CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING 1990 to 2009

ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE 1990 to 2009:  by Brian Zelley


Introduction:
Twenty years of promise, twenty years with a variety of results and
happenings.  With success in the bag at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics,
there would be time for the Canadian amateur champions to make
the Nineties another decade of excellence.  Then came the year 2000
and interesting times at the Olympic Games for some.  But, the
most recent Olympics in 2008 turned out to be a bust for Canada.
So 2001 to 2009 would be building years as our boxers approach
the possibility of action in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London,
England.


FROM LIGHT FLYWEIGHT to SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT
*During the period 1990 to 2009, there would be a lot of 
standouts from:
light-flyweight champion Domenic Filane Figliomeni to 
super heavyweight Vernon Linklater
But there would be other standouts in the various
divisions including three time Olympic boxer
Michael Strange and Olympic medalists 
Mark Leduc, David Defiagbon, Chris Johnson.


*There would also be some standout women boxers
such as: Danielle Bouchard, Crystelle Samson, 
Mary Spencer, and Ariane Fortin.  Some other names of
interest are Katie Dunn, Mandy Bujold and Susan Haas.


Sports Halls of Fame:
*Some of the boxers from 1990 to 2009 have been inducted
into various sport halls of fame such as Casey Patton who 
was inducted into Ontario's London Sports Hall of Fame
in 2008.  Casey was a gold medalist in the Victoria based
1994 Commonwealth Games, and competed in the 
summer Olympic Games, and was a multi-term 
Canadian champion.


In Prince George, Allan Bayne was inducted into the
Prince George Sports Hall of Fame which includes 
starts of the past such as Harold Mann, Sid McKnight
and Jack Meda.  Allan was one of the members of 
Canada's 1994 Commonwealth Games boxing team.

Some of the boxers and coaches at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
including boxers Mike Strange, Dale Brown, Domenic Filane Figliomeni.
and Allan Bayne (front).


Commonwealth Games and the Medal Count:
*Between 1990 and 2006, Canadian boxers have
won a large number of Commonwealth Games 
medals:
Domenic Filane Figliomeni, Sebastien Gauthier, Geronimo Bie,
Andrew Kooner, Casey Patton, Benoit Gaudet, Marty O'Donnell,
Mike Strange, Greg Johnson, Wald Fleming, Jeremy Molitor,
Ray Downey, Scott MacIntosh, Jean Pascal, Chris Johnson,
Rowan Donaldson, Trevor Stewardson, Michael Walchuck,
Adonis Stevenson, Dale Brown, Troy Amos, Patrick Jordan,
Steve Gallinger, Mark Simmons, Jason Douglas, 
Vernon Linklater and David Cadieux. 


AWARDS: 
 BOXING CANADA and PROVINCIAL  ASSOCIATIONS


The Ron Whalley Award:

*Ron Whalley was a long term official
from British Columbia who passed away
several years ago.  In recognition of his
long service, Boxing Canada introduced
the "Ron Whalley Award" with the first
presentation in 2007. Recipients are:
2007 -  BILL ARSENAULT
2008 -  JAMES GALLA
2009 -  SONNY WONG
2010 -  ALISON ARSENAULT 




PROVINCIAL BOXING 1990 to 2009
Although much of the focus by Boxing Canada is to deal
with International and National events, so even as far back
as the Eighties, BOXING CANADA has not documented 
much of the history in the Provinces.  Some of the 
Provincial organizations and clubs have kept some details
but often difficult to find complete stories in detail on the
every day moments in Provincial or regional boxing.


== BRITISH COLUMBIA ==
*The major event hosted in British Columbia between
1990 and 2009 was the 1994 Commonwealth Games.
The boxing committee was formed in 1989 which included
Glynn Jones, Mike Sartori, Brian Zelley and Hassan Sunderani.
In 1990, the committee organized a number of public meetings
to build a volunteer base.  Some of those that would help 
included Bert Wilkinson, Tommy Black and Bert Lowes.


