BOXING CLUBS of the Pioneer Age
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 few different
locations with a number of different builders.
East Vancouver Optimists Boxing Club
* It started when the Optimist club of East Vancouver and the Optimist
club of downtown Vancouver jointly sponsored a boxing club under the
direction of Larry Krangle and John Wylie. Training for the members
would take place at Lord Selkirk school.
In 1958, the East Vancouver Optimists would form their own club
at the Gibbs Boy's Club. Don Cowan was manager while John Wylie
was the head coach. Some initial boxers were John Cowan, Dave Wylie,
Mike Jackson Kevin Jackson and Mike Bogan. Later the club moved
to the Fraserview Boy's Club under the direction of John Ballam and
Jim Wilson. Some new faces were Freddy Fuller and Colin Coleridge.
One of the coaches would be Fred Fuller. When Don Cowan became
president of the BC Amateur Boxing Association, Stanley Smith
became the club manager. Later, Earl Thompson would become
coach.
Freddy Fuller on the stool with coaches
Fred Fuller and Larry Harris (photo
provided by Freddy Fuller, with thanks.
Newcastle Boxing Club
The club started at the close of the pioneer period in September 1963
by George Nepper. Key coaches in year one:
Harry Pollitt and Skimp Williams. There would be other folks involved
in coaching over the years. The club and George Nepper would play
a part of the beginning of the Nanaimo Boxing Club formed by
former Newcastle boxing club's Brian Zelley and Firefighter's
Dan Wright with help from John Ormandy in August 1971.
Hastings Community Centre Boxing Club:
* In an issue of the "BC Amateur Boxing News"
BCABA directors Marg O'Reilly and Brian Zelley worked to
outline the history of the club which appeared in the "News".
The head coach of the club for many years was Pat O'Reilly.
North West Eagles Boxing Club:
* The club was started by Tommy Paonessa at No. 5
Lonsdale in North Vancouver. With the help of Elio Ius,
one of the early major achievements was the revival of
the Bronze Gloves tournament for novice junior boxers.
In 1961, there were 42 entries, and by 1969 the numbers
were 78. Until it ceased operation in the Seventies, a number
of the coaches were Mel Ius, Leo Ius and Terry Cooke. In the
sixties, Paonessa would serve as the director of referees and judges.
After the club folded, Elio Ius would be a temporary coach at the
Astoria boxing club after the Boyce family left boxing in the mid
seventies. In 1976, Walter Boyce would serve as the president of
the BCABA.
by Brian Zelley
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 few different
locations with a number of different builders.
East Vancouver Optimists Boxing Club
* It started when the Optimist club of East Vancouver and the Optimist
club of downtown Vancouver jointly sponsored a boxing club under the
direction of Larry Krangle and John Wylie. Training for the members
would take place at Lord Selkirk school.
In 1958, the East Vancouver Optimists would form their own club
at the Gibbs Boy's Club. Don Cowan was manager while John Wylie
was the head coach. Some initial boxers were John Cowan, Dave Wylie,
Mike Jackson Kevin Jackson and Mike Bogan. Later the club moved
to the Fraserview Boy's Club under the direction of John Ballam and
Jim Wilson. Some new faces were Freddy Fuller and Colin Coleridge.
One of the coaches would be Fred Fuller. When Don Cowan became
president of the BC Amateur Boxing Association, Stanley Smith
became the club manager. Later, Earl Thompson would become
coach.
Fred Fuller and Larry Harris (photo
provided by Freddy Fuller, with thanks.
Newcastle Boxing Club
The club started at the close of the pioneer period in September 1963
by George Nepper. Key coaches in year one:
Harry Pollitt and Skimp Williams. There would be other folks involved
in coaching over the years. The club and George Nepper would play
a part of the beginning of the Nanaimo Boxing Club formed by
former Newcastle boxing club's Brian Zelley and Firefighter's
Dan Wright with help from John Ormandy in August 1971.
Hastings Community Centre Boxing Club:
* In an issue of the "BC Amateur Boxing News"
BCABA directors Marg O'Reilly and Brian Zelley worked to
outline the history of the club which appeared in the "News".
The head coach of the club for many years was Pat O'Reilly.
North West Eagles Boxing Club:
* The club was started by Tommy Paonessa at No. 5
Lonsdale in North Vancouver. With the help of Elio Ius,
one of the early major achievements was the revival of
the Bronze Gloves tournament for novice junior boxers.
In 1961, there were 42 entries, and by 1969 the numbers
were 78. Until it ceased operation in the Seventies, a number
of the coaches were Mel Ius, Leo Ius and Terry Cooke. In the
sixties, Paonessa would serve as the director of referees and judges.
After the club folded, Elio Ius would be a temporary coach at the
Astoria boxing club after the Boyce family left boxing in the mid
seventies. In 1976, Walter Boyce would serve as the president of
the BCABA.
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