Posts

Showing posts from 2013

Toughman Fights vs Amateur Boxing

Image
FIGHTING FOR THE CAUSE:  by Brian Zelley There was a time when "So You Think You Are Tough" or "Toughman Fights "  were popular in the seventies and eighties.  In 1991, there was an attempt to  ban them in Victoria.  In "The Victoria Star", they had an editorial titled "Fighters Have Rights"  October 30, 1991, "The Victoria Star". the editorial, attempted to support the activity, so my response was made in November 1991 with the following headline:  "Toughman Fights Ruin Boxing's Image" and with the following narrative: I agree with your comments about arbitrary decisions, however, it is also important to recognize the general rights of the sport of boxing and  the negative impact  that toughman fights have on amateur boxing.  Since the late '60's when the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association  was formed, much effort has been made by many dedicated  Canadians to improve the image, quality and stand...

BRIAN ZELLEY's 2013 Boxing Round-up

Image
My Annual Boxing Stories for 2013 http://zelleyonboxing.blogspot.ca/ With Over 70 Stories, some of them: * The Billy Dynamite Downey Boxing Story *  Joe Webb, A Canadian boxing builder *  Howard Curling "Curling's Corner" *  Nanaimo Boxing 1963 to 1974 *  The Harry Twist boxing story *   The Jack Snaith Boxing Story  * The Bob Pegues boxing story *   Messages and Memories - 2013 Canadian Golden Gloves see also:   http://bzcanadiangoldengloves.blogspot.ca and other golden gloves history *  Canadian Golden Gloves, Dreams Never Die  *  The Julien Collette Boxing Journey *  Billy Townsend, Boxer *  The History of Amateur Boxing --in British Columbia *  The Gary Wood Boxing Journey  CANADIAN AMATEUR BOXING http://bzelley-canadianamateurboxing.blogspot.ca Some of the stories: Boxing Canada authorized photo:  * 2014 Jun...

Boxing photos

Image

BC boxing, another trip down memory lane

TO REACH OUR 2014 OBJECTIVE, WE MUST FIRST  TRAVEL BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE: * But it is not so easy as tripping back down our own memory lane it is looking at all the nominees are trying to trace back to what should be in their memory lane, and the golden memories of those that were part of the long winding journey, good times and bad times, to share the contributions - achievements - participation (C. A. P.) of each one as best we can.  For the events like the 1994 Commonwealth Games, it is a tricky and complex road we must travel with dozens of different folks connected in some way from the four original boxing committee members in 1989, the build-up of volunteers in 1990 to the Canadian boxers and coaches. Sadly, some of the folks connected in some small or big way, are not with us any more such as Pud Smith, Rick Brough, George Armson, Bert Lowes, and likely others as we trip back in time. 

Canadian boxing through the decades

Image
Canadian Boxing - decade by decade: by brian zelley There is no one decade in amateur boxing that should be rated over any other, so a good place to start is the Seventies.                             http://bzseventies.blogspot.ca/ On this blog, one name that stands out on a National basis for  amateur boxing is  Ian Clyde, but there would be many more. The Eighties  http://bwzboxing.blogspot.ca/ * the two top stories in this blog include the: **the 1984 Canadian junior boxing championships ** Canadian champions 1980 to 1989 the primary focus is on the senior open national champions which would include medalists in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games.

The boxing halls and walls of fame

Image
Beyond The Glory: by Brian Zelley 1. The First of a few - BCABHOF http://bcabhof.blogspot.ca/ The British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame *The top story: 2012 Inductees BCABHOF 2.  Another Round: Ontario Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame http://bwzontarioboxing.blogspot.ca/   3. The Canadian Journey continues The Canadian Amateur Boxing Wall                     http://cabhof.blogspot.ca/ The nomination and selection process was a cross country effort with Canada broken  down into four regions: 1. Western Canada, 2.  Ontario 3.  Quebec  4.  The Maritimes/Eastern Canada 4.  Project 100 - The First 60 in 2013                       http://bzwalloffame.blogspot.ca/

