FRANK ALMOND, BC Boxer: by Brian Zelley

 FRANK ALMOND (1927 to 2021)

Frank and Stan Almond and others such as Jackie Turner were early boxers in the Sun Golden Gloves in Vancouver, and other Pacific Northwest Golden Gloves tournaments .

Frank would turn pro in 1948 and win the vacant Canadian featherweight title.  He would retire in 1952 after a victory over KEN MCPHEE.

1983 B C Bronze Gloves: by Brian Zelley

(Photo - ring official VIC MURDOCH).
 The Bronze Gloves as a long history being a novice junior boxing tournament.  For all this junior novices, it is their first big test but it alone does not guarantee future results.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    BC BRONZE GLOVES  - November 1983                                            The tournament took place at the Burnaby facility November 5 th. for the finals.           Champions were: Dani Koughan, Garrett McDonald, Daryl Dixon, Mike Cleary, Chris Brook, Tony Willis, Mike Krillo, Mike Marrello, ALLAN BAYNE, Danny Rickovic, Jim Vulcano,  CLINT DUMAIS, Peter Kaulius, & Mike Carlson. The Bronze Boy was CLINT DUMAIS,  runer-up Marrello.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  RING OFFICIALS:                                                                                                                   Bert Lowes, Sid Knopp, Rudy Bianco, Larry Krangle, Brian Zelley,      Lindy Lindmoser, Jack Mellor, Vic Murdoch, Earl Vance, & Bob Newbrooke.ANNOUNCER Larry Carney, Timekeeper Dot Lowes. Medical: Dr. Herb Dumont. Glovers: DAVE WYLIE & George Swanson.  Registration: Shirley Knopp & Marg O'Reilly. Security: Bill Long and Trophies: Glyn Jones.

1983 Vancouver Island Boxing: by Brian zelley

March 12, 1983, Campbell River                                                                                                                          A 19 bout Boxing card with a variety of  boxer_s, the show started off with an Exhibition between Campbell River's NEIL BORDELEAU VS Victoria's DON JOY. The final bout was a heavyweight bout between Crofton's RON YOUNG and Victoria's DAN  PURGAJ.                                                                             Some top bouts included: MIKE WOOD VS KIT MUNRO, JITA NAGRA vs VAL WORDEN. GARY WOOD VS DAVE HENDRICKSON                                 Home coaches were: George Shiels, Jim Howie and Charles John. Ring officials were: Rick Brough, Joe Swift, Bernie Brisch, Bill Donnelley. Bob Perry, Art Shiels, Carson Samuels and Brian Zelley.                                                                                                         May 7, 1983, Gold River                                                   A 15 bout card featured in the main event was ALAN BROWN VS MANUAL SOBRAL.  Some other names were: Tim Cessford, Jita Nagra, Eric Fetchco, Mike Murray etc.                                                                                                                                                                                 May 14, 1983: Parksville                                                                                                              A 13 bout card with the main event being SCOTT CESSFORD VS SCOTT STRAND from the USA. The pre main event was CODY REDFORD  VS TIM HOWIE The opening junior bout featured KEVIN ARCHER vs DANNY KOUGHAN.  Ring officials included BERT LOWES, RICK BROUGH, HOWARD CURLING, Brian Zelley, Bernie Brisch, and George Anderson.   

                   
 October 29, 1983: Campbell River                                                                                                  A 14 bout Boxing card, the main event was GARY WOOD vs. DAVE HENDRICKSON. The opening bout was Neil Bordeleau vs USA boxer Donald Duncan.  Head official was BERT LOWES.  

November 13, 1983: Victoria Jaycees 12 bouts at the Gordon Head Recreation Center.  Official in charge Brian Zelley and Bob Perry, Howard Curling, Ian Weir, and Tom Turnbull. Opening bout:  Tony Willis vs Augusto dos Reis.  Main event: MIKE KENNEDY vs SCOTT CESSFORD. Also, Paul Deluca vs Troy Taylor. Tim  

Cessford fought Paul Wade.  Also, CLINT DUMAIS fought Scott Wood. 

