Our Stories of the Golden Gloves - Bright lights and the Roar of the cowd: Throughout the history of boxing in Canada and the United States the real story of our boxing experience must begin and end with the Golden Gloves from Chicago in 1926, or Vancouver from 1939. Throughout the history of professional boxing, the Golden Gloves have been an important stepping stone for ring glory and fame for some of the greats like Muhammed Ali, Ray Robinson, Barney Ross and Emile Griffith. For excellent contenders like Ray Lampkin and many more, they are the Alumni of the Golden Gloves experience. As we look back at our own boxing journey, some of us participated as competitirs and/or officials and coaches and belong to that NORTH AMERICAN ALUMNI of GOLDEN GLOVERS. In the Pacific Northwest there is a generous slice of history in places like Portland, Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver. But, for some they may include the likes of the Vancouver Island Golden Gloves in the Fifties or Nanaimo's "Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves of 1978 or 1985. Looking through the pages of the history of the B C Golden Gloves, it is a journey of hope, glory and pain. It is a journey of bright lights, roaring crowds, dressing room dramas, and the long trip home. There are a thousand different untold stories scattered throughout the decades of sizzling jabs, one punch knockouts, upsets and Golden Boys. Sadly, it is tragic but many of the stories since 1939 will never be told. WW II, caused a setback primarily from 1943 to 1945 but there were enough young newcomers to keep the tournament rolling along until 1946 when some returming veterans laced-up the gloves to face a younger group. Some of the 1946 alumni include names such as Vic Murdoch, Bus Lindsay, Jack Hamilton, Terry Doyle, and the Golden Boy Norm Delaire. Fast forward to 1966, and who could forget the "blond bomber" from Prince George, Harold Handlin. In follow-up tournaments the hard hitting Wes Craven of Seattle, or the "portland panther, Ray Lampkin with slick moves and a heavy punch, or the Cooke brothers Joe and Lou, and Nanaimo's own Tony James, Or blasting into the Eighties with names like Walters, Pendry, Redford and Tom Coady.
As we look through the pages of boxing history, there are a thousand untold stories of Golden Gloves competitors, of sizzling jabs and the long walk home. Some early members of our Golden Gloves fraternity in B C would include Vic Murdoch, Jackie Turner, Jimmy Crook, Stan and Frank Almond, Freddy Steele and Tommy Symes.
For the boxers that will be entering the 2009 B C Golden Gloves for the first time in May, welcome to the Golden Gloves Alumni of British Columbia, Canada!
It is now 2011 and some new names have been added in 2009 and 2010. The 2010 Golden Boy was DYLAN BISHOP. The location for the 2011 Gloves in April has not been posted by BOXING BC.
MINI-REUNION - GORDIE LAWSON Of interest, after 31 years, I recently received a visit from former 1968 Firefighters Boxing Club team mate Gordie Lawson. Gordie's first tournament was the 1968 BC Silver Gloves and his last amateur tournament was the 1980 BC GOLDEN GLOVES. Gordie then turned pro and fought from 1980 to 1983.
1967 and 1968 BC GOLDEN GLOVES of interest the same two boxers earned the top two awards. 1967: Golden Boy was Dick Findlay while Ray Lampkin was golden boy runner-up. 1968: Golden Boy was Ray Lampkin while Dick Findlay was golden boy runner-up. Findlay was also the Golden Boy of 1966.
2013 CANADIAN GOLDEN GLOVES: by Brian Zelley The coming first ever Canadian Golden Gloves as a side story with the title "Dreams Never Die". It was 67 years ago when the idea of a Canadian Golden Gloves was published in the "1946 Sun Golden Gloves" held in Vancouver, BC. The 2013 Canadian Golden Gloves tournament will be held in Cornwall, Ontario starting July 16 at the Nav Centre.
