UNSUNG HEROES: By Brian Zelley
Looking back there are many unsung heroes in amateur boxing,
and boxing in British Columbia is no exception. One only has to
compare the boxing inductees into the British Columbia Sports
Hall of Fame to those Provincial hall of fame inductees in places
like Nova Scotia and Alberta to realize persons involved in
amateur boxing have been short changed by the decision makers.
As the editor of the BC Amateur Boxing News in the eighties, one
of my objectives was to recognize the many folks involved in the
sport in the eighties, but also look back to names and events of
the past in the form of FLASHBACKS or GOLDEN MEMORIES.
*** Howard Curling, an unsung hero with a background in boxing***
(reprint from the "BC Amateur Boxing News" by brian zelley
for June 1985.
PROFILE: HOWARD CURLING
Howard Curlin, a Victoria based official, has been involved in
amateur boxing in British Columbia for over thirty years. Some
of the highlights of his involvement include activity as a coach,
referee, judge, boxing commissioner and past president of the
Greater Victoria Amateur Boxing Association.
During the Fifties, Howard was a boxing coach with the
Victoria Fire Department boxing club and an official.
In 1956, Howard was the president of the GVABA when
the Victoria Optimists sponsored the International
Tournament of Champions.
In the mid-Seventies, Curling was appointed by the
British Columbia Amateur Boxing Association has the
Island Commissioner amateur boxing on Vancouver Island.
One of his achievements was the organization of the
"English Schoolboy vs BC Junior Selects" tournament in
Victoria in June of 1976.
In the Eighties, Howard has continued to serve the sport of
boxing by his participation as a judge. One of his achievements
was being part of a very important team that pushed for the
revival of the Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing Championships.
It was over a year in the making, but the team prevailed and
revived the tournament in 1984 at Parksville. Despite the many
barriers, it was well worth the effort. It was an Island tournament
that gave an opportunity for all Island boxers to participate in
open and novice junior, intermediate and senior competition.
Since September 1983, Howard has also been
one of the select few that is a regular contributor
to the "BC Amateur Boxing News".
Throughout the Province of British Columbia,
there are many unsung heroes who devote their
time, energy, experience and effort
to ensure the sport of amateur boxing remains
a viable activity for the youth of our province.
HOWARD CURLING is just one of many.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
SPRUCE CAPITAL BOXING
THE SPRUCE CAPITAL BOXING STORY: by brian zelley
Introduction
Today in 2012 it is called the Spruce Capital Warriors Boxing
Club coached Prince George sports hall of fame inductee
WAYNE SPONAGLE. For the complete story, we need
to go back to the days and years of IRVING and HAROLD MANN.
== JACK MEDA ==
In the late sixties and early Seventies
on of the boxing starswas heavyweight
Jack Meda who is an inductee of the
Prince George Sports Hall of Fame.
Along the way there would be many
other excellent boxers such as
Harold Handlin, Laurie Rorick,
Sid McKnight, Laurie Mann,
Buzz Montour and many others
in recent years such as
2012 Canadian silver medalist
light-heavyweight boxer
Thomas Speirs and Marcus Hume. In 1972, the
listed club officials were Harold Mann and Doug Martin.
== ALLAN BAYNE ==
Some may remember boxer ALLAN BAYNE. In 1984,
Allan would take part in the Silver Gloves that were
held Decenber 17 th. Bain would fight his way into
the finals as a junior open boxer and win against a
boxer from Cranbrook, BC. Some other well known
junior open boxers in that tournament were
Jason Downie, Tony Duffy, Paul Deluca, Manny Sobral,
Alan Brown and Troy Taylor.
But many more tournaments would take place over the
years. Ten years after that Silver Gloves victory as a
junior boxer Bayne would be part of the Canadian
Commonwealth Games boxing team in 1994.
Some of the Canadian boxers and coaches
1994 Commonwealth Games, Victoria, BC
*Some may remember Dennis Rorick when he boxed in the Sixties and
made it into the finals of the 1967 Diamond Belt tournament and
faced Donato Paduano in the finals.
== SID MCKNIGHT ==
Sid is one
of the few
former
BC based
Olympic
boxers.
The Eighties:
During the eighties many Spruce Capital boxers engaged in
club shows and tournaments including:
Curtis Mann, Steve Noel, Todd Hatley, Tyler Walker,
Tyler Piddocke, Vince Schryver and Wade Csntelope.
In the 1984 Bronze Gloves, the Bronze Boy was
Tyler Piddocke of Prince George. The Bronze Boy runner-up
was Trent Storey of Gold River.
The Dawn of a New Age for Spruce Capital Boxers:
Fast forward to March 2013, and boxer Thomas Speirs
makes his pro debut with succes to begin a new journey
along the path of many Canadian professional boxers.
His long time club mate Marcus Hume was on the
Spruce Capital Boxing Club hosted card in an
amateur bout which he won.
Coach Wayne Sponagle
and Marcus Hume joined
Thomas Speirs at a news
coference prior to the
boxing show to discuss
the journey of club
member Thomas Speirs.
Introduction
Today in 2012 it is called the Spruce Capital Warriors Boxing
Club coached Prince George sports hall of fame inductee
WAYNE SPONAGLE. For the complete story, we need
to go back to the days and years of IRVING and HAROLD MANN.
== JACK MEDA ==
on of the boxing starswas heavyweight
Jack Meda who is an inductee of the
Prince George Sports Hall of Fame.
Along the way there would be many
other excellent boxers such as
Harold Handlin, Laurie Rorick,
Sid McKnight, Laurie Mann,
Buzz Montour and many others
in recent years such as
2012 Canadian silver medalist
light-heavyweight boxer
Thomas Speirs and Marcus Hume. In 1972, the
listed club officials were Harold Mann and Doug Martin.
== ALLAN BAYNE ==
Some may remember boxer ALLAN BAYNE. In 1984,
Allan would take part in the Silver Gloves that were
held Decenber 17 th. Bain would fight his way into
the finals as a junior open boxer and win against a
boxer from Cranbrook, BC. Some other well known
junior open boxers in that tournament were
Jason Downie, Tony Duffy, Paul Deluca, Manny Sobral,
Alan Brown and Troy Taylor.
But many more tournaments would take place over the
years. Ten years after that Silver Gloves victory as a
junior boxer Bayne would be part of the Canadian
Commonwealth Games boxing team in 1994.
1994 Commonwealth Games, Victoria, BC
*Some may remember Dennis Rorick when he boxed in the Sixties and
made it into the finals of the 1967 Diamond Belt tournament and
faced Donato Paduano in the finals.
== SID MCKNIGHT ==
of the few
former
BC based
Olympic
boxers.
The Eighties:
During the eighties many Spruce Capital boxers engaged in
club shows and tournaments including:
Curtis Mann, Steve Noel, Todd Hatley, Tyler Walker,
Tyler Piddocke, Vince Schryver and Wade Csntelope.
In the 1984 Bronze Gloves, the Bronze Boy was
Tyler Piddocke of Prince George. The Bronze Boy runner-up
was Trent Storey of Gold River.
The Dawn of a New Age for Spruce Capital Boxers:
Fast forward to March 2013, and boxer Thomas Speirs
makes his pro debut with succes to begin a new journey
along the path of many Canadian professional boxers.
