Vancouver Island Boxing - A three Punch Combination with Melideo, Caird & Jones

It has been a long time coming, but Vancouver Island amateur boxing
has scored a three punch knockout in June 2009 with Nanaimo boxer
Stefan Melideo, Victoria's Capital City Boxing coach Chris Jones
and Caird one of the trainers for Olympic boxer Donnie (Boy) Orr (2000)and one time Canadian boxing champion Jason Heit (1995) and current MMA personality.

Chris Jones, a one timer member of London Boxing Club which folded in 1976
and was replaced by the Victoria Athletic Association has been coaching at
the recently formed Capital City Boxing Club was elected president of
Boxing BC (BCABA), the last and likely the first Island person on the
Executive Board of the Amateur organization was Brian Zelley of
Victoria and previously Nanaimo and Vancouver Zelley served from September 1983 to about January 1986 as Newsletter Editor.

Nanaimo's boxer Stefan Melideo was selected as tthe recipient of
the Fred Fuller Sr. Memorial award as the best amateur boxer of BC.
At least three other Island boxers have won special awards as best
junior boxers of BC - Mickey Griffin (Nanaimo), Cliff Ballendine (Victoria),
and Alan Brown.
The Nanaimo Boxing Club was formed in 1971 by Dan Wright and
Brian Zelley with assistance by John Ormandy and George Nepper
and various members of Nanaimo and other communities.

Caird my be best known for his work with Donny Orr and Jason Heit.
But, in BC Golden Gloves history, Caird is a part of the boxer and coaching alumni. He also fought some well known BC boxers such as Harold Mann,
Bill Adams and Skimp Williams. His last mqjor took place in 1964
in the Vancouver Island Championship tournament against army boxer
Rifleman Walsh. This was a year after he won a title in the 1963
Golden Gloves.

He began coaching in 1969. Some of the other coaches that he has
worked with over the years were Gordie McGaw, Brian Zelley,
Lou Bujdoso, Ian Weir and Donny Orr Sr.

In 1976, Caird, Zelley and Howard Curling received the
"Certificate of Outstanding Merit" from the British Columbia Amateur
Boxing Association for their contribution to the success of
Amateur Boxing in British Columbia.

In 2000, a special event was organized by Victoria's sporting
community to pprovide Caird an opportunity to attend the
2000 Olympic Games in Australia.

In November 2009, Caird will join others including boxer
Eddie Haddad in the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. :happy:hi:

 

Did you follow any of the Nanaimo boxers in those three years.

 

My recent communications with the president and vice president of the
>Sports Hall of Fame indicates that the induction ceremony will take place in November. An important point is aside recognizing coach Caird's achievements,
it helps to validate the sport in British Columbia.

On a National level,the Mike Caird selection completes and excellent three'punch combination with Scotty (the bulldog) Olson being inducted into the Alberta
Sports Hall of Fame and Steve Beaupre in the Sault St. Marie hall.

Between the three inductees, there is a wealth of boxing history from
1959 to 2009.

 

As more information becomes available concerning the November 2009 event
it will be posted on this thread. Also, a few stories from the past
concerning amateur boxing for Victoria will be posted -
focus will cover 1959 to 2009.

 

"SILENT DANGER" by Brian Zelley, February 19, 1975, the "Sportcaster" newspaper.

For several years boxing in Victoria has remained silent. But recently,
Victoria boxers have exploded with activity.

On Tuesday November 19, Dan O'Sullivan walked into the boxing gym
in Victoria. Three months later, O'Sullivan has emerged as an excellent prospect.

Mike Caird, head coach of the Victoria boxing program has been involved in
boxing in the Capital City since the late Fifties.

For three months O'Sullivan has trained with dedication and enthusiasm.
The first two months was a hard lesson in experience. O'Sullivan had to
spar with such seasoned veterans as Dan Wright, Wayne Crowe,
Brian Zelley and Ian Weir.

For over ten years Mike Caird boxed for Nick Lystar. Caird learned the value
of a cool head and a hot left jab. Along the way, Caird won several
golden gloves titles ....Some of the best boxers in BC crossed gloves
with Mike (Silent Danger) Caird - Harold Mann, Bill Adams, Skimp Williams,
andf Clint Page.

As a boxing coach Caird has drilled into his charges
the lessons learned...The key to winning was control through a cool head
and a sizzling left jab.

Wayne Crowe listened and learned and won a silver medal in the
1974 Canadian championships and a light-welterweight title in a
1975 BC winter tournament.

Now, O'Sullivan has won the light-welterweight Silver Gloves title
by dedication and learning from Mike (Silent Danger) Caird.

 

Yes, but I guess one of the big reasons that he didn't climb to the top
was of his limited experience.

 

"BOXING NEWS" - By Brian Zelley
The "Sportcaster" - September1, 1976

The amateur boxing program for 1976 - 1977 will begin on September 13
at 852 Mason Street under the sponsorship of the newly created
Victoria Athletic Association. Time for registration will be announced
at a later date following a meeting by the boxing officials. Mike Caird
will be the head coach.

Officials of the Athletics' boxing program will be
Caird, Brian Zelley and Lou Bujdoso as coaches
and Ian Duddy as manager. Other officials are expected
to be selected at the officials meeting.

Amateur boxing has shown a major increase over the past few years.
The English schoolboy tournament in Victoria and the Montreal Olympics
created a flood of interest. This year the boxing program is expected
to increase due to the early start and number of officials involved.:bbb

 

1981 BC Golden Gloves - In 1981, Caird's boxer GARY ROBINSON won
in the Intermediate section of the tournament, and was named best intermediate
boxer, the Golden Boy was JAIME OLLENBERGER. Two of the other names of note in
the winner's circle were KEVIN HOWARD (Astoria) and MIKE OLAJIDE (Kingsway).

 

2011 Nominations - BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME

To-date, JAMIE OLLENBERGER is one of 22 nominations. :happy

 

MICKEY GRIFFIN nominated for BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.
In the opening story, one of the names mentioned was Mickey Griffin.

At the start of the 2013 nomination and selection process for the
BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame: Mickey Griffin along wirh
Dick St. Louis, Ed Williams and Gordie Lawson are early nominees.