Gilles, Chris, Josh, Zack,
Alan, Bob, Dan, Brian
EIGHT FACES OF THE MANY
Newcastle and Nanaimo
Boxing Clubs
TWO CLUBS WITH TWO DIFFERENT STORIES
By Brian W. Zelley, B. Comm, C A
As the only member of both clubs, it is an interesting story.
Some years back, I did a history of Nanaimo's
NEWCASTLE BOXING CLUB
(1963 to 1968)
Of the eight boxers listed, three were members of the
Newcastle Boxing Club - Gilles Nepper, Chris Balatti and Brian Zelley
Alan had an interesting boxing journey from the late Seventies
to the late Eighties. His prime club as a junior was the
CAMPBELL RIVER EAGLES BOXING CLUB
and then the GOLD RIVER BOXING CLUB
before joining the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB
in the late Eightiues. Also, he had trained at
other clubs such as the SHAMROCK BOXING CLUB
in Vancouver under the direction of Bob Decker.
Bob Pegues has had an interesting boxing journey.
About 1975, Bob fought 1972 Olympic Boxer
LES HAMILTON, and would later become
a boxing coach in Prince George, and is
the current coach of Canadian Champion
KENNY LALLY
DAN "Dynamite" WRIGHT
The Dan Wright journey is likely one of the most
interesting stories with many twist and turns.
It was in the spring of 1967 when I first met
Dan in the library of the Nanaimo District
Secondary School when he came up to me
while I was studying for a history quiz in
my Grade 13 History Class while Dan was
a grade 12 student at the school. It began
when he asked me about boxer BUSTER MATHIS.
A year or so passed, and it would be in the fall of 1968
when I was coming from the Vancouver Firefighters gym
on a Friday night and decided to walk from the Cambie and 12th
area down to Kingsway near Fraser and stop at a hamburger
drive-in. When I entered, the first person that I saw was that
fellow named Dan from the library about a year and a half ago.
So, I invited him and his friend Ray Ormandy to come to the gym
next Friday and introduce him to the various folks and if he wanted
to try boxing, I would help him.
Of interest, one evening the Canadian pro light-heavyweight
AL SPARKS happened to visit the gym while in Vancouver.
Dan had no formal fights and no very many days in the gym,
but I asked Mr. Sparks if he would like to spar with Wright.
He agreed, and coach Bert Lowes wasn't so keen, but I said
it would be okay as Al would take it easy on the novice trainee.
Over time, while at UBC in residents, Dan would come and visit
and we would spar in the 4th floor lounge at the Totem Park
residence, and for many of the kids on the floor it must of
seemed strange with a big heavyweight and a lightweight
sparring, but it was all in the name of sport and fun and
a chance for "Dynamite" to learn how to box.
In the summer of 1971, Danny would help me start-up
the Nanaimo Boxing Club
Later Dan would join the North West Eagles for a year
then join some of us in Victoria in 1974 to start another
boxing revival, but like a revolving door Dan went
back to Nanaimo in 1975 and rejoined us when we
started the Victoria Athletic Association in August 1976.
MORE NANAIMO FACES ON THE THE WALL
1964 VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
2011 Nanaimo and 1964 Newcastle
TONY TRAN and JULES NEPPER
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE
SPORTS REPORTERS AND EDITORS
for the newly created
Nanaimo Boxing Club
Our first sport editor champion was
MARK KIEMELE of the
"Nanaimo Daily Free Press"
also the "Nanaimo Times"
was great for both clubs
with such reports=writers as
EARLE COUPER
OCTOBER 2011 NEWS
Nanaimo Boxing Club
early nominated candidate for
BC AMATEUR BOXING
HALL OF FAME
to be decided starting June 2012