His long time club mate Marcus Hume was on the
Spruce Capital Boxing Club hosted card in an
amateur bout which he won.
and Marcus Hume joined
Thomas Speirs at a news
coference prior to the
boxing show to discuss
the journey of club
member Thomas Speirs.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
BEYOND THE GOLDEN YEARS, THE ROAD TO GLORY 1969 TO 1984
THE ROAD TO OLYMPIC GLORY: By Brian Zelley
Introduction:
The years 1939 to 1968 are
considered the Golden Age
of Amateur Boxing.
Boxing in British Columbia
and other parts of Cnada
would change with the
formation of the Canadian
Amateur Boxing Association
and each Province such as the
British Columbia Amateur Boxing
Association would start a new course which would lead to
Olympic Glory in 1984 when three boxers from Canada
including Dale Walters of Burnaby, British Columbia
would win medals. The other two being Willie DeWit
and Shawn O'Sullivan. That historical highlight would
be repeated with medals in 1988.
(photo - Dale Walters and
Lennie Walters - Olympic boxers
Dale 1984, Lennie 1948)
Sixteen Years To Achieve that Moment of Glory:
*Those 16 years from 1969
to 1984 would be filled with
many interesting events in the sport of amateur boxing in British Columbia.
Some Highliughts:
1969: Neil Knight, Seattle
BC GOLDEN GLOVES action had Seattle boxer Neil Knight winning the annual Golden Boy award. In 1968, it was Portland's Ray Lampkin
1970: Golden Gloves to be hosted by Boxing BC (BCABA), in the past it was sponsored
and hosted by various community groups such as the Optimists and the Lions Clubs.
*1970 Golden Gloves boxers from British Columbia*
1970: The Campbell River Eagles Boxing Club becomes an official boxing club.
1971: The Nanaimo Boxing Club is founded by Brian Zelley and Dan Wright,
1972: Chris Ius and Les Hamilton join the Canadian Olympic boxing team.
1974:
Major revival in amateur boxing in Greater Victoria with
Mike Caird, Gordie McGaw and Larry Montgomery receives a boost
with the arrival of Ian Weir, Dan Wright, and Brian Zelley to help in a
major program to improve boxing in the Capital City.
*news reporter for the "Victorian" does a major story
for amateur boxing with a piece titled:
"Boxing Back From Ropes", November 22, 1974
(Weir - Caird - Zelley" photo by Jim Ryan)
1976:
*Howard Curling appointed Island
Commissioner for Vancouver Island
by the BC boxing president of the BCABA.
*BC Junior Selects face British Schoolboy
boxers for North-west England
in two tournaments in Vancouver and Victoria.
The president of the British Columbia Amateur Boxing Association
*Chris Ius and Sid McKnight join the Canadian Olympic boxing team.
*The Victoria Athletic Association is formed and replaces the old
London Boxing Club to sponsor and promote amateur boxing.
1978:
* The Nanaimo Boxing Club hosts the first of many of it's
Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves events.
*the Nanaimo Daily Free Press" reporter Colin Gibson's
headline:
"Golden Gloves Tournament A Thumping Success"
- the Nanaimo show featured boxers from around BC
and the Pacific Northwest such as:
Chuck Robinson, Brett and Todd Summers,
Alex Bankier, Gordie Lawson, Alex Angelomatis, Barry Creswell, Ed McCaffrey,
John Hunter, Shane Anderson and juniors such as Don Preston and Mary Burton.
*1978 Bronze Gloves hosted by the Cloverdale Boxing Club.
Nanaimo boxers in action were Don Preston, Lyle Jack and
Ron Williams.
*Boxing in Victoria expands when Lou Bujdoso forms the
Victoria Jaycees Boxing Club.
* The Nanaimo Boxing Club hosts it's second Bathtub
Capital Golden Gloves tournament in Nanaimo.
1979:
*BC Winter Games held in Kamloops.
*1979 Silver Gloves held in Chilliwack March 23 and 24 '79.
*May '79 Second Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves held in
Nanaimo with a cross section of boxers from BC including
junior boxers Alan Brown , Gary Ivers, and Marty Burton.
1980:
*The BC Diamond Belt Championships are revived
and are hosted by the Victoria Jaycees Boxing Club.
*Rick Brough, the new Island Commissioner builds a
team to help amateur boxing grow and expand on
Vancouver Island.
*Alan Brown of the Gold River boxing club wins
a Canadian championship in the Junior Nationals.
*In Golden Gloves action boxer Jamie Ollenberger becomes
the first BC star of the Eighties with his performance.
BEYOND 1984:
*To get beyond 1984, it is necessary to look at the quality
and quantity of the junior or intermediate boxers of 1980
to 1984 some of which would become top rated senior
open boxers from 1985 into the Nineties.
== 1984 Junior Golden Gloves ==
*As good a place to start as any would be the 1984
junior golden gloves and three names of interest
would be TONY DUFFY of the Sunshine Boxing Club,
MANNY SOBRAL of the Shamrock Boxing Club and
MIKE WOOD of the Campbell River Eagles Boxing Club,.
At the end of the competition it would the "Sunshine Kid"
TONY DUFFY that would earn the Golden Boy award.
*A month after that tournament for the best juniors,
some of them would participate in the Junior Nationals.
BC champions would be AARON WOLFE and WILLY CURRY.
FLASHBACK TO 1983
*It was the Silver Gloves tournament that would include
open junior boxers and some of the names of boxers
that would be an important part of the post 1984 period
would include:
Allan Bain (Spruce Capital Boxing Club, Prince George),
Alan Brown (Gold River Boxing Club, Gold River),
Tony Duffy (Sunshine Boxing Club)
Manny Sobral (Shamrock Boxing Club)
*in novice senior and intermediate boxing some
standouts would include:
Jason Trottier (Burnaby boxing club)
Hail King (Shamrock boxing club)
Both Jason and Hail would win convincing victories over
boxers from the Astoria boxing club.
Introduction:
The years 1939 to 1968 are
considered the Golden Age
of Amateur Boxing.
Boxing in British Columbia
and other parts of Cnada
would change with the
formation of the Canadian
Amateur Boxing Association
and each Province such as the
British Columbia Amateur Boxing
Association would start a new course which would lead to
Olympic Glory in 1984 when three boxers from Canada
including Dale Walters of Burnaby, British Columbia
would win medals. The other two being Willie DeWit
and Shawn O'Sullivan. That historical highlight would
be repeated with medals in 1988.
Lennie Walters - Olympic boxers
Dale 1984, Lennie 1948)
Sixteen Years To Achieve that Moment of Glory:
*Those 16 years from 1969
to 1984 would be filled with
many interesting events in the sport of amateur boxing in British Columbia.
Some Highliughts:
1969: Neil Knight, Seattle
1970: Golden Gloves to be hosted by Boxing BC (BCABA), in the past it was sponsored
and hosted by various community groups such as the Optimists and the Lions Clubs.
1970: The Campbell River Eagles Boxing Club becomes an official boxing club.
1971: The Nanaimo Boxing Club is founded by Brian Zelley and Dan Wright,
1972: Chris Ius and Les Hamilton join the Canadian Olympic boxing team.