2022 Potential Inductees V I Boxing Hall of Fame

There are  100's of names, but many of them will never be selected for the Vancouver Island Boxing Hall of Fame.                                                                                                   A number of names that are potentials  for the 2022 selections: Clarke McLellan,  Eddie Haddad, Fred Desrosiers,  George Nepper, Harry Morris, Lou Bujdoso sr., Rick Brough, London Boxing Club/Victoria Athletic Association.  The individuals are all worthy of Induction and six of them are inductees of the British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.                                                                                 HARRY MORRIS  has not been inducted to the BCABHOF but is a primary top coach in the Sixties and founder of the London Boxing Club which would be the Victoria Athletic Association effective August 1976.  The three coaches would be LOU BUJDOSO, Mike Caird and Brian Zelley.  Lou would later be the founder of the Jaycees Boxing Club in Saanich.  GEORGE NEPPER  is the founder of Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing club in 1963, but would provide assistance to the co-founders of the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971.                                                                                                 RICK BROUGH  is a former boxer, coach and Island Commissioner.  Rick also participated in boxing  meetings in 1990 leading up to the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

At the present time any new inductees will join the six selected in 2021: Billy Townsend, Brian Zelley, Donnie Orr, Jason Heit, Jeannine Garside and Mickey Griffin.
 

Vancouver Island Boxing Images by Brian Zelley

The second image: A series of images starting with EDDIE HADDAD, George Nepper and boxers, Alan Brown,  , Newcastle boxers,  1984 photo: Alan , Vic and Brian,  and Brian Zelley,                                                                                         The 1994 Commonwealth Gam3s in Greater  Victoria was an outstanding event starting with the formation of a boxing committee in 1989 with three Boxing folks on the committee Brian Zelley, Kalman Sartori and Glynn Jones.  One of our first  efforts was to organize a public meeting in 1990 to form an organization for volunteers and to discuss the idea of forming a Victoria Boxing Association as a volunteer group that could re-build amateur boxing before 1994 .  A lot of folks agreed including folks liked Ian Duddy, Rick Brough, and Bert Wilkinson.  Over time various positions on the Boxing committee would change.

1964 and !984 Island Champions

A WOMAN \boxer ;

 
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Brian Zelley VS Clarke McLellan 1973

Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club mid Sixties with GEORGE NEPPER and boxers.

Mike Caird 1963 golden gloves champion and Greater Victoria  Sports Hall of Fame Inductee in 2009RRRR Follow up photos include RICK BROUGH.EFollowed by a photo November 1974 with IAN WEIR, MIKE CAIRD, and BRIAN ZELLEY. The photo was published in the November 22, 1975 issue of the "VICTORIAN" and provided by the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. in 2009.

 

V I Boxing Names: by Brian Zelley, June 2021.

