My boxing story - zelley buzz

MY BOXING STORY - BY BRIAN W. ZELLEY

As we flash back through the decades, we all have a boxing story
that can be added as a thread on the tapestry of boxing. Most of
us never turned pro, but remained a fixture in amateur boxing.
But, along the way some of our team mates or opponents
would turn pro and attempt to climb higher and higher
under the bright lights and the roar of the crowd.

Also, along the way there may be boxers we coached,
cornered, sparred with, travelled with, or officiated
and some we may have only been the writer of a
slice of their boxing journey. Then there were those
former world champions and top contenders that we
met along the way in the gym, at a boxing card,
or some other location. For me some of the high
profile ones were ROCKY MARCIANO, JIMMY MCLARNIN,
LENNOX LEWIS and MUHAMMED ALI. But, there were
others such as the Emile Griffith opponent MANUEL GONZALEZ.
Some were just young junior boxers such as SCOTTY OLSON,
MANNY SOBRAL, and some were opponents llike RAY LAMPKIN.

We all have Golden Memories that we fail to share that
flash through the chambers of our mind from time-to-time,
but slowly they will be lost and gone forever through the
passages of time.

So what is my boxing story between 1963 and 2009.

1963: THE BEGINNING - My formal introduction and involvement
in amateur boxing came in September 1963 when I joined
the NEWCASTLE BOXING CLUB in Nanaimo, BC that
was started by the late GEORGE NEPPER with the first
two key coaches being an old time pro by the name of
HARRY POLLITT and a boxing warrior from Chemainus
by the name of SKIMP WILLIAMS. Each had their own
style, but the best of both resulted in some important
skills such as footwork, the importance of the jab,
effective body punching and infighting. But, it was
with a novice boxer by the name of MIKE LAZARE where
I learned to appreciate important defensive skills such
as blocking, slipping and ring movement.

2009: THE END of another decade.

The highlight of 2009 came on the night of November 21st.
When, as the sponsor, I climbed on the stage at the
Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner
in the "Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence" to present am inductee
with his certificate and award, then we stepped
off of the stage for a photo-op, then came the group photos
with former and current members of Greater Victoria Boxing
including such as DON ORR Sr. and JASON HEIT.:hi:

2010 - A NEW BEGINNING - On any new journey there are no
outcomes that can be predicted with precision, so the field is
wide open and what happens as we all move towards 1911
is unknown. :bbb

 

THE INTERIM - The happenings between 1963 and 2009

From the opening bell to the last days of 2009, there are thousands of stories flashing through my mind with no beginning and no end, but along the way there were some important years, important events, and a thousand plus names to sort through and
turn on the positive light to recognize and remember, but the knockout punch is
to tell the story of the many but to highlight the significant achievements of others
from the likes of 1964 Olympic boxer FRED DESROSIERS, or the Canadian Pan Am Games boxing team of 1967 or th likes of the first CABA president JERRY SHEARS
an the many builders in British Columbia Amateur Boxing history including the forgotten ones such as STANLEY F. SMITH, HOWARD CURLING and RICK BROUGH. My opponents with the likes of JIMMY MACMILLAN, WAYNE BOYCE, RAY LAMPKIN, FRANK SCOTT,
NEIL KNIGHT and many others, and the rebuilding of amateur boxing on Vancouver Island in the Seventies and Eighties with a primary focus on Nanaimo and Victoria.

 

SEATTLE 1968 an tournament to remember

The 1968 Seattle Golden Gloves was but one of many in 1968, but for
British Columbia it was an important stop on our collective boxing journey.
Of interest, of the 19,five were current or former Canadian Champions
- Billy Taylor, Earl McLeay, Frank Scott, Freddy Fuller, Wayne Boyce.
Also, Dick Findlay would be a member of the 1968 Olympic boxing team.

In addition to Golden Gloves, BC boxers would also engage in Seattle
based club shows such as one in 1968 that featured an all star line-up.