1974:
Major revival in amateur boxing in Greater Victoria with
Mike Caird, Gordie McGaw and Larry Montgomery receives a boost
with the arrival of Ian Weir, Dan Wright, and Brian Zelley to help in a
major program to improve boxing in the Capital City.
*news reporter for the "Victorian" does a major story
for amateur boxing with a piece titled:
"Boxing Back From Ropes", November 22, 1974
(Weir - Caird - Zelley" photo by Jim Ryan)
1976:
*Howard Curling appointed Island
Commissioner for Vancouver Island
by the BC boxing president of the BCABA.
*BC Junior Selects face British Schoolboy
boxers for North-west England
in two tournaments in Vancouver and Victoria.
The president of the British Columbia Amateur Boxing Association
*Chris Ius and Sid McKnight join the Canadian Olympic boxing team.
London Boxing Club to sponsor and promote amateur boxing.
1978:
* The Nanaimo Boxing Club hosts the first of many of it's
Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves events.
*the Nanaimo Daily Free Press" reporter Colin Gibson's
headline:
"Golden Gloves Tournament A Thumping Success"
- the Nanaimo show featured boxers from around BC
and the Pacific Northwest such as:
Chuck Robinson, Brett and Todd Summers,
Alex Bankier, Gordie Lawson, Alex Angelomatis, Barry Creswell, Ed McCaffrey,
John Hunter, Shane Anderson and juniors such as Don Preston and Mary Burton.
*1978 Bronze Gloves hosted by the Cloverdale Boxing Club.
Nanaimo boxers in action were Don Preston, Lyle Jack and
Ron Williams.
*Boxing in Victoria expands when Lou Bujdoso forms the
Victoria Jaycees Boxing Club.
* The Nanaimo Boxing Club hosts it's second Bathtub
Capital Golden Gloves tournament in Nanaimo.
1979:
*BC Winter Games held in Kamloops.
*1979 Silver Gloves held in Chilliwack March 23 and 24 '79.
*May '79 Second Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves held in
Nanaimo with a cross section of boxers from BC including
junior boxers Alan Brown , Gary Ivers, and Marty Burton.
1980:
*The BC Diamond Belt Championships are revived
and are hosted by the Victoria Jaycees Boxing Club.
*Rick Brough, the new Island Commissioner builds a
team to help amateur boxing grow and expand on
Vancouver Island.
a Canadian championship in the Junior Nationals.
*In Golden Gloves action boxer Jamie Ollenberger becomes
the first BC star of the Eighties with his performance.
BEYOND 1984:
*To get beyond 1984, it is necessary to look at the quality
and quantity of the junior or intermediate boxers of 1980
to 1984 some of which would become top rated senior
open boxers from 1985 into the Nineties.
== 1984 Junior Golden Gloves ==
*As good a place to start as any would be the 1984
junior golden gloves and three names of interest
would be TONY DUFFY of the Sunshine Boxing Club,
MANNY SOBRAL of the Shamrock Boxing Club and
MIKE WOOD of the Campbell River Eagles Boxing Club,.
At the end of the competition it would the "Sunshine Kid"
TONY DUFFY that would earn the Golden Boy award.
*A month after that tournament for the best juniors,
some of them would participate in the Junior Nationals.
BC champions would be AARON WOLFE and WILLY CURRY.
FLASHBACK TO 1983
*It was the Silver Gloves tournament that would include
open junior boxers and some of the names of boxers
that would be an important part of the post 1984 period
would include:
Allan Bain (Spruce Capital Boxing Club, Prince George),
Alan Brown (Gold River Boxing Club, Gold River),
Tony Duffy (Sunshine Boxing Club)
Manny Sobral (Shamrock Boxing Club)
*in novice senior and intermediate boxing some
standouts would include:
Jason Trottier (Burnaby boxing club)
Hail King (Shamrock boxing club)
Both Jason and Hail would win convincing victories over
boxers from the Astoria boxing club.
Friday, February 10, 2012
THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMATEUR BOXING 1939 to 1968
THE GOLDEN AGE OF BOXING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
- By Brian Zelley
The "Sizzling Sixties" video
Introduction
Since 1966, I have written much about
amateur boxing, but in attempting to
focus on the Golden Age of boxing
in British Columbia, my pick is the
period 1939 to 1968.
The importance of the 1939 starting
point is the beginning of the
provincial Golden Gloves tournament.
During this period, we would also see other tournaments
that have carried on with a few starting points such as
the Diamond Belt Tournament, the Bronze, Emerald
and Silver Gloves and then the Buckskin Gloves.
During the period 1939 to 1968, BC boxers would also
be active in participating in tournaments in the USA
with the three most active being the Golden Gloves
Boxing Championships in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma.
THE GOLDEN GLOVES ***A Rich History***
*** A quick blast ***
The Golden Gloves
The original Golden Gloves tournament in BC took place
in Vancouver and was called the "Vancouver Sun Golden Gloves".
Also involved in the earlier years was the "Vancouver Active Club".
The first Golden Boy in 1939 was PHIL VICKERY and the 1968
Golden Boy was RAY LAMPKIN of Portland, Oregon.
THE 1948 GOLDEN GLOVES" The Champions:
(photo: The 1948 Golden Gloves' Champions
courtesy of John Paonessa)
Ius, Jamel, Langston, May,
Haddad, McPhee, Baxter, Walters
Along the way between 1939 and 1968, there would be many
other boxers to earn the Golden Boy award including double
winner DICK FINDLAY in 1966 and 1967.
Jack Straza, 1959 BC Golden Boy
Boxers from British Columbia would also participate in the
Golden Gloves in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. Some names
from the early years include:
Gordon Grayson, Robert Hickey, Tommy Symes, Jackie Turner,
Norm Dawson, Bobby Parker, Joe Ashenbrenner, Roy Burnell,
Bert Lepitre, Freddy Steele, Vic Murdoch and Lyle Kehoe.
Some of the folks behind the early success of the annual
Golden Gloves in those beginning years include many
volunteers. Some of the top level names include:
A. Hodgkisson, Charlie Sandford, Bud Devoe, Tom Flanagan,
Hector McDonald, Tommy Moore, Billy Oates, Tommy Cruise,
and Billy Finlay of the "Vancouver Sun" newspaper.
Some of the coaches in the early years include:
Tommy Gann, Russ Gatzke, and Len Gervais
Names from the Forties:
* Art Burgess * Art Beaumont * Bert Lepitre * Bob Scott *
* Billy MacDonald * Buddy Welsh * Bus Lindsay *
* Chester Norton * Chester Orr * Chuck Cruickshank *
* Dick Cote * Don Harrison * Duquette Henri * Earl Cook *
* Eddie Haddad * Elio Ius * Everett Biggs * Frank Almond *
* Fraser Clark * Hal Robbins * Jack Crook * Jack Hamilton *
* Jack MacDonald * Jackie Turner * Jerris Jamel * Jim Andrews *
* Johnny Creanza * Ken McPhee * Lennie Walters * Lyle Kehoe *
* Lyle Colling * Maurice Pratt * Norm Delaire * Norman Dawson *
* Ray Hass * Ray Walters * Rod MacDonald * Sammy May *
* Stan Almond * Stan Zokol * Terry Doyle * Tommy Symes *
* Vic Murdoch * Wes Burnell * Gordon Woodhouse * Jim Crook
* Bobby Parker * Joe Ashenbrenner * Robert Hickie * Roy Burnell *
*Jack Patterson * Alan Dunn * Bill Wallace * Hank Egli *
*Tony Strannan * Jack Herwynen * Jim Langston * Ray Baxter.
