BOXING BC HALL OF FAME by Brian Zelley

THE BEGINNING                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    BOXING BC HALL OF FAME has been approved in December 2021

By Brian Zelley                                                                                                 In 1984, I suggested  that Boxing BC start a Boxing Hall Of Fame in the BC Amateur Boxing News.  But it was overlooked for many years, so in 2010 six ex-boxers established the BC Amateur Boxing Hall Of Fame that selected 15 Boxers & Builders and now in January 2022 year 13 there will be at least ten more Inductees for the BCABHOF.                                                                                                                                         However in mid 2021 a poll was taken to encourage Boxing BC to consider starting a Boxing BC Hall of Fame.  Close to the end of 2021  it was confirmed by MEHRAN that the Hall was approved. They are now in the process of selecting names.  IN a poll, 29 folks supported a BOXING BC HALL OF FAME: Brian and Dorothy Zelley, Eric Brighton, David Dunbar, Lou Bujdoso Jr., Raul Duke, Rose Caetona, Al Cool, Arnold McEwen,    Wayne John Welsh, Troy James Taylor, Kevin Lyons, Graham McIntosh, Mickey Sims, Del Deagau, Dean Bruckshaw,   Robert Seckler Jr., Peter Holt, Sandra Turner, Bill Dorsey, Rita Nepper, Jordan Kodiak, Joseph Pendry, Scotty Olson, and Chris Kentebe.

Boxing BC's 25 potential inductees:                                                                                                                  Tommy Paonessa,  Elio Ius, Eddie Haddad, Bert Lowes, Harold Mann,   Manny Sobral,                        Lind y Lindmoser,   Marg O'Reilly,  Bert Wilkinson, Billy Townsend, Brian Zelley,   Dale Walters, Derrick Hoyt, Dick Findlay,  Frank Gigliotti,  Fredd Fuller, Freddy Fuller,  George Angelomatis,        Geronimo Bie,   Jimmy Walters, Linda Adams Gigliotti,  Michael Olajardie ,  John O'Shea,             Ron Whalley,  and Kevin Howard.                                                                                                 

             

JIMMY WALTERS & BARNEY ROSS

EDDIE HADDAD

One of our Canadian amateur & Professional boxers SCOTTY OLSON approves the idea of a BOXING BC HALL OF FAME. Scotty is a Hall of Famer in several halls of fame and an honorary Inductee of the current BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME.

The Boxing BC Hall of Fame committee is working towards selecting names, but it may be not announced until early February. The inductees will be public as soon as possible.                                          

                                                                   LINDY LINDMOSET

                                                              

                                                                            

The DANNY MCGARVIE Boxing Story: by Brian Zelley

 DAN MCGARVIE is a former amateur boxer that trained at the NORTH WEST EAGLES  in the Seventies, but is now involved in professional boxing as a manager and promoter.  June 5, 2016, McGarvie and Dale Walters were interviewed on Radio concerning the death of MUHAMMAD ALI.

In 2010, Danny was one of six founders of the B C Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame, The others were RAY BEAULIEU, SCOTT GALLOWAY, STEVEN KODIAK, STEVE WOOD & BRIAN ZELLEY. Year one, 15 persons were inducted Builders: Dave Brown, Elio Ius, Fred Fuller, Pat O'Reilly and Rick Brough. Ten boxers included: Dale Walters, Chris Ius, Dick Findlay, Eddie Haddad, Frank Scott, Fred Desrosiers, Freddy Fuller,  Harold Mann, Jimmy Walters, & Manny Sobral.

BC BOXING Names and faces by Brian Zelley

 

As I look back over the years from 1963 there have been many Club mates, competitors, coaches, officials, team mates and other boxing folks involved in club shows and tournaments.                                                                                                    It all begins in September 1963 at .the Nanaimo's Newcastle boxing club and in January 1964, club members took part in a club show hosted by the HARRY MORRIS London Boxing Club in Victoria. Mamaimo coaches were GEORGE NEPPER, HARRY POLLITT and SKIMP WILLIAMS.                                                                                       Some of our first year boxers were Brian Zelley, Nepper brothers, Chris Balatti, Leo Rock and Mike Lazare. As the years passed by there would be many other boxers such as KEN STANT, TED BALATTI and MURRAY GLOVER, but there were other clubmates such as AL RANGER, Al WINDECKER                                                                                                                       

*In 1964, the highlight was the 1964 Vancouver Island Boxing Championships. Four of us from Nanaimo competed: {see photo} with Brian Zelley, Roger Nepper, Leo Rock and Giles Nepper.  The two of us were champions Brian and Giles. There were various other boxers including Tommy Black. Fred Desrosiers. Mike Caird

 

 and Rifleman Walsh.

Mid Sixties: 

George Nepper, Terry Lewis, Bob Lewis Brian Zelley and Al Windecker.  

Two great boxers that I fought  in 1966 were Jimmy McMillan and Del Deugau.  Also fought club mate KEN STANT.

                                                      In 1967 two important tournaments  took place The 1967 Centennial Golden Gloves and the 1967 Centennial Diamond Belt Championships.  In September 1967, I joined the Vancouver Firefighters and fought Fifteen bouts over a six month period, the top four were Ray Lampkin, Frankie Scott, Neil Knight, and Wayne Boyce.

 

HAROLD HANDLEN, 2022 BCABHOF Nominee

A Nominee for 2022 H. HANDLEN; by Brian Zelley.

Harold Handlen is a former boxer of Prince George  but also fought in Victory BC. Scored many wins by knockout. His original trainer was Inductee HAROLD MANN.  In his bout in Victoria in the Sixties Harold scored a one punch knockout over Derrick Austin from Langley. 

PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS & BOXING CLUBS: by Brian Zelley

 Recently added four group sites to Facebook:   ALBERTA BOXING HISTORY, SASKATCHEWAN BOXING HISTORY, MANITOBA BOXING HISTORY  & ONTARIO BOXING HISTORY .                                 

Some of the names of the 60 include boxers from the four provinces such as: Al Ford, Al Sparks,  Asif Dar, Billy Irwin, Billy McGrandle, Donny Poole, George Chuvalo, to Willie DeWitt.

 

                        

BOXING BC to consider a hall of fame:by Brian Zelley "Wishes, Hopes & Dreams"

 It is a great moment that BOXING BC is expected to vote on the possibility of a BOXING BC HALL OF FAME  and also a HISTORY section. MEHRAN is looking into the possibilities.  If the membership approve such a plan.  The idea for a BCABA  aka BOXING BC  was first suggested  in the September 1984 issue of the "BC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS" on page  8. by news editor < Brian W. Zelley

The heading of the article was "WISHES, HOPES,  & DREAMS". The piece ended with a quote: "WHO DARES, WINS".                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         In 2010, six of us agreed to start a "BC Amateur Boxing Hall Of Fame ' The six became year one administrators: Brian Zelley, Dan "Mac" Mcgarvie, Ray Beaulieu, Scott Galloway, Steven Kodiak & Steve Wood.                                                                                                        

Women In The CABWOF or BCABHOF: by Brian Zelley