NANAIMO BOXING CLUB, 1971 to 1974

THE REVIVAL OF BOXING IN NANAIMO

In the summer of 1969, there was no active boxing club in Nanaimo
as the old Newcastle Boxing club would fade to black after 1968.
However, there was still an interest expressed by some in the town
in 1969, but two years later all that would change with the
formation on the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB in 1971.

*this link below attempts to connect the beginning of the Nanaimo Boxing Club
with the old Newcastle Boxing club and mentions GEORGE NEPPER and BOB PEGUES
as two of the influences that made the formtion of the Nanaimo Boxing club possible.
http://zelleyonboxing.blogspot.ca/2012/07/back-to-where-it-all-began-nanaimo.html 
In fairness to many others, the formations of the club
would be a joint effort of many folks such as Myrt Saxton, the town nurse and
magistrate of the Village of Ucluelet, the Nanaimo Recreation department and
Roger Babuin, and of course Dan Wright and John Ormandy.  Once it was
established, Les would join the team to get things moving.  Some 
others that would be therein the early years would include Darren Lussier,
Wayne Peace, Mickey Griffin, Jack Snaith, and around 1974 Barry Creswell,
but there would be many others along the way such as Clark MacLellan.
Clark would not only box in some of the early show hosted in Nanaimo, 
but would be an important part of the coaching and training.  
Some of the more detailed accounts of the history of the club and the
previous club can be found in the NANAIMO BOXING HISTORY sight.
http://nanaimoboxing.blogspot.ca/

(the photo is from the
first boxing card hosted
by the Nanaimo club
that took place in the
spring of 1972.)

A follow-up card was
hosted in 1973, but
the Nanaimo boxers
would slowly work
towards getting known
across British Columbia
and performing in some
regional, national and 
International evets xuch
as JACK SNAITH  and MICKEY GRIFFIN.

but, the home town shows or the club shows by someof the other Vancouver Island boxing clubs from Victoria to Campbell Riverwould also add an important element to the story of the Nanaimo Boxing Club.

THE HERE & NOW:
As of 2012, the Nanaimo Boxing Club is still operating and under the direxrion od
BARRY CRESWELL, one of the Seventies members of the club in the early years.
(photo: coach/boxer Clare McLellan and a line-up of boxers ready for action)

BC Amateur Boxing  Hall of Fame update 2017:

Clarke and Brian are nominees for 2018.

Brian Zelley and Clarke McLellan

Two of Eight Nominees

BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.