THE FANTASTIC FIFTIES
Two of many interesting events in the Fifties included the start of
the Emerald Gloves in 1951 and the British Empire Games in 1954.
The founder of the Emerald Gloves was Bro. A.C. O'GRADY.
The first tournament took place at the Vancouver College Gym
and the first Emerald Boy was Mel Jacobs followed by double
winner Jimmy Walters (1952 and 1953) followed by Jimmy Hibbert.
The 1954 British Empire Games would see a Gold Medal victory by
Canadian Boxer Wilfie Greaves.
NAMES FROM THE FIFTIES:
Some of the names of boxers that saw action in the Fifties:
* Barnie Grace, Bernie Hamilton, Bert Wilkinson,
Billy Adams, Billy Pinkus, Billy Stone, Bob Shires,
Bobby Bates, Brian O'Hare, Bruce Baille, Dave Codville,
Dave Errington, Des Archer, Eddie Robertson,
Freddy Curtis, Gordon Rabey, Harold Mann, Harry Clearsky,
Howard Abercrombie, Jack Straza, Jimmy Walters,
John Turton, Johnny Phillips, Len Kupchak, Lennie Walters,
Leo Logan, Lindy Lindmoser, Lloyd Tahouney, Mel Jacobs,
Sandy Caldwell, Skimp Williams, Tom McGaw, Willie Ira
A Fifties Tournament - 1956
*Aside from the regular Golden Gloves tournaments, there
were many special tournaments such as the one April 1956
"Victoria Optimists International Tournament of Champions".
The show was organized by the Optimists and members of
"The Greater Victoria Amateur Boxing Association" headed
by the president Howard Curling.
Some of the boxers were:
MICKEY MAZUR
"GOLDEN BOY"
Mickey Mazur, Johnny Phillips, Gary Oakden, Brian O'Hare,
Skimp Williams, Rip Kirby, Bobby Hicks, Norm Jorgenson,
Richard Murickami, Tommy DelVeccio, Harold Mann,
Jimmy Walters, and Lindy Lindmoser.
Some of the coaches and officials were:
Jack O'Hanley, Paul Calve, Bert Lowes and Eric Simmonds.
Tom Crabbe, Dick Francisco and Howard Curling.
The Sixties: The last decade of the golden years.
*April 30, 1960: Western Canada Championships:
It was called the"Shrine Invitational Western Canadian
Championships" and took place in Victoria, BC.
Special guest for the tournament was former world
champion Jimmy McLarnin. One of the many photos
included Jimmy with coaches Bert Lowes and Pat West
along with some of the Vancouver boxers including
Lindy Lindmoser, Bob Ginnetti, Billy Adams,
and Winnie Schelt who was picked for the top
award of "Shrine Boy". Vancouver boxer from
the South Hill club Paddy Clark did not make the
special photo with McLarnin, but he was the
heavyweight champion of the tournament.
1965 *** FREDDY FULLER and FRED DESROSIERS***
*Freddy Fuller was named Golden Boy due to his victory
in the finals against former Golden Boy Buddy Palmer.
*Fred Desrosiers would earn the Golden Boy runner-up award.
*Another boxer was the unknown HUGH LINDSAY from
the isolated town of 100 Mile House who shocked the
Vancouver crowd with an upset victory over Clint Page.
1966 *** DICK FINDLAY wins Golden Boy award ***
*In 1966, Dick Findlay would shine in the Golden Gloves
and would follow-up with the special award in 1967.
1967 *** DICK FINDLAY and DAVE WYLIE ***
two of the vancouver based boxers that were stars in '67.
*The boxers in the 1967 BC Golden Gloves prelim bouts would
set the stage for some interesting activity with some great opening
bouts of the Friday evening. Some of the early bouts documented
by the "Vancouver Sun" would include some of the bouts such as:
Orland Ralph vs Leo Chabot, Steven Flajole vs Cliff Belcourt, Bob Kacer vs
Ken Henderson, Brian Zelley vs Vern Fouth, Freddy Fuller vs Dave Wylie,
Fred Desrosiers vs Toby Crook, Ken Tommy vs Howard Hewitt, and
Jack Meda vs Bill Taylor.
1968 - THE END OF THE GOLDEN YEARS:
In 1968, there were 19 BC boxers engaged in the 1968
Seattle Golden Gloves:
There were many boxers of the Sixties including
the 1960 Golden Boy from Victoria by the name
of Alan Curtis. Some of the many names that
appeared in the Sixties Golden Gloves:
The first listed is Bill (Curly) Adams, he fought
in the Fifties and Sixties in Golden Gloves action
including a great victory in the finals of the
1960 tournament with a victory over
SKIMP WILLIAMS who earned
most aggressive and best bout trophies.
THE TREASURE CHEST OF GOLDEN MEMORIES
(everyone involved or even siblings or children of those involved
have a story to tell or a few golden memories of the events, clubs,
boxers, coaches and officials, this section will be devoted to
some of those golden memories.
***Brian Zelley*** Of that time period, my actual memories are
tied to the 1963 to 1968 time period. Of course, the first memories
relate to Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club and the other Island
clubs in Victoria and Port Alberni. I remember the first boxer
that I had in my scrapbook was LARRY CARDINAL, and the
earliest open boxers that I remember best were FRED DESROSIERS,
TOMMY BLACK, and WAYNE POWELL. I remember my Nanaimo
sparring partners in those early years such as ROGER NEPPER,
MIKE LAZARE, KEN STANT and TONY JAMES. Of course,
the 1964 Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing Championships were
very important that would be used to revive the tournament in 1984.
I remember a visit to the Hastings club and sparring with Orland Ralph
and Kalman Santosi in January 1966. But, there would be many more
memories in 1967 and 1968 in Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt
Action and I remember some of the younger boxers starting out
at the Firefighters such as GORDIE LAWSON and JOHN GAMBLE.
But, along the way there were hundreds of names of boxers, coaches
and officials from SKIMP WILLIAMS to BERT LOWES.
THE PHOTO GALLERY (1939 to 1968)
*A few of the many photos of action or faces from 1939 to 1968.
*first in any list is one of the greats, TOMMY PAONESSA:
Fuller, Findlay, Wylie, Zelley, Lawson, Walters
Gamble, Scott, and Lindmoser
ROGER ADOLPH
(photo of Lennie Walters courtesy Dale Walters)
Eddie Haddad - Frank Scott
Dick Findlay - Fred Desrosiers
Vancouver's South Hill Boxing Club
- Coaches Pat West and Bert Lowes -
Boxing in British Columbia in the Fifties
boxers include Jimmy Walters and Lindy Lindmoser.
