BC Amateur Boxing Hall Of Fame Inducts Bob Pegues

The Bob Pegues Story: by Brian Zelley I remember Bob Pegues and Bob Lewis wanting to revive boxing in Nanaimo in 1969.  But it would take  another two years when Brian Zelley andDan Wright would be co-founders of the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB  in 1971. Bob would be one of the first year members.  Also helping with the formation of the club would be George Nepper and John Ormandy.

BRIAN ZELLEY & DAN WRIGHT Founders Nanaimo Boxing Club 1971

We came serious about starting the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB in the Summer of 1971.  Fifty years later, there are four new coaches following Barry Creswell. The four includes Trish Harder and Stefan Melideo working year 51. From the history folks that were boxers and builders include Alan Brown, Barry Creswell, Bob Pegues, Brian Zelley, Clarke McLellan, Dan Wright, Jack Snaith and Mickey Griffin.

But, we can't forget the contributions by GEORGE NEPPER & JOHN ORMANDY for their help in the beginning.

 The two videos captures boxers from 1964 onward including boxers from the Newcastle club.

Nanaimo Boxing Club's First Fifty Years: by Brian Zelley

The start was September Some early names1971 Zelley, Wright, Ormandy, Pegues, Lussier and Peace..  Over the 50 years there has been a variety of news from individual members, boxing cards and tournaments.  The first boxing card hosted in Nanaimo was in 1972.  But it was followed up by more club shows over the 50 years. There would be other names such as Snaith, Varro and Creswell. And We can't forget CLARKE MCLELLAN.  From the club shows and training routines. the most significant event in the first few years would be JACK SNAITH winning in a National tournament.  But, in a subsequent time, MICKEY GRIFFIN  would defeat Jack in a bout.  That would see the end of Jack as a Nanaimo boxer.  Mickey would go on to be a fan favorite in Nanaimo.  But, Mickey would loose some critical bouts that had disputed decisions.  Mickey had earlier been praised by the coach and published in newspapers that he stood a good chance to win a spot on the 1976 Canadian Olympic boxing team.  Sadly those losses resulted in the Nanaimo coach criticizing BC boxing officials in the m3dia, f8llowed by Mickey quitting his role in the amateur boxing scene.  This left a black mark on coach less in two ways: 1.  Publicly announcing a boxer has a good chance of winning a spot on an Olympic team puts unexpected pressure on the boxer with a potential negative factor if the dream turns into a nightmare.  To add salt onto the wound, the coach publicly criticizing the boxing officials in the press can never become a positive result.  The positive outcome was Mickey won a kickboxing title and would later be involved in coaching in Victoria.                                   Beyond these dramatic moments for Jack Snaith and Mickey Griffin, there would be the cases of Bob Pegues and Dan Wright.  Dan fought for Victoria, Nanaimo and North Vancouver.  Bob would drop a decision to !972 Olympic boxer Leslie Hamilton, the take part in a 

 .(*Image: Bob Pegues fighting Chris Ius)

To get a full history of the club, all past living members need to share their experiences. For instance MICKEY GRIFFIN and BOB PEGUES have much to tell. But recent members such as Stefan MELIDEO must have a great story that will help him be a long running coach in year 51 and beyond.  Then there are folks like ZACK MCKAY. Somehow  we need to get a first hand story from CLARKE MCLELLAN and BARRY CRESWELL  but let's not forget the Ladysmith members like BOB JAMISON. Between DAN WRIGHT  and I, we have told parts of our Nanaimo Boxing  story.  But, also important is the story of the four new coaches starting the 50 th. year including TRISH HARDER. But let's not forget others such as ROMAN GRIMARD, CODY REDFORD, PETE SEGIE, LYLE JACK, RON WILLIAMS.

Throughout the 50 years there have been some special tournaments such as the 1978 "Bathtub Capital Golden Gloves Tournament". The first one was top quality, but the subsequent ones into the eighties were somewhat watered down with novices in many bouts.  Also, the history of the club began to change in the news. The original founders in 1971 were Brian Zelley & Dan Wright assisted by GEORGE NEPPER & JOHN ORMANDY.   The four new folks in year 50 are TRISH HARDER, 

 WILLIAMS, ROCKY MINHUS & STEFAN MELIDEO.                                                                                   

Stepping back to November 1976, how many remember the sparring session between boxers BARRY CRESWELL & MARK GUTENBERG as they prepared for bouts that would take place at the St. Peter's Hall? They would fight boxers from Cloverdale.  Other clubs involved would be Richmond, Victoria, and Crofton.  Step back to 1975, a nd the Nanaimo boxer  getting the most press coverage was MICKEY GRIFFIN, Mickey also won the noted "Jimmy Symes" award for being the most outstanding BC junior boxer for 1973/74.  The year 1974 would sree BRIAN ZELLEY leave the Nanaimo Boxing Club to be involved in reviving boxing in Victoria.  Nanaimo sports editor had a nice column dated May 8, 1974 with the headline being: "Good Man To Have Around". 

