AMATEUR BOXING CLUBS OF CANADA

AMATEUR BOXING CLUBS OF CANADA: by brian zelley

introduction

For Canada to be a positive and active part of INTERNATIONAL

AMATEUR BOXING it all begins in the amateur boxing clubs with

dedicated and experienced coaches and trainers with a gym full of

trainees from novice junior boxers to senior open boxers.

NEWFOUNDLAND BOXING CLUBS
In St. John's, Newfoundland, one club is called
The Republican Boxing Club with trainers 
Jason Hayward and Eddie Raymond.

NOVA SCOTIA BOXING CLUBS
Nova Scotia a hotbed of amateur and pro boxing has many
amateur boxing clubs such as the Truro Amateur Boxing club
under the direction of  Ron Lamb.  Some of the other clubs are
Albion, Berwick, City of the Lakes and the Citadel Boxing
Club under the direction of  Wayne Gordon, and the 
Ring 73 Membertou club with coach Daniel Martin.
Another long term club is the Sydney Boxing Club
and some of the coaches and officials connected to the
club are: Brad Ross, Lambert MacIntosh and Scott MacIntosh.


NEW BRUNSWICK BOXING CLUBS:
Various clubs such as Barlay's Boxing Academy in Moncton
and Golden Gloves Amateur Boxing Club.

           President and Head Coach - Raymond Doiron




ONTARIO BOXING CLUBS
There are numerous boxing clubs that can be found in
Five Regions of the Province of Ontario and are registered
under BOXING ONTARIO such as the Southwestern area

One of the high profile clubs in the south west region is the 
"Border City Boxing Club".


Niagara Falls Boxing Club
Coaches and Trainers:
Ron Gallen, Scott Copeland, Colleen Gallon,
Steve Van Zandwyk, Scott Paul and Matt Campbell

And the various clubs in the eastern region including Ottawa:

One of the long-term clubs is the Beaver Boxing club with coach
Joe Sandulo. But swing into other areas and you have  Billy Irwin
of the Niagara Falls club, Kathy Ure of Sharkey's Boxing club
in Sarnia.  Then, Bryan Mackie of the "Big Tyme" in Orangeville and Fitz Vanderpool in Kitchener. 


*Another Ottawa based club is the Gale Kerwin boxing club.
The contact person and a co-founder along with the late Gale 
Kerwin is Ron Gervais.


*Champs Eastside,  founded by Jorge  Luis, is located in Cornwall.
Another  coach is  Luis de Melo 


Toronto area:
Cabbagetown Boxing Club, one of the long-term clubs formed in 1972

MANITOBA BOXING CLUBS

The Brandon Boxing Clue is but one of many fine clubs in Manitoba.
There are others such as Alliance, United,  Eastman, Go Jo Boxing.
Some key folks connected to the sport in Manitoba in recent years
include: Ken Johnson, Kent Brown, Mark Collins, Noel Harding
and Rob Currie. Some names from the early days in the late Sixties
include Al Tummin, Alan Wall, Herb Embuldeniya, Len Johnson
and Ray Martin.  




SASKATCHEWAN BOXING CLUBS

Saskatchewan may not have the number of clubs like Ontario,
but includes a number of clubs scattered around the province
from Regina Boxing Club to the Weyburn Soo Line Boxing 
and Hub City. Some with interesting names such as
Black Cobra, Flying Dust and 4 Feathers. 

The Soo Line club in 1974 (includes Ian Weir )
kneeling right side who  would become involved
 in boxing in Victoria by September 1974 and
be part of the revival of amateur boxing in Victoria. 
(see following photo in Victoria November 22, 1974)

Ian Weir, former Saskatchewan boxer of the Soo Line club in Victoria
in November 1974.  This photo by notable photographer Jim Ryan was
published in "THE VICTORIAN" with a story by notable writer
Patty Pitts regarding the big revival of amateur boxing in Victoria
and Vancouver Island's Nanaimo Boxing Club.


ALBERTA BOXING CLUBS
Alberta has a rich history in amateur and professional boxing
with many clubs.  The big city of Edmonton has a number of clubs
such as the Avenue Boxing Club, the Cougars, Beverly Bronx 
and the West Edmonton Knights boxing  clubs.  Calgary has a few
clubs such as the Bowmont and Calgary Boxing Club.


Beyond Calgary and Edmonton, there many others such as 
"The Force" in Camrose, "West Pembina" in Lodgepole,
and others such as Red Deer Boxing and Slave Lake Boxing. 


BRITISH COLUMBIA BOXING CLUBS
BC has some long-time clubs such as the Astoria Boxing Club,
Cranbrook Eagles, Campbell River  and  Nanaimo Boxing
Clubs and the Spruce Capital Warriors from Prince George.
There are also many recent clubs such as the Genesis Boxing
Club in Parksville, revived clubs such as the "2 Rivers" in 
Quesnel, and many other clubs in places such as Kelowna, 
Vernon, Kamloops,  Maple Ridge, Mission City and others.