Faces from the Golden Age of BC Boxing
THE HALLS and WALLS OF FAME, and SPECIAL AWARDS
Over the years some of the manny have been recognized with induction into
a Canadian, Provincial, Municipal Sports Hall of Fame, some have been
recognized in the Boxing Canada Hall of Fame or the 2010 created
British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. Thn there is the Canadian
Military Hall of Fame. Then there are those special awards
such as the Jimmy Symes award for junior boxers or the
Harold Mann award for non-boxers and is most often given to coaches
but a few officials have been selected. Then for the various tournaments
there are the top awards such as the Diamond Boy, Golden Boy,
Bronze Boy, Emerald Boy and Buckskin Boy and some of the other special awards over the years such as :best let han" "best footwork", "most aggressive" and "best fight"
British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame
Was started in 2010 with the core group being 15 of which
many were connected with amateur boxing sometime during
the golden age of amateur boxing between 1939 and 1939/
Also, then more were selected in 2011 of which many of them
were also connected to the "GOLDEN AGE of BOXING".
Sixteen of the individual inductees in 2010 and 2012
part of the Golden Age of BC Amateur Boxing:
* Chris Ius * Dave Brown * Dick Findlay
*Eddie Haddad * Elio Ius * Fred Desrosiers * Fred Fuller
*Freddie Fuller *Frank Scott *Harold Mann*Jimmy Walters
*Lennie Walters * Lindie Lindmoser
* Pat O'Reilly * Tommy Paonessa
and
*1967 International Diamond Belt
Centennial Boxing Championships
Boxers in the Finals were:
Derek Austin, Ron MacEachern, Frank Scott, Jamrs Logan, Wayne
Boyce, Brian Zelley, Dick Coulson, Ken Lee, Dave Wylie, Freddy
Fuller, Jim Russell, Pat O'Reilly, Donato Paduano, Dennis Rorick,
George Smith, Ron Wilson, Jams Allen, Marijan Kolar,
Wesley Craven and Bill Taylor.
Semi-Finalists and Other Competitors:
Randy Jones, Allen Webb, Del Deugau, Ted Webb, Andy Anderson,
Dick Findlay, Steve Tohill, Jerry Winters, Gord Sinclair, Wm. Daniels,
Sam Wilson, Clint Page, Terry Eastman, Ken Alexander, Mel Harris,
Don Staab, Ken Henderson, Mike Fisher, Brian Gray, Stan Parker,
Larry Houseman, Ronnie Brown, Ed Williams, Thurman Mikes,
Robert Hawkins, Chester Douglas, Les Vegas, Colin Coleridge,
Kalman Santosi, Frank Ball,Bruce Geis, Richard Fleck, Larry High,
Bob Winters and Jamie Phills.
Guest Referee:***Undefeated heavyweight champ, Rocky Marciano***
In 1968, the guest referee was former champ Jimmy McLarnin.
**some of the boxers were: Gary Ferrari, Robbie Grant, Dave Allerdice,
John Carr, Billy Gray, Ron McEachern, Brian Zelley,
Dick Findlay, Larry Houseman, Eddie Mullins, George Mankins, Rick Fleck,
Darryl Olson, Fred Fuller, Mike Fisher, Pat O'Reilly, Fred Hatfield,
Les Vegas and Greg Gumfer.
FUTURE STARS THAT STARTED IN THE SIXTIES
Looking back to the Seventies, brings us back to some of
the novice or junior tournaments that took place in the
"Sizzling Sixties".
1966 BRONZE GLOVES
*A tournament for novice junior boxers, but for
many, they did not stay juniors or novices. Some
would make a difference in the Seventies and beyond.
From the list of champions and finalists, how many
remember the following boxers that would carry
on in future years:
Michael O'Reilly, Gary Bridal, Ian Harding, and Gary Trainor.
1968 SILVER GLOVES
For novice senior boxers and juniors that would produce a few
name for the future years:
Michael O'Reilly, Eddie McCaffrey, David Ius, Chris Ius,
Les Hamilton, Neil Austin, John Gamble, Joe Cooke,
Lanny Thom, Gordie Lawson, Ron Trainor, and Buzz Montour.
Results from the May 1985 "BC Amateur Boxing News"
(this was part of a detailed look at boxing in the Sixties)
Champions and Finalists: 1968 Silver Gloves
Neil Austin and Joe Cooke
Michael O'Reilly, Eddie McCaffrey, Johnny McCluskey,
Ian Pye, Billy Berrow, Matthew Cardell, Cedric Hamilton,
David Ius, John Young, Chis Ius, Happy Seignor, Wayne
Gordon, Les Hamilton, Mark Millman, Dave Swartz,
Chuck Massey, Neil Austin, Perry Demosten, John Gamble,
Rick Johnson, Joe Cooke, Lanny Thom, Darryl Wood,
Jim Crook, Paul DiBenneditto, Bob Scharff, Tony James,
Don Fraser, Joe Shannon, Alf Cool, Ian Hunter,
Danny Gontas, Gordie Lawson, Wayne Tickell,
Ron Trainor, Darryl Smith, Dave Darin, Ian MacLeod,
Buzz Montour, Bob Lewis, Art Gourley, Darryl Wright,
Darryl Olsen, and Howard Hewitt.
LANNY THOM
Boxer Michael O'Reilly would carry on with the Hastings
Community Centre Boxing Club and engage in Golden Gloves
activity in the Seventies, but in the Eighties he was a coach for
the famous old Hastings boxing club that began many years
before when Pat O'Reilly sr. was the founder and head coach
with the club. For many years during the Golden Age, there
would be many fine boxers that participated in club activities.
THE PARADE OF BOXING CLUBS AND REGIONS (1939 to 1968)
In the Forties there were numerous boxing clubs from
such places as Ocean Falls to Vancouver Island with
some outstanding clubs being:
*Ambassadors, Bluebirds, C. Y. O., Eagletime, Jr. G., Kimount,
University of British Columbia, Wallaces, and Western Sports Centre.
As the years rolled by there would be many other clubs in Greater
Vancouver and other locations some that were theew in the
fifties and/or Sixties included:
*North Burnaby, South Hill, Hastings Community Centre,
London Boxing Club, Newcastle Boxing Club,
Port Alberni Boxing Club, James Bay, Ladner, Langley,
Spruce Capital, Firefighters Boxing Club, North West Eagles,
the MSA club and Surrey Boxing Club. Then there were
clubs of the Army, Royal Roads, Royal, Canadian Navy
and other clubs in places such as 100 Mile House and
Richmond.
Each club has a history that starts with a founder or founders,
one or more coaches and trainers and an assortment of trainees
and volunteers.
Vancouver Island, The Fifties:
(reprint from a 1984 review of Island boxing history
as published in the "BC Amateur Boxing News"
Some names to remember from the Fifties:
Andy Patterson, Nick Lystar and Al Duval commissioners of '54,
Bert Wilkinson, 1954 Vancouver Island Golden Boy.
Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club:
Founded by George Nepper in 1963 with the first club
located in the basement of the Newcastle Hotel.
The Newcastle Boxing Club along with former members of the Vancouver
Firefighters would also play a role in the early years of the Nanaimo Boxing
club that was formed in 1971 and is still active with Barry Creswell as the
main coach of the club. Former member of the Newcastle boxing club,
Brian Zelley would join with Dan Wright who was a former member
of the Firefighters to form the club with the help of George Nepper
and John Ormandy.