And who could forget those Seattle based boxers like
FRASER SCOTT, ANDY ANDERSON, GARY FERRARI & NEIL KNIGHT.

 

Those personal stories - likely we could tell many, like a bunch of us left Vancouver on a Thursday in preparation for the 1968 Oregon Golden Gloves.
And then took in a movie to kill time on the eve of the first night of action.

 

Congratulations to all the boxers that participated in the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in Delhi. It was good to follow-up some of the stories and achievements be it the
Canadian boxers or the English, or the other Nations. It was great to have a chance to communicate with some of the warriors from different locations from England and Canada.

 

The Journey - BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME

There has been discussions, but no real action for years, but in 2010
recognizing past boxers, coaches and officials became a reality with
the formation of:

THE BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME

THE CORE GROUP OF INDUCTEES

chris ius, dale walters, dave brown dick findlay,
eddie haddad, elio ius, fred desrosiers, fred fuller,
freddy fuller,frank scott, harold mann, jimmy walters,
manny sobral, pat o'reilly, rick brough

THE NEXT ROUND - 2011

With 2010 taking us from the idea stage to the realization point,
the next step in the process will be to form the 2011 team of
adminstrators/directors with a combination of the original six
and some fresh new faces to the team. Also, for stability,
authenticity and recognition there will be some honorary directors
added to the organization, These are what we could consider the
VIP's - they will not serve as decision makers but are there to
serve as a voice for all inductees, provide help and advance the
growth, acceptance and interest in the BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.

Let's hope it will be a positive and long journey, with the year 2011
being a test of our individual and group desire and determination.

 

BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING NEWS

In September 1983, I was elected by memers of the BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR
BOXING ASSOCIATION to the Board of Directors and would serve as the news
editor of theBritish Columbia Amateur Boxing News.

The format of the publication would be based on the Vancouver Island Amateur
Boxing News except that instead of a focus on Vancouver Island Boxing from
1954 to 1983 in would focus on Provincial activity including their participation
in National or International activity. Of interest, the first year would also include
activity leading up to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics that resulted in three
boxing medals for Canadian boxers including BC boxer DALE WALTERS.
Another interesting sliceof history, part of the stories told would also
include a boxer by the name of LENNOX LEWIS. Who would of guessed,
he would advance to win a gold medal in 1988 and a pro title
in the heavyweight division. Along the way, other boxers of interest
would be mentioned in the news such as SCOTTY OLSON and MANNY SOBRAL.

But, nothing lasts forever, by January 1986, it was time to say goodbye.
But, even after the last farewell, there are always things or events that
draw you back onto the merry-go-round of boxing. For me that would be 1989,
when I was selected to serve on the boxing committee
that would prepare for the 1994 Commonwealth Games
boxing competition in Victoria, BC. During 1991, I would also serve
as the boxing chairman for the committee. One of our important
objectives was to help in the revival of amateur boxing in Victoria.

 

VANCOUVER ISLAND AMATEUR BOXING NEWS

A short term project in 1983, as part of the building process
of the sport that would reach a high point in 1984 with the
Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing Championships which would
be a revival from the 1964 Island Championships that took place in Victoria
and was hosted by the London Boxing Club. The 1984 tournament was
hosted by the Parksville - Qualicum Boxing Club and held in Parksville.

 

:bbbBC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS, May 1984, editor brian zelley

The first issue to be distributed to various boxers, coaches and
officials across Canada as it was distributed at the site of the
1984 Canadian Junior Nationals and seniors box-off for the final selection
for the Canadian boxing team that would compete in Los Angeles.
One of the boxers that would win then be one of three Canadian boxers to
win a medal was SHAWN O'SULLIVAN, boxers like LENNOX LEWIS
and DALE WALTERS had already qualified for trhe team.

In the May issue, the number one news story was the 1984
BC Junior Golden Gloves. The Jr. Golden Boy was TONY DUFFY
and the runner-up was MANNY SOBRAL.

