Three more champions for Nanaimo 1963 to 2013

MORE NANAIMO BASED CHAMPIONS
The link below tells the story of the three latest champs.
Boxers get arms raised at provincials - Nanaimo News Bulletin

The first and the latest:

*The first two champions for Nanaimo amateur boxing

between 1963 and 2013 were Brian Zelley  and Gilles Nepper

back in 1964 to the here and now with the latest being

Justus McKay-Topley, Alex Irvine and Jordan Van Buskirk. 

Joe Preston

Joe Preston -the link

BCABHOF Nanaimo connections

JACK SNAITH - BOXER

2013 Inductee

NANAIMO BOXERS fight in Bronze Gloves

NANAIMO BOXERS ROCK IN VERNON

By Brian Zelley

 (original photo: from Boxing BC)

:

Trio of boxers bronzed in Vernon

* The above link tells the story
if the Nanaimo boxers taking
part in the 2013 Bronze Gloves
held in Vernon, BC 

*Three names mentioned in the
win department were:
Alex Wismiewski,
Ricky Orr, and
Alec Irvine.

Coach Barry Creswell was
quoted in the Nanaimo
Daily News article.


For Nanaimo folks, three March wins in the bronze gloves adds to the achievements.
It was in February when former Nanaimo boxers Mickey Griffin and Jack Snaith
were selected for the BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.  Also, Gary Wood who
also trained briefly in Nanaimo.  Also, co-founder of Nanaimo's Newcastle 
Boxing Club George Nepper was selected in the builder category.  George
also assisted in starting the Nanaimo Boxing Club.

BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame - 2013 nominees and 2010 to 2012 inductees

Nominees for 2013 include Jack Snaith, Mickey Griffin, George Nepper and Gary Wood

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)
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"...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."
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