BURKE EMERY

The BURKE  EMERY Story:  by Brian Zelley


Introduction: 
When it comes to great Canadian boxers, Burke Emery is one of our finest,
But beyond being a Canadian champion and a member of the Canadian
Boxing Hall of Fame which has been inactive for many years,  Emery was
also a fine boxing trainer  of such boxers as Art Hafey.  In October 2012,
Burke will be recognized by the California Boxing Hall of Fame and will
join Hafey who was previously inducted.


BURKE, The Boxer
*Burke fought as a professional boxer from about 1954 to 1966 and
won the vacant Canadian light-heavyweight title in 1960
 and lost it in 1965 to Leslie Borden.


BURKE, The Trainer
*Burke Emery first started training Canadian boxer Art Hafey
in San Diego, but later moved to Los Angeles.  In a story by
G. M. Ross that appeared in "The Boxing Examiner", Hafey
spoke about Emery and said:  "Burke Emery started teaching me
what would be the most effective for my stature."  The important
teaching issue was to teach Hafey effective punching skills where
he would use leverage to become one of the hardest hitting punchers
in the featherweight division.


After the training days, Burke would move back to San Diego and 
operate "Champ's Lounge" bar.