HASTINGS COMMUNITY CENTRE BOXING
VANCOUVER'S SOUTH HILL and FIREFIGHTERS:
Roger Adolph and alumni of the clubs
South Hill and Firefighters
EAST VANCOUVER OPTIMISTS
*One of the top clubs in the Sixties was the South-East based
the East Vancouver Optimists with a variety of builders and boxers
Don Cowan, Larry Krangle, John Wylie, Fred fuller, Stan Smith (some builders)
THE EAST VANCOUVER OPTIMISTS BOXING BONANZA
the three boxers at the back to the right are:
Freddy Fuller, Jimmy MacMillan and Steve Tohill
Two of the adults are Stan Smith and Fred Fuller
1968 A CLUB SHOW TO REMEMBER
THE ROAD FORWARD - 1969
Some of the boxers that participated in the 1966 Bronze Gloves
and/or the 1968 Silver Gloves would compete in the
1969 Junior open Emerald Gloves. A sample of names
of some of the boxers include:
Leo Randolph, Happy Seignor, Les Hamilton, John Gamble,
John Demosten, Randy Hamer-Jackson, Ron Taylor,
Craig Sequin, Gary Tatton, Corky Hamilton, Ron Way,
Danny Crawford, Phil Ethier, Gene Tait, Danny Tatton,
and Dave Way.
Both LEO RANDOLPH of Tacoma and LES HAMILTON
would go on to participate in the Olympic Games in the '70's
* Likely the most important event that has kept a continuous link from
1939 to 1968 was the Golden Gloves that started in 1939 with an important
role played by William J. Finlay of the Vancouver Sun. There would be
many other tournaments from Bronze Gloves to Diamond Belt tournaments
but none would have the impact of the Golden Gloves. And, an important
achievement for golden gloves' boxers was to engage in the four key
tournaments in the Pacific Northwest:
Oregon Golden Gloves, Seattle Golden Gloves, Tacoma Golden Gloves
and the British Columbia Golden Gloves.
BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME - 2014 Process
*some of the names included in the Golden Age have been nominated
such as William J. Finlay, Jimmy McMillan, Jack Meda, Pat West,
Harry Twist, Bert Wilkinson, Howard Curling, and Dave Wylie.
Also, former Canadian amateur and pro champion Billy Townsend
who was involved in amateur boxing during the Golden Age is also
a nominee.
Introduction
Since 1966, I have written much about
amateur boxing, but in attempting to
focus on the Golden Age of boxing
in British Columbia, my pick is the
period 1939 to 1968.
The importance of the 1939 starting
point is the beginning of the
provincial Golden Gloves tournament.
During this period, we would also see other tournaments
that have carried on with a few starting points such as
the Diamond Belt Tournament, the Bronze, Emerald
and Silver Gloves and then the Buckskin Gloves.
During the period 1939 to 1968, BC boxers would also
be active in participating in tournaments in the USA
with the three most active being the Golden Gloves
Boxing Championships in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma.
THE GOLDEN GLOVES ***A Rich History***
The Golden Gloves
The original Golden Gloves tournament in BC took place
in Vancouver and was called the "Vancouver Sun Golden Gloves".
Also involved in the earlier years was the "Vancouver Active Club".
The first Golden Boy in 1939 was PHIL VICKERY and the 1968
Golden Boy was RAY LAMPKIN of Portland, Oregon.
THE 1948 GOLDEN GLOVES" The Champions:
courtesy of John Paonessa)
Ius, Jamel, Langston, May,
Haddad, McPhee, Baxter, Walters
Along the way between 1939 and 1968, there would be many
other boxers to earn the Golden Boy award including double
winner DICK FINDLAY in 1966 and 1967.
Boxers from British Columbia would also participate in the
Golden Gloves in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. Some names
from the early years include:
Gordon Grayson, Robert Hickey, Tommy Symes, Jackie Turner,
Norm Dawson, Bobby Parker, Joe Ashenbrenner, Roy Burnell,
Bert Lepitre, Freddy Steele, Vic Murdoch and Lyle Kehoe.
Some of the folks behind the early success of the annual
Golden Gloves in those beginning years include many
volunteers. Some of the top level names include:
A. Hodgkisson, Charlie Sandford, Bud Devoe, Tom Flanagan,
Hector McDonald, Tommy Moore, Billy Oates, Tommy Cruise,
and Billy Finlay of the "Vancouver Sun" newspaper.
Some of the coaches in the early years include:
Tommy Gann, Russ Gatzke, and Len Gervais
Names from the Forties:
* Art Burgess * Art Beaumont * Bert Lepitre * Bob Scott *
* Billy MacDonald * Buddy Welsh * Bus Lindsay *
* Chester Norton * Chester Orr * Chuck Cruickshank *
* Dick Cote * Don Harrison * Duquette Henri * Earl Cook *
* Eddie Haddad * Elio Ius * Everett Biggs * Frank Almond *
* Fraser Clark * Hal Robbins * Jack Crook * Jack Hamilton *
* Jack MacDonald * Jackie Turner * Jerris Jamel * Jim Andrews *
* Johnny Creanza * Ken McPhee * Lennie Walters * Lyle Kehoe *
* Lyle Colling * Maurice Pratt * Norm Delaire * Norman Dawson *
* Ray Hass * Ray Walters * Rod MacDonald * Sammy May *
* Stan Almond * Stan Zokol * Terry Doyle * Tommy Symes *
* Vic Murdoch * Wes Burnell * Gordon Woodhouse * Jim Crook
* Bobby Parker * Joe Ashenbrenner * Robert Hickie * Roy Burnell *
*Jack Patterson * Alan Dunn * Bill Wallace * Hank Egli *
*Tony Strannan * Jack Herwynen * Jim Langston * Ray Baxter.
THE FANTASTIC FIFTIES
Two of many interesting events in the Fifties included the start of
the Emerald Gloves in 1951 and the British Empire Games in 1954.
The founder of the Emerald Gloves was Bro. A.C. O'GRADY.
The first tournament took place at the Vancouver College Gym
and the first Emerald Boy was Mel Jacobs followed by double
winner Jimmy Walters (1952 and 1953) followed by Jimmy Hibbert.
The 1954 British Empire Games would see a Gold Medal victory by
NAMES FROM THE FIFTIES:
Some of the names of boxers that saw action in the Fifties:
* Barnie Grace, Bernie Hamilton, Bert Wilkinson,
Billy Adams, Billy Pinkus, Billy Stone, Bob Shires,
Bobby Bates, Brian O'Hare, Bruce Baille, Dave Codville,
Dave Errington, Des Archer, Eddie Robertson,
Freddy Curtis, Gordon Rabey, Harold Mann, Harry Clearsky,
Howard Abercrombie, Jack Straza, Jimmy Walters,
John Turton, Johnny Phillips, Len Kupchak, Lennie Walters,
Leo Logan, Lindy Lindmoser, Lloyd Tahouney, Mel Jacobs,
Sandy Caldwell, Skimp Williams, Tom McGaw, Willie Ira
A Fifties Tournament - 1956
*Aside from the regular Golden Gloves tournaments, there
were many special tournaments such as the one April 1956
"Victoria Optimists International Tournament of Champions".
The show was organized by the Optimists and members of
"The Greater Victoria Amateur Boxing Association" headed
by the president Howard Curling.