In recent years various clubs have hosted tournaments:

            2011 Tournament hosted by Mission City Boxing Club

                 BRONZE GLOVES BOXING TOURNAMENT
             2011 Tournament hosted by the Genesis Boxing Club

LONG TIME BOXING CLUBS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
.Astoria Boxing Club, founded in 1966 by Walter Boyce.
However since the mid-Seventies, the club has changed
and merged with other clubs including coaching from 
former members of the North West Eagles and the
Warriors boxing club. 


.Campbell River Eagles (now called Campbell River
Boxing and Fitness) - founded in 1970 by Jim Howie,
the club was for a long time coached by
George Shiels and Charles John, current head
coach is former boxer Mike Wood.


.Nanaimo Boxing Club  founded in 1971 by
Dan Wright and Brian Zelley.

(photo: Dan Wright, Brian Zelley
and former Saskatchewan boxer
Ian Weir.  Following the success
of the Nanaimo Boxing Club.
Dan and Brian joined Ian Wwir
in 1974 to take part in the revival
and rebuilding of boxing in 
Victoria.).


 Head coach now
is Barry Creswell who joined the club about 1973.
The club was formed with the assistance of the
late George Nepper, the manager and founder of 
Nanaimo's Newcastle boxing club which operated
from 1963 to 1968.  Another that helped with the
early start was John Ormandy.

.Prince George's "Spruce Capital Warriors
started and operated for years by the Mann Family
including Irving and son Harold Mann, now head
coach is Wayne Sponagle.

      Former Nanaimo boxer Bob Pegues, would start coaching at
the Spruce Capital boxing club before forming his own club, with
Quesnel's 2 Rivers Boxing Club coach Wally Doern both in 
Victoria in April 2010 for the BC Golden Gloves. 


CANADIAN BOXERS - through the decades

ZELLEY's ROUND

ZELLEY's ROUND

AMATEUR vs PROFESSIONAL BOXING

the two significant differences: by brian zelley

It is interesting hearing about the many differences,
but in reality there are only two main differences that should
count in the art and science of boxing.

For those boxers that only fight four round prelim fights,
there is no significant differences for the boxer.
But, when comparing a three round open senior bout vs
a ten round professional bout, then the two differences kick-in.

THE TWO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES
*The Endurance Factor, and
the Ability to take or avoid a punch.

JABS, HOOKS and CROSSES

JABS, HOOKS and CROSSES by Brian Zelley
from BC Amateur Boxing News, May 1984

The following was done in 1984, but it still has some value today in 2011.

Quote: "In order to arrive at what you are not,
you must go through the way which you are not" - T S Elliott

"If we want success in the various aspects of amateur boxing
competition, coaching or officiating, we must prepare ourselves
to enter a training program. Three basic requirements are
DESIRE, STUDY and PRACTICE.

For our long term success, this desire, study and practice
must be ongoing. In Canada, we are fortunate to have some excellent
programs to aid coaches and officials in their individual and
 group development and growth.

Our present programs are due to the past effort of
individuals and organizations and the ongoing support of
members of our Provincial Amateur Boxing Associations.
In British Columbia, the BCABA Executive under the
leadership of GEORGE ARMSON puts a high priority on
education in the form of clinics and competition."

BOXING BC EXECUTIVE - May 1984
George Armson,Bill Long, Sid Knopp, Marg O'Reilly,
Larry Carney, Shirley Knopp, Bert Lowes, Brian Zelley,
Glynn Jones and Dave Thompson.

Former boxer says sport is still safe - Local - The Journal Pioneer

Former boxer says sport is still safe - Local - The Journal Pioneer

A VOICE FOR THE YOUTH BOXERS OF CANADA

Boxing proponents spar with doctors

AMATEUR BOXING UNDER ATTACK by Brian Zelley

The recent news (see link) article was one of many that has
flashed across Canada concerning the attempt
by a society involved in medical issues attempts
to have a ban on boxing for junior and youths,

Although the group admits that other sports
results in sport injuries they have not suggested
there be bans of sports like hockey and football.

APPEARANCES, ASSUMPTIONS and UNKNOWN POSSIBILITIES

There are significant problems with the so-called academic study:
.failure to obtain reliable data from the various
boxing organizations,
.failure to properly analyze the data that was received
from hospitals,
.failure to identify the details of 270 or so injuries
that were used as a reason for the sport of amateur boxing
to be a target,
.failure to be objective in declaring no ban recommendations
for sports with more risk of serious injury.