More Boxing Stories - 2009 to 2013

Image
ANOTHER ROUND OF STORIES * Beyond the stories in the main blogs, there have been a variety of special interest stories. Understanding the Art and Science: Part of the process of writing stories is to  understand the sport and all of the technical issues such as reported in the Art and Science blog. My previous discussion of the arts and science began in 1983 with various pieces in the  "Vancouver Island Amateur Boxing News"  and would  continue with the "BC Amateur Boxing news to document some of this stuff, i created a blog: http://bzboxing.blogspot.ca/ From the above link the first three stories in 2010 were: * The Boxing Beat, the trainer - coach   * The Journey * The Boxing Gym The story "The Journey" The journey takes us back to The Beginning: the boxer and the gym. Stories of 2011 would include varies topics including: *  Boxing Skills - Body Punching, *  On The Ropes skills needed to fight on and off ...

My Boxing stories 2009 onward

Image
TO SORT OUT THE HUNDREDS OF STORIES: THE TOP SITE: http://zelleyonboxing.blogspot.ca/ The top five stories: 1.  The Golden Age of Amateur Boxing  - published February 2012 2.   The Kenny Lally Boxing Story  - published January 2011 3.   The Alan Brown Boxing Story - published February 2011 4.   The Michael Strange Boxing Story - published November 2011 5.   The Julien Collette Boxing Journey - recent June 2013 The Number Two Site:     http://bzelley-canadianamateurboxing.blogspot.ca/     * from the above link, the top stories: 1.  Golden Gloves - published November 2009 * a small slice of the Golden Gloves story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Golden_Gloves * the index of the above look at the Golden Gloves The third top site: http://boxinginbc.blogspot.ca In the above site, the top story is: * The Bridge of Golden Memories - 1964 to 1984 * The...

Dave Coventry - Boxer

Image
Dave served in BC boxing in the Sixties and Seventies: by Brian Zelley Dave Coventry - Boxer Introduction: * My experience with Dave Coventry took place in the finals of the 1968 BC Golden Gloves in Vancouver but Dave's pro journey took place in two parts before and after 1968.

BOXING BC: 1975 to 1979

Image
Those coaching days in the past: by Brian Zelley BOXING BC: 1975 to 1979 *The above is a list of 80 names for Boxing BC. Boxer Danmy O'Sullivan and coach Brian Zelley (mid-Seventies,Victoria, BC)

Vancouver Island Boxers and Builders

Vancouver Island Boxers and Builders http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_W._Zelley The wikipedia page is just a temporary post to outline part of the story and to connect to some of the other persons and events that I have posted on Wikipedia.

From the black and white pages

Image
From the pages of the newspaper: by Brian Zelley January 25, 1982 "Times-Colonist" I never expected to see my name on the front page of a daily paper, but there it was on January 25, 1982 which was 18 months before I would become the news director of the British Columbia  Amateur Boxing Association.  The bit on the front page would trace to the inside editorial by sports editor  Jim Reid of the "Times - Colonist". JIM REID speaks: "There is no denying Zelley's interest in and knowledge of boxing,  his concerns for the image of the sport and the safety of the boxers, his desire for boxing to be properly presented to the public."  "Zelley's involvement has been involved in the amateur aspect of  the sport and he has participated since 1963 as a boxer, cornerman, sparring partner, coach, judge and writer.  He has openly and strongly supported the establishment of a boxing commission in Victoria and has vol...

1971: AT THE CROSSROADS

Image
AT THE CROSSROADS: BETWEEN "He Tin Kis" and "The Nanaimo Boxing Club" in The Summer of '71 by brian Zelley *It was the Summer of '71  and one  journey was coming  to an end  in Ucluelet, BC, and  an another   would begin. *Of course, I had no idea of where we would have the gym but  one weekend, I was asked by Myrt Saxton, the head of the project to visit with the rec director in Nanaimo to discuss  park issues, so I told her about some of our plans and she told me who to contact that could  deal with both issues.  Deal with the end of one project, and improve planning with the other plan of starting  a revival of boxing in Nanaimo, BC. The last month is Ucluelet but the odd weekend back to  Nanaimo to see Dan, John and Mr Nepper to plan more about the new journey that was about to begin with the formation of the Nanaimo Boxing Club in the Summer of '71 My role in the Nanaimo Bo...