*A key tournament on an annual basis since 1939 in the
annual BC Golden Gloves which are hosted in various
locations.  The 2009 Golden Boy was Dylan Bishop. 
President of Boxing BC in 2009 was Chris Jones.
Over the years some of the outstanding boxers have been
Geronimo Bie, Allan Bayne, Jason Heit, Donnie Orr, 
Marcus Hume, Stefan Melideo, Jag Seehra, and Ken Lally.
Some of the coaches with a long term of service are:
George Angelomatis, Wayne Sponagle, Bob Pegues, 
Mike Caird, Barry Creswell, Don Orr,  Dale Gatin,
Al Harper, Dave Habib, Terry Cooke, and Scotty Jackson.
Some of the junior and youth boxers that are part of the post 2009
period include Mission City boxers Jess an Cody Brown
and their coaches Dale Gatin and Matt Brown.


== ALBERTA ==
http://www.boxingalberta.com/
A few of the names that make things happen at a
Provincial level include Dennis Belair, Sylvio Fex, Rosemary Page
Robert Carswell, Ginnie Brown, Roland Labbe, an Kerry Fahlman. 
Alberta also have many fine coaches and trainers at the club level 

who have coached or trained some of out National champions and
silver medalists. A few of the many include: Doug Bolianatz,
Kevin McDermott, Sheldon Hinton, and Stuart McCrandle.


== BOXING  SASKATCHEWAN ==
http://www.boxingsask.com/
One of the important annual events for Boxing Saskatchewan is:
the annual "Ken Goff Memorial Boxing Classic".
Some well established names associated with Boxing Saskatchewan
include: Fitzroy Solomon  Frank Fiacco, George Goff, Joe Stack,
Morgan Williams, Moses Alli,  and Ron Racette.  One of the   
standout boxers of the past is Wesley Sunshine.


==  BOXING MANITOBA ==
http://boxingmanitoba.com/
The big event for Manitoba from 1990 to 2009 was tge
hosting of the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg
with some medal results for the Canadian team
which included Scott MacIntosh and Mark Simmons as
two of the six medal winners.


Some long tern names associated with Boxing Manitoba
include Kent Brown, Ken Johnson, Mark Collins and 
Claude Plante.  Some of the boxing clubs are: 



Brandon
Alliance
Eastman
GoJo
Pan Am
United










==  BOXING ONTARIO and QUEBEC  ==
A major contribution to Canadian boxing during the
Nineties has been the two larger provinces with many
excellent boxers, coaches and officials.


== THE MARITIMES ==
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland
have all contributed to the success of amateur boxing from 1990 to 2009


Kenny Lally - 2007 Games
THE CANADIAN WINTER GAMES 
*Boxers from across Canada
have competed in the Winter Games.
And due to circumstances,
the 2010 Games may be the last 
tournament as boxing is not expected
to be in the 2014 Games
that will be held in Prince George.


For boxers Brody Blair and Kenny Lally, the 2007 Canada Games
was a stepping stone to National boxing excellence.  Both Brody
from Nova Scotia and Kenny from British Columbia are two
of Canada's hopes to make the 2012 London Olympics.


The Canada Winter Games would play a role in the Nineties with
some of the boxers and coaches using the Games to climb
higher and gain more experience.  Back in 1991 and 1995, some
names of interest include:
Steve Lowry, Brian Bain, Jason Towne, Joe Boulanger,
Wald Fleming, Casey Patton,  Steven Gallinger, Bryon Mackie,
Bryan Gibson, Anthony Lessard, Mike Sound, Doug Bolianatz,
Kelly Cody, Adam Trupish,  Andrew Kooner and many more.


1999 Canada Games:
*The BC Team members would include coaches  Dave Habib and
 Arnold McEwan, and boxers Bill Agar, Steven Featherstone,
James Walker, Jon Moore, Austin Hill  and Dustin Carlson.


*Some of the Alberta names include Doug Bolianatz  and Larry Fleming
along with Arash Usmanee, Troy Perry, Andy Kuiper, and Alan Stewart.


*For Saskatchewan, the Fiacco name played a major role including
Frank Fiacco and Chris Fiacco.  Some of the names from Manitoba
include: Brandt Butt, Jerome Peters, Ryan Savege and others.


*For the other Provinces some of the well known folks include:
Colin Fish, Robert and Steven Wilcox, Josh Canty, Kevin Greely 
and Wayne Hollett.