STEVE VENUTI and the Eighties

LOOKING BACK TO 1979 and 1980: by brian zelley

From May 1979, there would be various changes in the Nanaimo boxing club.
As the club had finished it's first Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves and 
tournament there would be a change in training locations from the downtown
to Harewood.  There would also be some new faces that would add to the
history of boxing in Nanaimo over the years.

One name of interest for a few years was a boxer by the name of 
STEVE VENUTI.  As is usual for junior boxers, Venuti's first big test
came at the 1979 Bronze Gloves that had been won by various boxers
from Nanaimo over the years such as Mike Lazare and Ken Stant in 
the Sixties for the old Newcastle Boxing club which served as a 
launching pad for the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971.  
travel to Langley to participate with Venuti and Bohm winning titles
and opening the door for later open class competition.  Venuti followed
his bronze gloves up in quick fashion with another one of those

In 1980, Venuti along with other club mates Ron Williams
and Lyle Jack would take part in the action at the 1980 Emerald Gloves. 
In time, the name Steve Venuti would fade away from the black and white pages of 
the local newspapers, but for a brief time in the late Seventies and early Eighties.  He would be an excellent junior boxer.

Tragedy takes a twist in the wrong direction
* The tragic death of Steve Venuti as documented in 
"Tailgate Talk" with the heading:
"Northern Vancouver Island Man Fatally Injured In Holberg".
Steve was crushed in a logging accident.

Some other names in the eighties:                                                               PETE SEGIE..LYLE JACK..CODY REDFORD...                     ROMAN GRIMARD...

FIRE and ICE in 1983 Nanaimo Boxing

DEEP FREEZE BOXING in NANAIMO:  By Brian Zelley
*In the Spring 1983 issue of the Vancouver Island Amateur 
Boxing News, I covered that card held at the Frank Crane Arena
on January 15, 1983.

(reprint of the story from 1983)
********************************************************************************
"...Due to extreme cold, many of the boxers could not get warmed-up
enough to put up a fair showing.  Island boxers included
Paul Deluca, Scott Cessford, Rick McNally, Roman Grimard, Sheldon Samuels,
Gary Wood, Lyle Jack, Pete Seggie, Jim Fidler and Cody Redford.  The officials
in attendance included Bert Lowes, Rick Brough, Bob Perry, Brian Zelley,
Joe Preston, Frank Bowers and John Jackson.  Also, in attendance was
BCABA president Larry Carney and past president Fred Fuller."
********************************************************************************

Alumni of the Newcastle and Nanaimo Boxing

SOME OF THE TRAINERS and COACHES:
* George Nepper, Harry Pollitt, Jerry Sorensen,
Rene Nepper, Roger Nepper, and Skimp Williams.
* Barry Creswell, Brian Zelley, Clark MacLellan,
 Dan Wright, Joe Preston,   and Mickey Griffin.

PAST and PRESENT MEMBERS OF
 THE NANAIMO BOXING CLUB:

The Boxers: sample of some of the boxers

Alan MacLellan, Barry Creswell, Barry Neufield, Bob Pegues,  
Bob Walsh, Brian Attig, Brian Zelley, Britton Gillette, Clark MacLellan,
Cody Redford, Dale Creswell, David Houliston, Dan Wright, Darren Lussier, 
 Don Preston, Dwayne Evenson,  Fred Thornhill, Gary Wood,  Fred Wicks, jr.   
Jack Snaith, John Navrolli,  John Ormandy,  Kelly Gourlay, Kevin Jolly,    
Lee Campbell, Lee Ranger,   Lloyd Anderson, Lyle Jack, Mark Barr,  
Mickey Griffin,Bob Jamison,   Mike Murray, Mike Nagra,  Norm Greenwell, 
Pete Seggie, Rob Argyle,   Robbie Wentland, Ron Williams, Stefan Melideo, 
Stewart Springett,  Takashi Sasagawa, Tim Cessford,  Wade Marlin, 
Wayne Morgan,  Wayne Peace,  Zach McKay.

Some recent names: 
Alex Wisniewski, Josh Grossgardt, Justin McKay - Topley,  Lucas Coburn,
 Madi Hicks, Sarah Ali,  Thomas Eyecheson, and Tony Tran.  