FLASHBACKS - 1970 to 1974

As part of the objective of remembering the history of BC Amateur
Boxing, the Flashbacks section included a three page spread that
included a list of the names of 111 boxers that competed in the ring
between 1970 and 1974. Some of the top names would include;
dale anderson, joe cooke, freddy fuller, les hamilton, derrick hoyt,
chris ius, davis ius, gordie lawson, ken macdonald, sid mcknight,
laurie mann, jack meda, jamie ollenberger, darryl olsen, don orr,
frankie scott, jack snaith, dale walters, and dave wylie. :bbb


Part of the Seventies flashbacks also had a piece about the revival
of the Buckskintournament due in part to two formwer boxers
ED WILLIAMS and ROGER ADOLPH. :happy

 

BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME

ADMINISTRATORS for 2011

Scott Galloway, Jessie Kaellis, Steven Kodiak, Ray Beaulieu,
Gregg M. Ross, Steve Wood and Brian Zelley :hatamenld

HONORARY DIRECTORS

iRENE BROUGH - DICK FINDLAY - FREDDY FULLER
DAVID IUS - BLAKE SCOTT. :good

2010 INDUCTEES - CORE GROUP
Chris Ius, Dale Walters, Dave Brown, Dick Findlay, Eddie HaddAD,
Elio Ius, Frank Scott, Fred Desrosiers, Fred Fuller, Freddy Fuller, Harold Mann,
Jimmy Walters, Manny Sobral, Pat O'Reilly, Rick Brough. :happy

 

24 nominees for 2011

there have been 24 nominations for 2011 BCABHOF. How many of the 24
will join the 15 from 2010 is unknown but it is fair to say that even those
that do not get selected have been recognized. It is somewhat like 2010
when some obvious ones somehow did not get picked. Some of those
have been nominated for 2011 such as TOMMY PAONESSA.

to-date, one of the most popular nominations include a coach from
the 2 RIVERS BOXING CLUB in Quesnel, BC named WALLY DOERN

 

july 1, 2011 - Selection process begins

September 1, 2011 - Selection complete with ten selected

TWO ADDITIONAL HONORARY DIRECTORS
Alan Brown and John Paonessa

 

THE PROCESS Various stages and at the end ten were selected

In the junior/youth boxing category is was Alan Brown

For tournaments it was the
1967 International Centennial Diamond Belt Championships

For boxing clubs it was:
Campbell River Eagles Boxing Club.

For a Family selection it was the Boyce family

For Pioneer category: Tom Paonessa

Boxers included Jamie Ollenberger and Lindy Lindmoser

 

http://zelleyonboxing.blogspot.com/

Index of Boxing Stories:
SEPTEMBER 2011
.The Brian Zelley Boxing Story

.various links
.Canadian Boxing, Faces On The Wall
.Other stories

August 2011
.various stories including
The Mike Kennedy Boxing Story

July 2011, six stories inluding
Tragic Boxing Stories

June to March 2011, eleven stories including:
The Gordie Lawson Boxing Story,
Finding The Golden Key
SouthHill/Firefighters Boxing club story

January and February 2011 - 14 stories such as:
.Campbell River Eagles Boxing Story
.Boyce family of Boxing,
.The Alan Brown Boxing Story,
.TOMMY PAONESSA, boxing pioneer,
.The Alex Torres Rynn Boxing Story,
.The Kenney Lally Boxing Story,
.BC Boxing Officials - yesteray and today,
.Boxing BC 2010 Round-up

2010 51 stories or links
.Jean Pascal Takes On Father Time,
.The Bob Pegues story,
.Canadian Boxers Invade Quebec,
.June 6, 1976, A Tournament to Remember,
.2010 Commonwealth Games Boxing,
.Dynamite Dan Is Back, 1976,
.Pacific Northwest Boxing.

2009 - Four Stories
.BC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS,
The Road To The 1994 Commonwealth Games,
.Brian Zelley, amateur boxing.