RIGHT OR WRONG - YOUTH BOXERS BELONG
Several words from an old Ronnie Dove song of 1964
"I BELIEVE THAT I BELONG...RIGHT OR WRONG"
This should be the colletive voice of the junior and youth
boxers of Canada.

THE FIVE C's OF COACHING

COACHING FOR AN A RATING by Brian Zelley

FIVE C's FOR EFFECTIVE COACHING
Character,
Calm,
Control,
Communication,
Confidence

ON THE ROPES

ON THE ROPES; by brian zeley

SKILLS NEEDED TO FIGHT ON AND OFF THE ROPES.

How many times have you seen an amteur boxing trapped
along side the ring ropes?

How many times have you seen a boxer with someone
trapped on the ropes throwing a volley of punches that
hit arms or miss the target?

How many times have you seen an amateur boxer
trapped on the ropes get a standing eight count even if
scoring blows are not landing?

There are skills required to force an oppnent agaisnst the roped,
skills required to land effective punches when the opponent is
against the ropie, there are skills required for boxers not to get
trapped.

Referees need to be flexible in their calls. Giving a boxer a
standing eight count because they are against the ropes is not
always the correct call. It may demand no call or a caution
for being passive

SKILLS FOR THE TRAPPED BOXER
The most important thing of course is getting off of the
ring ropes in a timely and effective manner with the potential
opportunity to catch your opponent. The classic case heavyweight
champion JAMES Cinderella Man BRADDOCK when he won
the title from MAX BAER.

One of the most serious cases for a trapped boxer was the case of
BENNY KID PARET when he fought his last fight against
EMILE GRIFFITH.

The Braddock and Paret cases are the extreme examples.

The first priority for the trapped boxer:
LEARN TO SPIN LEFT OR RIGHT, then be READY to COUNTER THE OPPONENT.

The first priority for the boxer trapping an opponent
on the ropes is to learn how to cut the ring off to force
an opponent into the ropes followed by good boxing skills to be
able to land effective scoring blows.

BALANCE, FOOTWORK and MOVEMENT

A QUESTION OF BALANCE: by brian zelley

BALANCE is the first word in effective punching skills, and
balance is necessary for effective footwork and movement.
So why do so many amateur boxers have poor
footwork, movement and balance?

Some of the issues:

.Moving out of range,
.rushing forward, and
.not co-ordinating the movement of the feet
with the movement of the punches.

Moving Out Of Range

.there is nothing wrong with moving out of range
of the target from time-to-time, but excessive
movement and distance away from an opponent
minimizes the effectiveness and the ability
to score counter-punches or take advantage of
an opponents error in stance, style or execution
of punches. Also, it is a waste of valuable energy.

Rushing Forward

Often we see boxers rush towards the opponent without
thinking about the risks of  rushing into a left hook or 
a right cross.  And, that could spell real trouble if you 
catch a heavy shot while moving into it.

One of the best for moving forward after an opponent was
the great JOE LOUIS.  But, Joe did not rush towards his
opponents, instead he stalked them like a cat, measured
the distance and then unloaded the fire power with very
effective results.  

At the beginning of each round, both boxers will be or should be
moving towards each other.  The key risk factor, for boxers at the
beginning of a round is for the opponent to move quickly within
striking distance and fire a power left hook or right cross.  Sometimes,
this strategy by the offensive boxer will be very effective and if the blow
lands, it could be a game changer.  So, the important lesson is to be aware
of the opening blitz by a potential opponent at the beginning of a round.  
Sometimes this strategy may be used in the final round by a boxer that
appears to be on the losing end of the judges' scorecards after two rounds.
That type of strategy is the one of desperation, but for the opponent that
thinks he has it in the bag can sometimes have a rude awakening as to
the importance of being a bit cautious at the start of any round.

BOXING SKILLS Body Punching

BOXING SKILLS - BODY PUNCHING: By Brian Zelley

The art of body punching for many is a lost art due in part to
the scoring system used in International Amateur Boxing.
Flashback 30 years to 1981 and the story was the same.

The RING magazine Associate Editor, Randy Gordon outlined
the issue in the December 1981 issue. The article was titled
randy gordon on The Once Glorious Art Of Body-Punching
Takes A Licking.

The story started with a look back at one of the Ali vs Frazier fights.
Ali was quoted:
"The fight was the closest thing to death. Frazier hit me with
body punches that made we want to quit.

JOE FRAZIER was also quoted:
"Kill the body and the head will die"

In his article Gordon mentions some great body punchers such as
Henry Armstrong, Tony Zale and Robert Duran.

Getting back to amateurs in top level competition,
the body punching skills and application appears to be
a non-starter. So the question is when are the high level officials
and coaches in amateur boxing going to recognize the importance
and traditions of the sport of boxing after all competition in the ring
 is not a fencing duel with boxing gloves.