Looking Beyond 2013

Mickey Griffin and Seth Gotro

The Old Guard - Sixties

sample of some of the names

Brian Zelley, Chris Balatti, Leo Rock, 

Gilles, Jules, Leon and Roger Nepper

Ken Stant, Mike Lazare, Rick Johnson

Chris Balatti, Ted "Spider" Balatti, Ken Barker

Wayne Barnes, Kelly Barrows, Gerry Budzinski, 

Joe Buxton, Murray Glover, Tony James, Rick Johnson, 

Bob Lewis, Terry Lewis, Mike Lazare, 

Larry McFadden, Keith McPherson, Ken Maughan,

Giles, Jules, Leon and Roger Nepper

Al Ranger, Leo Rock, Ken Stant, Gene Tait,

Rick Tate, Alan Windecker and Brian Zelley

ISLAND CHAMPIONS 1964 - Brian and Gilles

Brian also won "the most aggressive boxer" trophy

Newcastle and Nanaimo Boxing Clubs

faces through the years

The Here and Now - 2013 

Barry Creswell, coach

Nanaimo Boxing Club

The Unsung and Forgotten Supporters

THE ROOTS FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS

Over the decades, it has been the many supporters

that have helped in many ways that would

help in the success of the sport be in Nanaimo,

Prince George, Quesnel or Greater Vancouver

One of many unsung heroes  -  Dorothy Runacres.

May 1979:  A Change of Location

It was to be the third location of the club.

(the following is a slightly revised story of the club

during the time of the change in location from 

the Queen's Hotel to Harewood, but it would not be the last)

The story has published got the folks that were responsible

for being instrumental in starting the club all wrong.

As documeted in earlier reports, the four key persons

to get the club started were:

Brian Zelley, Dan Wright, George Nepper and John Ormandy.

A dozen boxers and only one coach were mentioned in the

story which misses some of the boxers between 1971 to 1979

exluding the twelve names listed some of the boxers were

Wayne Peace, Dan Wright, Brian Zelley, 

Clark MacLellan, Fred Thornhill, Bob Jamison

Stewart Springett, Norm Greenwell, Lyle Jack,

Ron Williams, Steve Venuti, Wayne Marling

Dwayne Evenson and Kevin Jolly. 

Dorothy  Runacres 

Barry Creswell, boxer

Videos

Vancouver Island boxing:

Bob Pegues

Nanaimo and Victoria

boxing images

 bo

NANAIMO BOXING 1974

Nanaimo boxing coach and former boxer Clark MacLellan and
some of the boxers for the November 2, 1974 boxing card.

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB FIGHT CARDS

The above is just one of many fight cards held at the St. Peter's Hall
in Nanaimo during the Seventies.  In the main event, Dan Wright
one of the co-founders of the Nanaimo Boxing Club was 
representing the Victoria club against North West Eagles boxer
NEIL MELROSE.  "Dynamite" Dan scored a convincing 
victory.  In 1973, Dan was a member of the NWE for a short time
before moving to Victoria.  Later he would move back to Nanaimo.

*In the semi-main event 
IAN WEIR would step in to 
replacer DON ORR to face
Nanaimo's CLARKE MCLELLAN.

Clarke would win the bout with
a decision.  Clarke was also one of
the boxing coaches of the club and 
worked with boxers such as 
Mickey Griffin.  *Previous match by
MacLellan was against Brian Zelley.

1978 NANAIMO FIGHT CARD

1978 FIGHT NIGHT IN NANAIMO:  by Brian Zelley

(photo of Barry Creswell)
*a Nanaimo Daily Free Press photo
contributed by ex-boxer
 Kevin "Booper"  Maughan.

*St Peter's Hall  in Nanaimo
was proving to be a popular 
site for amateur boxing cards
in Nanaimo.  And, Sid and
Dorothy Runacres were
proving to be valuable 
supporters of the six plus
year old club for donating
trophies that began in 1975.
And the first show in 1978
would take place in January at the hall located on 
Fitzwilliams street with a 12-bout card with many
of the bouts featuring Nanaimo boxers.  Ther officials
included Boxing BC's vice-president Sid Knopp.

The main event would be fought by the now top
star of the Nanaimo Boxing Club, Barry Creswell
and Sean Murphy of the Richmond Boxing Club.

some of the other Nanaimo boxers in action would be 
Takashi Sasagawa, Britton Gillette, 
Ron Williams, Barry Neufield.  .
Most Scientific Junior award donated by Sid and Dorothy
Runacres was  won by Barry Neufield.     


Mr. and Mrs. Runacres are the uncle and aunt of 
Nanaimo Boxing Club co-founder Brian Zelley.
Recognized at the event were three of the volunteers
Erma Creswell, Marlene Tulak and Joan Simpson.

As the 1977/78 season continued, there would be many
more club shows and tournaments for Nanaimo boxers
in Nanaimo and in many other places such as
Langley, Chilliwack, Richmond and other places. 

NANAIMO BOXING in 1975

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB 1975: By Brian Zelley
Looking back, by January 1975, the club had been in operation
for just over three years with some of the original members gone
and plenty of new trainees to fill the gym.  And, every year there 
would be a core group of boxers that would engage in bouts whil

other trainees were in the beginning stages, and others were there
for just recreational purposes.  In that first three plus years, there
had been a number of volunteers helping with the training and
some that would help at club shows and tournaments.

