AMATEUR BOXING reporting in Canada

THE STORIES AND THE MEDIA; by brian zelley

*Coverage of amateur boxing in Canada has a mixed  success rate form the

type of media to the events and personalities covered. 

Canadian Boxiana which claims to be the top site for reporting Canadian boxing

has had some recent stories about amateur boxers including"

.An article titled "Rapid Fire with Ryan Rozicki", a novice boxer from 

Sydney, Nova Scotia, and

.a story of Ontario's Cabbagetown youth boxer A. Biyanslanov.

The British Columbia Boxing beat and the buzz:

One of the publications that has produced some good stories 

is the Vernon Morning Star  with some of the examples being:

*March 16, 2011: "Counter Punch card delivers thrills at rec centre"
In the main event, boxer Derrick Larson faced
Jag Seehra of Prince George.  And the top official was the  
long time ring official Ian Gibson. 

*March 14, 2012: "Boxing card showcases talent"
Included discussion of a 14 bout card with Tony Stamboulieh.
One of the bouts was an exhibition between Prince George
boxer Thomas Speirs and Vernon's Kyle Ayotte.

*April 15, 2012:  "Boxers swinging for golden glory"
pre-Golden Gloves story with a photo of two Vernon boxers
in training, Tyson Veitch and Derrick Larson. 

A solid publication for amateur boxing stories is
the Prince George Citizen. One of the recent stories in 2012
by Sheri Lamb was July 10, 2012 with the title:
"Bayne receives sweet honour" about Allan Bayne's selection to 
the British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.  Also, mentioned
were inductees Mandy Lapointe and Laurie Mann, and the
Prince George club: Spruce Capital Warriors Boxing Club.
Also mentioned was one of the administrators Brian Zelley.
and Boyd Bayne.

(photo courtesy of Allan and
Boyd Bayne of Allan back in
the days of his ring activity,)

During his active boxing years
in the eighties and nineties,
Allan would record many
titles and award.  He is 
one of the rare few to win
to BC Golden Boy awards in Golden Gloves action
joining the likes of Dick Findlay and Jamie Ollenberger.

One very good quote by Allan Bayne to Lamb was a follows:
"There's a lot of great boxers that are inducted already and to be
 in company with them is phenomenal!"

There have been many other excellent boxing stories in the
various local newspapers over the years reporting on club shows,
tournaments and National or International events.

June 27, 2012 from the pages of the Nanaimo News Bulletin.
*In an article by Greg Sasaki with spokesperson for the 
Nanaimo Boxing Club being Barry Creswell, the article
was titled: "Boxers Shine At Silver Gloves" and profiled
Justis McKay-Topley, Alex Wisniewski and Thomas Eytcheson.

May 30, 2012 from the pages of "The Free Press" by
Adam R. MacDonald: 
"Fernie Hosts BC Bronze Glove"
* chief organizer was Garth Rizzuto of the
Fernie Old School Boxing Club.

November 29, 2011 - "Revelstoke Times Review"
article by Aaron Orlando titled:
"B. C. Provincial Boxing Championship thrill in Revelstoke"
*The article included an action photo of Connor Null and
Vancouver boxer Marcus Sandhu.
*Host spokesperson was Revelstokes'  Sam LEROSE.
and some of the champions were:
Sandhu, Spencer Howard, Robbie Cusine, Thomas Speirs
and Jag Seehra.

The Club Promotion: The Art of Public Awareness:

* An important part of the public acceptance and awareness

is promoting the club, joint club events and individuals

Back in the day one of the regions

of British Columbia would host

annual Golden Gloves shows

including the first regular one in '54.

The Golden Boy of this first

tournament would be boxer

Bert Wilkinson who would

be an Island Commissioner 

ten years later when the

Island clubs would hold 

their first Island 

Boxing Championships.

That would be a one year

show in 1964 and would

return again in 1984 with another Island Championships.

Then came a boost in the 

annual Golden Gloves

tournament when the 2007

tournament was promoted

like the big events of the

Sixties.

One of the all time best

boxing tournaments in British Colubia

was the 1967 event that  had the

appearance of undefeated champion

ROCKY MARCIANO as a guest speaker

and a guest referee.

This tournament would be the first

event inducted into the 

BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame

and would set an example that

has yet to be matched ub viyram

drama and quality of production

and promotion.

A Joint Promotion in Kelowna:

It would be a well publicized 

event in Kelowna with the 

combined effort of membwea

od rhw Thistletown and the

Kelowna boxing clubs  hosting

SIN Tournament and a 

Canada Winter Games BC team

box-off.

Mission City Boxing Club

combine the here and now

with a page from the past

in it's own coverage of the

60th anniversary of the 

Emerald Gloves  that has a

rich history in British Columbia

for producing quality champions

and exciting and entertaining

action a a few pages of amateur

boxing history  in the halls and 

on the walls  from gym to 

fight night sites.

And At The End of one Show or Tournament it is getting ready for the

next big moment be it a club show, a regional tournament, a provincial

tournament or the National stage, and the bottom line it all gets down

to acceptance, achievement, participation and experience such as

the next boxing card to be staged by the 2 Rivers Boxing Club

set of December 15 th. at the Bouchie Lake Hall in Quesnel.