revised Nanaimo club. 2021 by Brian Zelley

 Barry has retired, a new team of coaches heading  into year 51 in September. 2021.    The first 50 years tells a story with many chapters: boxers, coaches, and supporters                                                                                                                          The Fifty Year History bgins years before 1971 with factors that led to the formation.  Two boxing clubs that provided the opportunity was Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club and the Vancouver Firefighters.  But a project in  BC called the Terrace Beach Project that created He-Tin-Kis park helped with the connection to the Nanaimo Recreation director.  Also, in 1969, Bob Lewis and others wanted to start a boxing Club so there was some trading for a short time period of which a teenager by the name of Bob Pegues would participate.  In 1971, Bob would be one of the early members of the club along with Dan Wright  and Brian Zelley the co-founders in 1971.                    Both co-founders were previously members of the Vancouver Firefighters Boxing Club. Another former member was Jack Snaith who would join the new club in Nanaimo.  Founder of the Newcastle boxing club GEORGE NEPPER would provide boxing equipment.  And, the Nanaimo Daily Free Press and Nanaimo Times would provide early coverage.

Toni Basil Show Mickey

Mickey Griffin's theme song pre bout entertainment from a long line of female fans.

Nanaimo Connections, BCABHOF

Clarke and Brian 2018 Nominees, BCABHOF

MCLELLAN and ZELLEY Nominated for 2018

nominees 2018

BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame

Nanaimo Boxing names and faces

Nanaimo Names and Faces in Boxing:

George Nepper, Terry Lewis, Brian Zelley, Bob Lewis, Alan Windecker, and Mike Lazare.
Mike Lazare was Bronze Gloves and Emerald Gloves champion.

Vancouver Island Boxing Championships * 1964

Two champions from Nanaimo

Brian Zelley and  Gilles Nepper.

Leo Rock, Chris Balatti, Gilles Nepper,
Leon Nepper, Roger Nepper and Brian Zelley.
                       1963 to 1968

Chris Balatti, Ted Balatti, Kelly Barrows, Ken
Barker, Wayne Barnes, Gerry Budzinski, 
Joe Buxton, Murray Glover, Tony James, 
Rick Johnson, Bob Lewis, Terry Lewis,

Mike Lazare, Larry McFadden, Kéith McPherson, 
Ken Maughan, Npper brothers, Al Ranger, Leo Rock,Ken Stant, Gene Tait, Rick Tait, Alan Windecker, and Brian Zelley.

Founders of the Nanaimo Boxing Club
in 1971 Dan Wright and Brian Zelley
(photo from 2009 at the Greater Victoria
Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony).

The videos reresent a cross section

of Nanaimo boxing images

between 1964 and 2010

some of the names have been

mentined in the narrative above

but there have been other folks

as included in the various videos 

including one of Bob Pegues.

2016 BCABHoF, inductees and administrators

Nanaimo Boxing images

Nanaimo Boxing Photo Parade: By Brian Zelley
Introduction:
The images help to record a record, and when added with narrative it becomes a story within the boxing history.

To personal the story, the photos 
to the side are some of my own 
But each one of them tells a 
piece of the story about the
Newcastle Boxing club in the
sixties and the Nanaimo
boxing club in the seventies.

Newcastle Boxing Club:

The Newcastle Boxing club was founded by George Nepper
in 1963 in Nanaimo and the first training site was at the
Mewcastle Hotel basement.

Some of the coaches were Harry Pollitt, George
Nepper, Skimp Williams,  and Roger Nepper
and various others for a brief period such as
Gerry Sorensen.

(photo: Jules Nepper).

1964 First year of ring activity.

Some of the early boxers for the club were

Leo Rock, Chris Balatti, Gilles,

Leon and Roger Nepper and Brian Zelley.

Two others were Jules Nepper and Mike Lazare.

Our first two champions were

Brian Zelley and Gilles Nepper.

Mike  Lazare

1964 Bronze Gloves Champion

and 1965 Emerald Gloves Champion.

George Nepper

founder and manager

Coach Nepper with some of tye boxers

including Terry Lewis, Bob Lewis, 

Brian Zelley and Alan Windecker

Videos including the

Newcastle Boxing club in 

The Sixties,

The above video also covers part of the 

Nanaimo Boxing club journey .

Nanaimo Boxing Club

founded in 1971

Brian's Boxing Story

The Final Curtain and Fade to Black

End of Story: by Brian Zelley

Nanaimo Boxing Club 1971

NANAIMO BOXING (1963 - 1968)

NANAIMO'S NEWCASTLE BOXING CLUB
       BOXING ALUMNI (1963 to 1968)

Greater Victoria and Nanaimo, "The Sweet Science"

Facesand/or Names:

* Al Duval, Bert Wilkinson, Bob Pegues,
Billy Townend, Brian Zelley Chris Balatti
Clark MacLellan, Dan Wright, Donnie Orr,
* Eddie Haddad, Fred Desrosiers, Ian Weir,
Jack Snaith Mike Caird, Mike Lazare, Paul Deluca
Rick Brough, Howard Curling, Barry Creswell.
* George Nepper, Harry Pollitt, Skimp Williams

Island boxing, Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River

2014 Zelley's boxing images

Thanks and Appreciation:

* It has been a pleasure putting together this
partial history of Nanaimo boxing.  Thanks
to all that helped to some degree.

To close out this journey, some videos and
images are being posted.

 

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