Throughout the decades, Vancouver Island has produced some great boxers and builders                                                                               We have three Olympic boxers: Eddie Haddad, Fred Desrosiers,  and Donnie Orr.  Two of us were part of the six to start the BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame            Steve Wood & Brian Zelley. There have been many excellent boxing clubs such as Victoria's London Boxing Club started by HARRY MORRIS. We had Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club started by GEORGE NEPPER NEPPER with coaches such as HARRY POLLITT, SKIMP WILLIAMS, GERRY SORENSEN & ROGER NEPPER.  and the Port Alberni Club by the likes of MICKEY TODSON, JIM HILLS & SAMMY MAY. There was also the James Bay boxing club , and military boxers such as FRED DESROSIERS, WAYNE POWELL and RIFLEMAN WALSH.  In 1964 the London Boxing club hosted the Vancouver Island Boxing Championships. Champions included the likes of TOMMY BLACK, BRIAN ZELLEY and GILES NEPPER  In 1967 Victoria's  BILLY TAYLOR would win the Canadian heavyweight championship. In the Seventies there was the Campbell River Eagles, Nanaimo Boxing Club founded by DAN WRIGHT  and BRIAN ZELLEY. Over the years some of the coaches were CLARKE MCLELLAN, BOB PEGUES & BARRY CRESWELL and others. the Gold River club under the direction of MONTY BROWN, the Crofton club under the direction of ALEX RILEY, The Ladysmith boxing club that was aided by RICK BROUGH. Later there would be the Parksville boxing club by ART SMITH and BRIAN SACHO.  In 1976, the London Boxing club would host a International English and BC  tournament. In August 1976. the London club would change and become the Victoria Athletic Association with IAN DUDDY being the first president and the boxing club would be coached by MIKE CAIRD, LOU BUJDOSO & BRIAN ZELLEY.  In 1984, there was a revival Vancouver Island Boxing Championships hosted by the Parksville boxing club. Three Island Commissioners were BERT WILKINSON, HOWARD CURLING  & RICK BROUGH. In 1994 the Commonwealth Games were held in Greater Victoria, but the boxing committee in 1989 would include MIKE SARTORI, GLYNN JONES and B. Zelley. Two top boxers in Victoria subsequent to 1994 would be JASON HEIT & DONNIE ORR But beyond 2000 there would be women boxers such as JEANNINE GARSIDE and TERESA TAYLOR, and others in recent years. Also ELLEN CONNOR is founder and coach of the Sooke Boxing Club. In 2021, Barry Creswell would retire, and four new coaches will see the club into it's 51st. year in September 2021.

       

Index of Vancouver Island Boxers & Builders.                                                                                                                                                                     Abe -Seriani, Alan Brown, Alan Curtis, Alan Ranger, Alan Windecker, Alex Riley, Andrew Swim, Andy Ross,  Art Burgess, Art Shiels, Art Smith, Augusto dos Reis, Barry Creswell, Barry Lowe, Barry Neufield,  Bernie Brisch, Ben Miller, Bernie Hamilton, Bert Wilkinson, Bill Cox, Bill Donnelly, Bill Pepper,  Bill Selfridge, Bill Walker, Billy Taylor, Bob Jamison, Bob Kacer,  Bob Lewis, Bob Pegues, Bob Perry, Bobby Bates , Brandon Sparks, Brian Attig, Brian Martin, Brian O'Hare, Brian Ordano, Brian Sacho,  Brian Zelley, Bruce Baille, Bruce Kevin Ronald, Cal Osmond, Carson Hunter, Carson Samuels, Charles John, Chris Balatti, Chris Jones, Chris Rathy, Clarke McLellan, Cliff Ballendine, Cliff McNabb, Cody Redford. Cory Wilcox, Dale Creswell, Dan Purgaj, Dan Wright, Danno Everts, Danny Daniels, Danny Dannyluck, Danny McDonald, Darcy Ormandy, Daryl Hickey,  Darren Lussier, Dave Alton, Dave  Errington, Dave Hendrickson, Dave Way, David Rice, Dean Deluca, Dennis Begley, Derrick Hoyt, Don Audette, Don Joy,  Don Orr, Donnie Orr, Don Preston, Eddie Haddad, Eddie Robertson,  Earl Pilgrim, Ellen Connor, Eric Fetchko,  Everett Biggs, Frank Seriani, Fraser Clarke, Fred Curtis, Fred Desrosiers, Fred Fielding, Fred Thornhill, Freddie Hughes, Gary Robinson, Gary Van Buskirk,  Gary Wood, Gene Tait, George Anderson, George Mitchell,  George Nepper, George Shiels, Gerry Sorensen, Giles Nepper,  Gord McGaw,Gord. Rabey, Harry Castle, Harry Clearsky, Harry Morris, Harry Pollitt, Howard Abercrombie, Howard Curling, Howie Leeson, Howie Rabey,  Ian Duddy, Ian Middleditch, Ian Weir, Jack Snaith, Jack O'Hanley, Jason Adair, Jason Heit, Jeannine Garside, Jerry Golden, Jim Hills

