Zelley, November 21, 2009)

Welcome news for Victoria A's boxing program is the return of 'Dynamite' DAN WRIGHT.
to Victoria after two years in Vancouver and Nanaimo. Dan's last match was a victory
over NEIL MELROSE in the 1974 Tournament of Champions in Nanaimo.''

A special tribute is due IAN DUDDY newlty elected manager of the boxing program. In his brief term,
Duddy has arranged three fight cards for Victoria boxers. On November 13, MATT MONTGOMERY
and GARY ( Tiger ) ROBINSON will see action in Nanaimo. On November 20 a 12 bout card is scheduled for the
Quadra Recreation Centre. On November 27, several boxers will travel to Powell River.

The November 20 card is scheduled for Victoria will be the first card of the newly formed
VICTORIA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. Boxers are expected from Victoria, Nanaimo,
PowellRiver and Vancouver. On the Nanaimo card, Robinson will face TOM MCMURTRY
of Cloverdale and Montgomery will face STEPHEN VARRO of Nanaimo.

Some of the tournaments scheduled later in the season will be the Emerald Gloves.
Silver Gloves and Golden Gloves along with Provincial tourna,ents. If the Victoria card
is a success more will be slated for the near future.

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.