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Remembering Alan Curtis

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The 1960 Golden Boy: by Brian Zelley It has been four years since boxer Alan Curtis was honoured at the 2010BC Golden Gloves. Prior to that tournament, I was in-touch with coach and Boxing BC president Chris Jones to discuss recognizing Alan Curtis for his golden anniversary  of winning the golden boy award in 1960. As part of the celebration, we would also recognize Tommy Black . Tommy was another  champion in 1960. The following is a part of a special presentation that I prepared for Alan in April 2010: "Island boxer is '60's Golden Boy"  -   and that man is Alan Curtis." * Middleweight Curtis from Esquimalt engaged in a "toe-to-toe slugfest" with Harry Hinz   in the finals to gain the deision, the title and the Golden Boy award.  Will the "Golden Boy" be there to remember his achievement with some of the other Golden Gloves alumni at the Eagle Ridge Community Centre and to  welcome the new breed in action on Apri

PIONEERS, THE golden AGE

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T HE GOLDEN A GE OF BC OOXING http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urVYbt3791U *the above is a video of the Golden Age of Amateur Boxing in British Columbia with the opening scene past members of the South Hill, Firefighters Boxing clubs of which BERT LOWES and PAT WEST were coaches.  Also, Lindy Lindmoser as a boxer of South Hill and a coach with the Vancouver Firefighters Boxing Club. Also, a photo with Alan Brown, pioneer Vic Murdoch and Brian Zelley taken at the 1984 Canadian Olympic boxing team training site at the BCABA training centre in Burnaby. There are also shots of Mike Lazare, Stan Smith and Jimmy Walters. A 1954 Vancouver Island golden GLOVES photo which includes BERT WILKINSON, the 1954 Golden Boy/ There is also a Freddy Fuller vs Dave Wylie photo from 1967 and a Mike Caird photo from 1963/                                                       Mike Lazare

BOXING CLUBS of the Pioneer Age

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BOXING CLUB in the age of the Pioneers: by Brian Zelley Over the years, I have tried to speak about   many of the boxing clubs in British Columbia, Some of the data was from my own experience and much was gathered from other builders of amateur boxing in British Columbia.  Some has been reported in various publications, and some of the material is from material that has  gathered during my term as a director with the British Columbia Amateur  Boxing Association and the help of folks like Bert Lowes, Howard Curling, Marg O'Reilly, Larry Krangle and our first CABA president Jerry Shears. The Story of the boxing clubs: Some of the information in this piece was gathered during my term as the editor of the "BC Amateur Boxing News in the '80's * With so many boxing clubs where does one start?  One of the many clubs that started long before 1965 or 1971 or today was called the East Vancouver Optimists Boxing Club which  had an interesting history at a

BC Golden Boys, 1939 to 1964

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THE GOLDEN BOYS, BC Golden Gloves (1939 to 1964 THE FIRST 25 GOLDEN BOYS - by Brian W. Zelley From it's inception in 1939, an important part of the tournament of the Golden Gloves was the selection of the Golden Boy who is deemed to be one of the best in the show. * the first Golden Boy in the 1939 "Sun Golden Gloves" of British Columbia was Phil Vickery   and the one selected in 1964 was Brian Bremner.  And, between those two would be twenty three other.  (photo:  Jack Straza -  1959) The first 25 Golden Boys: Phil Vickery     **   Terry Doyle  **   Bob Hickey Jack Hamilton    *   Harry Smith    *  Chester Orr Norm Delaire     *   Eddie Haddad *  Sammy May Don Codville      *   Barnie Grace   *  Tommy Palmer Jack Butula        *   Dave Codville  *  Billy Stone Trent Ketcheson *  Don Gehring    *  Mickey Mazur Harold Mann      *   Jack Straza      *  Alan Curtis ******   Bill (Curly) Adams  *  Buddy Palmer ****** ******    Kalman Santosi      

Boxing Pioneers of BC, an introduction

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The Introduction of the Pioneers: by brian zelley "Our present status in amateur boxing is a large part due to the efforts and energy of those in the past.  Although it is important for the current members of amateur boxing to have a forward looking attitude to ensure growth and improvements, it is important to remember the past deeds of our active and retired members." - Brian Zelley, November 1983.  Introduction : This blog will focus on the history of amateur boxing in British Columbia to the pioneers that competed during and before 1964 and includes the boxers and the builders. A starting point will be based on a story that I did for the January 1986 of the BC Amateur Boxing News titled: 1946 Sun Golden Gloves. FLASHBACKS:  1946 SUN GOLDEN: by Brian Zelley, editor * January 1986 "BC Amateur Boxing News" with assistants from the British Columbia Amateur Boxing first VP, Sid Knopp. "The History:" "In 1939, the executive of