 Kevin Adair, Jim Howie, Jim Hunter, Jim Tait, Jita Nagra, Jindy Johl,  Joe Bayley, J oe Preston, John Hunter, John Margetts,  John Ormandy, Jules Nepper, Keith McPherson,  Kelly Barrows, ,Kelly Ricketts, Kelly Schutte, Ken  & Kevin Alexander, Ken Jay,  Ken Stant, Kevin Archer, Kevin Jolly, Kirt Ranneris, Kit Munro, Lt. Larry Craig, Larry CARDINAL,  Larry Hay, Larry McFadden, Lee Gibson, Lee Ranger, Len Lightfoot. Leo Rock.  Lloyd  Anderson. Lloyd Tahouney, Lou Bujdoso, Lyle Jack, Mike Caird , Mike Kennedy,  Mike Lazare, Mike Miller, Mike Murray, Mike Nicks, Mike Sartori,m Mike Wood,  Mickey Griffin, Mickey Todson, Monty Brown, Murray Glover, Nick Lystar,  Niel Garda, Pat Ajjwood,  Paul Deluca, Paul Dodd, Paul Gower, Paul Panke,  Paul Wade, Ralph Torey,  Rene Nepper, Rick Brough, Rifleman Walsh. Roger Nepper, Roman Grimard, Ron Ogden, Ron Young,  Russ Lyon, Sammy May, Sandy Caldwell, Scott Cessford, Seth Gotro, Shane Crawford, Shane Sutcliff, Sid Dorsey,  Skimp Williams, Stan Richardson,  Stefan Melideo, Steve Barnes, Steve Taylor,  Steve Wood,  Taylor Gordon, Terry Eastman, Ted Balatti, Teresa Taylor, Tim Cessford, Tim Hunter, Tom McGaw, Tom McQuarrie, Tom Turnbull,  Tommy Black, Tony James, Tony Tran, Tony Willis, TRISH HARDER,  Val Worden,  VIC MURDOCH, Wade Marlin, Wade Stewart, Walter Brownlow, Wayne Barnes, Wayne Hinchcliffe, Wayne Peace, Wayne Morgan, Wayne Powell, Zach McKay,     

1954 VANCOUVER  ISLAND GOLDEN GLOVES   Golden Boy BERT WIKINSON another boxer was Fred Curtis                                                           

Brian Zelley, 2021 V I Boxing Inductee

Brian Zelley has a long history of involvement in amateur boxing from 1963 to 2021 as a boxer and a builder.  Brian is one of 20 Vancouver Island Boxing champions from one  of the two tournaments in 1964 and 1984. Also served as a Boxing BC in the mid eighties, co-founder of the Nanaimo Boxing Club. and four years as a director of the Victoria Athletic Association and a VAA coach along with Mike Caird and Lou Bujdoso.  Also served on the Boxing committee for the 1994 Commonwealth Games. And a founding member of the B C Amateur Boxing  Hall of Fame.

I had many bouts between January 1964 to my last in 1973 against CLARKE MCLELLAN.  Some of the top boxers that I fought include Ray Lampkin, Jimmy McMillan, Del Deagau, Neil Knight, Wayne Boyce and Frankie Scott, plus tough fighters from various club in various locations Such as Billy Gray and Brian Gray.  In 1967, the first boxer that I fought in the BC Golden Gloves was VERN FOUTH  from Calgary.  I fought other club mates ROGER NEPPER, KEN STANT, FRANKIE SCOTT and CLARKE MCLELLAN.

November 22, 1974: IAN WEIR * MIKE CAIRD * BRIAN ZELLEY                                                   This  photo was taken by "Big" Jim Ryan for a boxing story by Patty Pitts in the newspaper "The Victorian".  The photo was from the Greater Victoria Sports Hall Of Fame. The photo was included on the plaque given to Mike Caird when he was inducted as a builder in 2009.  Both Ian and Mike were mentioned in the Donnie Orr Story for his recent formal Induction.