BRIGHT LIGHTS TO FLASH IN 2013

THE PARADE OF BCABHOF NOMINEES:

The Nominees for 2013"

- by brian w. zelley, former boxer, coach and official of British Columbia.

* So far  as we close in on the end of 2012, we have nominees galore for

our 2013 selection process that should begin in July 2013.  So who are they

and what have they contributed to gather the support of boxing folks and

win the day from those that have the difficult task of selecting some of the many?

Early Support for Eight of the Nominees:

*Support may or may not equal success, but the eight leading nominees

with good early support include:

Ron Whalley, Mickey Griffin, Derrick Hoyt, Gordie Lawson,

Jack Snaith, Sid McKnight, Gary Wood and Jim Gallagher.

*But some of the others are getting a little support:

Three of those folks are Teresa Taylor, Jim Howie, 

 and Ed Williams.

* It is expected that folks like Dick St. Louis, Vic Murdoch,

Cliff Ballendine, Ralph Galloway, and Boyd Bayne will win

 some more support.

But, likely the late George Nepper from the Sixties will get 

overlooked as he is not known to many of the folks that are

members of the facebook site.  There are others that may

do well by July 2013 such as Jeannine Garside.

*   the late Ron Whalley is a well known 

official in British Columbia, 

Canada and from International 

tournaments

Gordie Lawson rocks on
to another victory in 
Boxing.  
Lawson began his boxing
in September 1967 as a
new member of the Vancouver
Firefighters Boxing Club.











The Progress Continues with more names:

newest nominee is Wally Doern, builder

2 Rivers boxing coach 

Wally Doern to the left 

of Prince George coach

Bob Pegues at the 2010

BC Golden Gloves.

A new addition to the list; GEORONIMO BIE:

NICKY FURLANO, a Canadian champion

http://www.facebook.com/groups/421613924515423/
The official fan site for Canadian boxer Nicky Furlono
established by noted boxing authority Lou Joshua Essen.

The Nicky Furlano boxing journey: by brian zelley

Introduction:

I first heard about Nicky Furlano many years ago during his early days

as a professional boxing, but in recent years, I have got to communicatie

with Nicky and many of his friends and fans.  In recent months, Nicky was

one of 18 folks that became the core group of inductees in the 

ONTARIO AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME.

     *a showcase of some outstanding boxers form Ontario over the years

Nicky like many top professional boxers had his beginnings in

amateur boxing.  He would box from Ontario and would be a

classy amateur, but his path in the sport would not travel 

through the CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION.

To understand and appreciate the excellence of Nicky, it

is important to get back to the about section of the 

"the official fan site of Nicky Furlano" prepared by

Lou J.  Essen:

"The official Nicky Furlano FB Fan Page is dedicated  to

celebrating the tremendous accomplishments both in and

out of the ring of one of Canada's most beloved athletes and

greatest ever lightweight champion Nicky Furlano."

THE FURLANO PRO JOURNEY

Nicky had an interesting pro boxing journey that lasted from 1976
to 1984 with some Canadian, North American and word titles on 
the line.

Furlano made his pro debut on October 23, 1976 with a victory over
Danny Stokes, and closed out in 1984 with a stoppage of boxer
Rick Spencer at the Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Ontario.

In the interim, Nicky fought his share of world class bouts against
some of Canada's and the world's best boxers.  Some names that
must be mentioned include:
Al Ford, Gaetan Hart, Davey Lee Armstrong and Aaron Pryor.

* when another boxer things so much of  one of the all time greats such
as Willie Pep, it is likely they would produce some of the same skills.
And, by all accounts, Nicky Furlano was one of Canada's technically
skilled champions who understood the importance of effective movement.

NICKY FURLANO  Photos:

STANLEY F. SMITH

THE STANLEY F. SMITH BOXING STORY:

- by brian w. zelley

Introduction:

When we look through the long history of amateur boxing

in British Columbia an important figure was that of 

Stanley F. Smith who was always there on the front lines,

or behind the scenes getting things done, organizing and

recognizing the many others in the form of nominations,

presentation of awards or assisting a boxing team.

