From the black and white pages

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 volunteered to assist the recreation committee of city council in the

development of rules and regulations under which the boxing commission

functions."

"Zelley believes strongly that main concerns of the commission should be

the safety and welfare  of the participants  through pre-fight, fight-night

and post bout controls, and the protection of the fans who should not be

subjected to mismatches and misrepresentation of records and 

qualifications of fighters."  Jim Reid, Sports Editor, "Times-Colonist"
- january 25, 1982.

Now, the story carried on in some detail, but it takes me back to

the beginning of my involvement which came when  boxer

Jerry "Mack Truck" Reddick   asked me to help him with the

attempt to have a boxing commission to enable him to have pro fights

in Victoria.  So, that was the beginning of the return of professional

boxing to the Greater Victoria a few years earlier.   At, that time I 

would also write a story for Bruce Siebol's "Boxing Review" which 

covered amateur but mainly professional boxing in the Pacific Northwest.

The Amateur Side of Boxing:
i was still involved with coaching and officiating in 1982, but little did
I know what was around the corner in 1983 to 1986, and 1989 to 1992.

Funny what could happen in ten years, but in 1992, I had a big
"Op-Ed" in the same paper almost ten years later after the 1982  editorial.
And, sure enough some of the same old ground was covered conerning
the safety and welfare of the fighters, and the proper public presentation of 
the sport of boxing.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.