Some of the boxers were:
MICKEY MAZUR
"GOLDEN BOY"
Mickey Mazur, Johnny Phillips, Gary Oakden, Brian O'Hare,
Skimp Williams, Rip Kirby, Bobby Hicks, Norm Jorgenson,
Richard Murickami, Tommy DelVeccio, Harold Mann,
Jimmy Walters, and Lindy Lindmoser.
Some of the coaches and officials were:
Jack O'Hanley, Paul Calve, Bert Lowes and Eric Simmonds.
Tom Crabbe, Dick Francisco and Howard Curling.
The Sixties: The last decade of the golden years.
*April 30, 1960: Western Canada Championships:
It was called the"Shrine Invitational Western Canadian
Championships" and took place in Victoria, BC.
Special guest for the tournament was former world
champion Jimmy McLarnin. One of the many photos
included Jimmy with coaches Bert Lowes and Pat West
along with some of the Vancouver boxers including
Lindy Lindmoser, Bob Ginnetti, Billy Adams,
and Winnie Schelt who was picked for the top
award of "Shrine Boy". Vancouver boxer from
the South Hill club Paddy Clark did not make the
special photo with McLarnin, but he was the
heavyweight champion of the tournament.
1965 *** FREDDY FULLER and FRED DESROSIERS***
*Freddy Fuller was named Golden Boy due to his victory
in the finals against former Golden Boy Buddy Palmer.
*Fred Desrosiers would earn the Golden Boy runner-up award.
*Another boxer was the unknown HUGH LINDSAY from
the isolated town of 100 Mile House who shocked the
Vancouver crowd with an upset victory over Clint Page.
1966 *** DICK FINDLAY wins Golden Boy award ***
*In 1966, Dick Findlay would shine in the Golden Gloves
and would follow-up with the special award in 1967.
1967 *** DICK FINDLAY and DAVE WYLIE ***
two of the vancouver based boxers that were stars in '67.
set the stage for some interesting activity with some great opening
bouts of the Friday evening. Some of the early bouts documented
by the "Vancouver Sun" would include some of the bouts such as:
Orland Ralph vs Leo Chabot, Steven Flajole vs Cliff Belcourt, Bob Kacer vs
Ken Henderson, Brian Zelley vs Vern Fouth, Freddy Fuller vs Dave Wylie,
Fred Desrosiers vs Toby Crook, Ken Tommy vs Howard Hewitt, and
Jack Meda vs Bill Taylor.
1968 - THE END OF THE GOLDEN YEARS:
In 1968, there were 19 BC boxers engaged in the 1968
Seattle Golden Gloves:
1968 OREGON GOLDEN GLOVES
the 1960 Golden Boy from Victoria by the name
of Alan Curtis. Some of the many names that
appeared in the Sixties Golden Gloves:
The first listed is Bill (Curly) Adams, he fought
in the Fifties and Sixties in Golden Gloves action
including a great victory in the finals of the
1960 tournament with a victory over
SKIMP WILLIAMS who earned
most aggressive and best bout trophies.
THE TREASURE CHEST OF GOLDEN MEMORIES
(everyone involved or even siblings or children of those involved
have a story to tell or a few golden memories of the events, clubs,
boxers, coaches and officials, this section will be devoted to
some of those golden memories.
***Brian Zelley*** Of that time period, my actual memories are
tied to the 1963 to 1968 time period. Of course, the first memories
relate to Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club and the other Island
clubs in Victoria and Port Alberni. I remember the first boxer
that I had in my scrapbook was LARRY CARDINAL, and the
earliest open boxers that I remember best were FRED DESROSIERS,
TOMMY BLACK, and WAYNE POWELL. I remember my Nanaimo
sparring partners in those early years such as ROGER NEPPER,
MIKE LAZARE, KEN STANT and TONY JAMES. Of course,
the 1964 Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing Championships were
very important that would be used to revive the tournament in 1984.
I remember a visit to the Hastings club and sparring with Orland Ralph
and Kalman Santosi in January 1966. But, there would be many more
memories in 1967 and 1968 in Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt
Action and I remember some of the younger boxers starting out
at the Firefighters such as GORDIE LAWSON and JOHN GAMBLE.
But, along the way there were hundreds of names of boxers, coaches
and officials from SKIMP WILLIAMS to BERT LOWES.
THE PHOTO GALLERY (1939 to 1968)
*A few of the many photos of action or faces from 1939 to 1968.
*first in any list is one of the greats, TOMMY PAONESSA:
Gamble, Scott, and Lindmoser
Stan Smith, Frederick Fuller, Elio Ius, Clint Page and Bert Lowes
Dick Findlay - Fred Desrosiers
- Coaches Pat West and Bert Lowes -
Boxing in British Columbia in the Fifties
boxers include Jimmy Walters and Lindy Lindmoser.
Faces from the Golden Age of BC Boxing
THE HALLS and WALLS OF FAME, and SPECIAL AWARDS
Over the years some of the manny have been recognized with induction into
a Canadian, Provincial, Municipal Sports Hall of Fame, some have been
recognized in the Boxing Canada Hall of Fame or the 2010 created
British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. Thn there is the Canadian
such as the Jimmy Symes award for junior boxers or the
Harold Mann award for non-boxers and is most often given to coaches
but a few officials have been selected. Then for the various tournaments
there are the top awards such as the Diamond Boy, Golden Boy,
Bronze Boy, Emerald Boy and Buckskin Boy and some of the other special awards over the years such as :best let han" "best footwork", "most aggressive" and "best fight"
British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame
Was started in 2010 with the core group being 15 of which
many were connected with amateur boxing sometime during
the golden age of amateur boxing between 1939 and 1939/
Also, then more were selected in 2011 of which many of them
were also connected to the "GOLDEN AGE of BOXING".
Sixteen of the individual inductees in 2010 and 2012
part of the Golden Age of BC Amateur Boxing:
* Chris Ius * Dave Brown * Dick Findlay
*Eddie Haddad * Elio Ius * Fred Desrosiers * Fred Fuller
*Freddie Fuller *Frank Scott *Harold Mann*Jimmy Walters
*Lennie Walters * Lindie Lindmoser
* Pat O'Reilly * Tommy Paonessa
and
*1967 International Diamond Belt
Centennial Boxing Championships
Derek Austin, Ron MacEachern, Frank Scott, Jamrs Logan, Wayne
Boyce, Brian Zelley, Dick Coulson, Ken Lee, Dave Wylie, Freddy
Fuller, Jim Russell, Pat O'Reilly, Donato Paduano, Dennis Rorick,
George Smith, Ron Wilson, Jams Allen, Marijan Kolar,
Wesley Craven and Bill Taylor.
Semi-Finalists and Other Competitors:
Randy Jones, Allen Webb, Del Deugau, Ted Webb, Andy Anderson,
Dick Findlay, Steve Tohill, Jerry Winters, Gord Sinclair, Wm. Daniels,
Sam Wilson, Clint Page, Terry Eastman, Ken Alexander, Mel Harris,
Don Staab, Ken Henderson, Mike Fisher, Brian Gray, Stan Parker,
Larry Houseman, Ronnie Brown, Ed Williams, Thurman Mikes,
Robert Hawkins, Chester Douglas, Les Vegas, Colin Coleridge,
Kalman Santosi, Frank Ball,Bruce Geis, Richard Fleck, Larry High,
Bob Winters and Jamie Phills.