Stan was involved in the pre-Boxing Canada era that

began in 1969 and continued to volunteer in the

new era of 1969 and beyond.  He had even served on the

Board of Directors of the BC Amateur Boxing Association

in the eighties, and stayed in contact with many ex-boxers

and builders long after his active years.

Stan Smith in 1971.

ADMINISTRATION PLUS:

(original photo courtesy of Freddy Fuller at one of the

Golden Glove tournaments: Stan Smith with Freddy Fuller, 

Elio Ius, Clint Page and Bert Lowes.)

In the sixties, he was not only involved with the East Vancouver Optimists Boxing Club but would also travel to some of those Golden Glove tournaments in Washington state such as  the Tacoma Golden Gloves or the Seattle Golden Gloves.

STAN still rocking in the Seventies 

*Following the formation of Boxing Canada, and
 the revision of the British Columbia Amateur
Boxing Association, Stan  was still active in
many areas and could always be seen at

ringside at the many boxing tournaments
while serving in some capacity.

This routine followed into the Eighties.

Honorary Life Member of The BCABA:

*With his long and outstanding service to amateur boxing,

Stan Smith would become a life honorary member along

with some others such as:

*Pat West, Joe Magri, Al Decarie,  Don Cowan, Dave Brown and Harry Twist.

*Stanley F. S;mith takes the role of 

announcer with the presentation of

a special award to the pioneer of

BC amateur boxing 

Tommy Paonessa.

Tommy is also a honorary 

life member of Boxing BC.

2013 NOMINEE FOR THE BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL
*A well deserved nominee for 2013, Stan smith is one of 30 nominees
that will be considered for selection.  For many years, Stan was involved in
recognizing and praising boxers, coaches and officials and presenting 
them awards or recommendations for some special
award of selection process/

TACOMA GOLDEN GLOVES

BOXING BC Boxers Plan for 2014 Tacoma Golden Gloves
Boxing BC has been invited to attend the 2O14 tournæment/
Boxer KENNY LALLY is expected to be one of the team boxers.

BC AMATEUR BOXING IN 1969: by brian zelley

Over the decades, BC boxers have competed in 
the Tacoma golden gloves, Oriegon golden gloves
and the Seattle golden gloves.  

1969 TACOMA GOLDEN GLOVES
The Tacoma Golden Gloves was always a good tournament
to kick-off the serious boxing period between January and May
of each year.  Often BC boxers would have a good showing
with a reasonable share of boxers in the finals.  

The year 1969 was no different.  At the end of the tournament
eight BC boxers would compete for the various titles with
four winning titles.  The four were:

Firefighters boxing club: Frank Scott and Kenny MacDonald.
Prince George - Paul DiBenedetto, North West Eagles - Earl McLeay.
Earl was training in Calgary but would compete for the 
North West Eagles in the 1969 tournament.

Four boxers would compete in the finals but would not win titles.
They would include Buzz Montour, Chester Douglas, 
Joe Cooke and Norm DesLauriers




(photo of the 1973 tournament to recognize the silver anniversary of 
the Tacoma Golden Gloves organzied by the Tacoma Athletic Commission)

The 23rd Annual  tournament in 1971.

Alumni of the Tacoma Golden Gloves.
Brian Zelley, Ray Lampkin
Wayne Boyce, Frank Scott

Many boxers over the history
of the Tacoma Golden Gloves
have been from BC clubs.

Two standout boxers that
faced each other in the 
finals of the 1967
Diamond Belt were
Dave Wylie and 
Fred Fuller.
And, in 1970
Gordie Lawson would
enter the tournament

Gordie Lawson, Alumni of the Tacoma Golden Gloves

Shawn O'Sullivan not forgotten | Local | News | The Belleville Intelligencer

Shawn O'Sullivan not forgotten | Local | News | The Belleville Intelligencer

Shawn O'Sullivan not forgotten | Local | News | The Belleville Intelligencer

Shawn O'Sullivan not forgotten | Local | News | The Belleville Intelligencer

BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL of FAME - 2013 - Blogs - Boxing Forums

BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL of FAME - 2013 - Blogs - Boxing Forums

An announcement of the number of nominees as of September 30, 2012.