*The boxers in the photo above in January 1975 included:
Rickey Evenson, Dale Creswell, 
Dwayne Evenson, 
 Mickey Griffin and Bob Pegues.  Bob was the
most experienced of the boxers at the time as he had been one
of a select group of boxers from Nanaimo that would participate
in the first boxing club show that was held in the spring of '72
with Bob Pegues, Dan Wright, Brian Zelley, Darren Lussier,
Wayne Peace and Fred Thornhill.  Jack Snaith, another original

member, had left the club and was training at another club.
Another former boxer was Alan Toth who had several
bouts in the early years of the club.  

*During that time period of 1971 to January 1975
there would be other boxers engaged in activity 
including Clark MacLellan who had a few fights
but would become one the trainers, and in recent
years, Clark has also engaged as a ring official in
various club shows and tournaments such as the
2010 BC Golden Gloves held in Langford which 
is part of Greater Victoria.  Other  trainees that
would have some success in the ring was
Barry Creswell, Wayne Morgan and Lee Ranger.

BRONZE GLOVES in NANAIMO

VANCOUVER ISLAND BRONZE GLOVES: By Brian Zelley
(the original photo of the poster was provided by Kevin "Booper" Maughan

+The tournament was hosted by the Nanaimo boxing club and the early months
of it's fifth years since it's formation.  Without getting into whom won what it
was another excellent show hosted by the club with seven nanaimo bouts s winning
seven of the 11 bouts.  Some of the Bronze Gloves boxers from Nanaimo were
Kelly Gourley, Ray Philp, Marvin Denton, Ricky Evenson,  Malcolm Elridge,
Dwsyne Evenson, Lee Ranger, Kevin Maughan, and Leslie and Steven Varro.

A SPECIAL BOUT with the first step for the end of the road for  one boxer:
*Having a main event in a Bronze Gloves tournament that featured one of
of Canadian Olympic boxers from 1972 may not have been a good idea as
it would be one more door that would see the end of Nanaimo boxer
MICKEY GRIFFIN.  The problem  with the pre-fight hype was about how
great Mickey was but at the end of the bout with Olympic boxer  Chris Ius
was the bout ended in a split decision for Chris.  

Despite the split decision loss, by January 1976 Nanaimo Daily Free Press
sports editor Don Retson wrote the following article with the headline: 

"Griffin given 'excellent' chance making Canada's Olympic team.
Then in February 1976, Mickey announced that he was quitting
boxing because of "unfair decisions" from BC boxing judges.

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB in HALL of FAME

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB (1971 to 2012): by Brian Zelley
*For the Nanaimo Boxing Club it has been 40 years of activity and
achievements since 1971.  With the help of fromer Newcatle Boxing
Club's George Nepper, steps were taken to revive amateur boxing 
in Nanaimo.  After the start in 1971, the club never looked back and
at one time in the mid-Seventies, the Nanaimo Boxing Club was
rated as one of the best clubs in British Columbia.

There are many former and current members to thank for the
long journey.  So it is with great pleasure, that I announce the
selection of the Nanaimo Boxing Club has one of those 
selected for the BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR  BOXING
HALL of FAME.

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB is a 2012 nominee for BCABHOF

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB:
The Nanaimo Boxing Club that has been operating for 41 years is one
of 18 nominees for the British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.
Another club nominated for 2012 is the Prince George club called the
Spruce Capital Warriors Boxing Club.




British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame (BCABHOF)

2012  Nominees 
*Allan Bayne
*Bert Lowes
*Charles John
*Cooke Family
*Donnie Orr
*George Armson
*George Shiels
*Geronimo Bie
*Harry Twist
*Laurie  Mann
*Mandy LaPointe


*Michaele Olajide Jr. *Roger Adolph * Tony Duffy * Wayne Sponagle
*Nanaimo Boxing Club *Spruce Capital Warriors Boxing Club, and
*the 1984 Junior Nationals and Senior Olympic  team box-offs.

THE LAST ROUND

BRIAN ZELLEY VS CLARK MACLELLAN

MY LAST FIGHT:  BY Brian Zelley

Based on the result, I could of continued to box

but I was living in Victoria, and I wanted to spend

time helping to rebuild the sport and help to train

boxers, also being an acountant did not leave much 

time for being a fighter on a regualr basis.

I am pleased that my last fight took place in

Nanaimo and was hosted by the 

Nanaimo Boxing Club.

For all of my active years between 1963 to 1968

all of my fights took place in  locations other than Nanaimo

from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, BC, 

from Victoria to Port Alberni

and other places such as

Seattle and Tacoma.

So in 1973, it was well worth the wait

and to win that fight was a bonus.

And, it was one of my best fights due

in part to former top ranked welterweight

boxer MANUEL GONZALEZ

MANUEL GONZALES

Welterweight Contender - Sixties