Guest Referee:***Undefeated heavyweight champ, Rocky Marciano***
In 1968, the guest referee was former champ Jimmy McLarnin.
**some of the boxers were: Gary Ferrari, Robbie Grant, Dave Allerdice,
John Carr, Billy Gray, Ron McEachern, Brian Zelley,
Dick Findlay, Larry Houseman, Eddie Mullins, George Mankins, Rick Fleck,
Darryl Olson, Fred Fuller, Mike Fisher, Pat O'Reilly, Fred Hatfield,
Les Vegas and Greg Gumfer.
FUTURE STARS THAT STARTED IN THE SIXTIES
Looking back to the Seventies, brings us back to some of
the novice or junior tournaments that took place in the
"Sizzling Sixties".
1966 BRONZE GLOVES
*A tournament for novice junior boxers, but for
many, they did not stay juniors or novices. Some
would make a difference in the Seventies and beyond.
From the list of champions and finalists, how many
remember the following boxers that would carry
on in future years:
Michael O'Reilly, Gary Bridal, Ian Harding, and Gary Trainor.
1968 SILVER GLOVES
For novice senior boxers and juniors that would produce a few
name for the future years:
Michael O'Reilly, Eddie McCaffrey, David Ius, Chris Ius,
Les Hamilton, Neil Austin, John Gamble, Joe Cooke,
Lanny Thom, Gordie Lawson, Ron Trainor, and Buzz Montour.
Results from the May 1985 "BC Amateur Boxing News"
(this was part of a detailed look at boxing in the Sixties)
Champions and Finalists: 1968 Silver Gloves
Neil Austin and Joe Cooke
Michael O'Reilly, Eddie McCaffrey, Johnny McCluskey,
Ian Pye, Billy Berrow, Matthew Cardell, Cedric Hamilton,
David Ius, John Young, Chis Ius, Happy Seignor, Wayne
Gordon, Les Hamilton, Mark Millman, Dave Swartz,
Chuck Massey, Neil Austin, Perry Demosten, John Gamble,
Rick Johnson, Joe Cooke, Lanny Thom, Darryl Wood,
Jim Crook, Paul DiBenneditto, Bob Scharff, Tony James,
Don Fraser, Joe Shannon, Alf Cool, Ian Hunter,
Danny Gontas, Gordie Lawson, Wayne Tickell,
Ron Trainor, Darryl Smith, Dave Darin, Ian MacLeod,
Buzz Montour, Bob Lewis, Art Gourley, Darryl Wright,
Darryl Olsen, and Howard Hewitt.
LANNY THOM
Boxer Michael O'Reilly would carry on with the Hastings
Community Centre Boxing Club and engage in Golden Gloves
activity in the Seventies, but in the Eighties he was a coach for
the famous old Hastings boxing club that began many years
before when Pat O'Reilly sr. was the founder and head coach
with the club. For many years during the Golden Age, there
would be many fine boxers that participated in club activities.
THE PARADE OF BOXING CLUBS AND REGIONS (1939 to 1968)
In the Forties there were numerous boxing clubs from
such places as Ocean Falls to Vancouver Island with
some outstanding clubs being:
*Ambassadors, Bluebirds, C. Y. O., Eagletime, Jr. G., Kimount,
University of British Columbia, Wallaces, and Western Sports Centre.
As the years rolled by there would be many other clubs in Greater
Vancouver and other locations some that were theew in the
fifties and/or Sixties included:
*North Burnaby, South Hill, Hastings Community Centre,
London Boxing Club, Newcastle Boxing Club,
Port Alberni Boxing Club, James Bay, Ladner, Langley,
Spruce Capital, Firefighters Boxing Club, North West Eagles,
the MSA club and Surrey Boxing Club. Then there were
clubs of the Army, Royal Roads, Royal, Canadian Navy
and other clubs in places such as 100 Mile House and
Richmond.
Each club has a history that starts with a founder or founders,
one or more coaches and trainers and an assortment of trainees
and volunteers.
Vancouver Island, The Fifties:
(reprint from a 1984 review of Island boxing history
as published in the "BC Amateur Boxing News"
Andy Patterson, Nick Lystar and Al Duval commissioners of '54,
Bert Wilkinson, 1954 Vancouver Island Golden Boy.
Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club:
Founded by George Nepper in 1963 with the first club
located in the basement of the Newcastle Hotel.
The Newcastle Boxing Club along with former members of the Vancouver
Firefighters would also play a role in the early years of the Nanaimo Boxing
club that was formed in 1971 and is still active with Barry Creswell as the
main coach of the club. Former member of the Newcastle boxing club,
Brian Zelley would join with Dan Wright who was a former member
of the Firefighters to form the club with the help of George Nepper
and John Ormandy.
HASTINGS COMMUNITY CENTRE BOXING
VANCOUVER'S SOUTH HILL and FIREFIGHTERS:
South Hill and Firefighters
*One of the top clubs in the Sixties was the South-East based
the East Vancouver Optimists with a variety of builders and boxers
Don Cowan, Larry Krangle, John Wylie, Fred fuller, Stan Smith (some builders)
THE EAST VANCOUVER OPTIMISTS BOXING BONANZA
Freddy Fuller, Jimmy MacMillan and Steve Tohill
Two of the adults are Stan Smith and Fred Fuller
1968 A CLUB SHOW TO REMEMBER
THE ROAD FORWARD - 1969
Some of the boxers that participated in the 1966 Bronze Gloves
and/or the 1968 Silver Gloves would compete in the
1969 Junior open Emerald Gloves. A sample of names
of some of the boxers include:
Leo Randolph, Happy Seignor, Les Hamilton, John Gamble,
John Demosten, Randy Hamer-Jackson, Ron Taylor,
Craig Sequin, Gary Tatton, Corky Hamilton, Ron Way,
Danny Crawford, Phil Ethier, Gene Tait, Danny Tatton,
and Dave Way.
Both LEO RANDOLPH of Tacoma and LES HAMILTON
would go on to participate in the Olympic Games in the '70's
* Likely the most important event that has kept a continuous link from
1939 to 1968 was the Golden Gloves that started in 1939 with an important
role played by William J. Finlay of the Vancouver Sun. There would be
many other tournaments from Bronze Gloves to Diamond Belt tournaments
but none would have the impact of the Golden Gloves. And, an important
achievement for golden gloves' boxers was to engage in the four key
tournaments in the Pacific Northwest:
Oregon Golden Gloves, Seattle Golden Gloves, Tacoma Golden Gloves
and the British Columbia Golden Gloves.
HALLS OF FAME
Over the decades a number of folks that were
boxers and/or builders in British Columbia
1939 to 1968
have been recognized in one or more halls of fame.
BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME - 2014 Process
*some of the names included in the Golden Age have been nominated
such as William J. Finlay, Jimmy McMillan, Jack Meda, Pat West,
Harry Twist, Bert Wilkinson, Howard Curling, and Dave Wylie.
Also, former Canadian amateur and pro champion Billy Townsend
who was involved in amateur boxing during the Golden Age is also
a nominee.
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