Brian's Boxing Journey

The Journey: by Brian Zelley

The video covers a variety of images from 1964 
to recent years. The photos in the cover collection
range from 1966 to 1973.

Nanaimo Boxing 1963 to 1974: 1963 The Beginning

Nanaimo Boxing 1963 to 1974: 1963 The Beginning: Nanaimo's Newcastle Boxing Club" by brian zelley \\ * As documented in the Fall 1983  issue of the  "Vancouver Island...


This is a link to a special blog that covers those early years from 1963 to 1974

nanaimo boxing c- Newcastle and Nanaimo clubs

http://www.weblocal.ca/nanaimo-boxing-club-nanaimo-bc.html

Current location and map for easy directions

The Geographical History: by Brian Zelley

From September 1963 to 2014, amateur boxing in Nanaimo has ranged from the Newcastle Hotel to the
current location in the northern part of the city, and includes for a number of years in the basement of
the Nepper family home and then the Harewiood location in the late Seventies with a brief stop
at the Queen's Hotel.

Faces Along The Way

Jack Snaith

Joe Preston

THE FIRST SENIOR OPEN BOXER for the Nanaimo Boxing Club

Brian Zelley = the first open senior boxer to engage in a bout for the
., the other Nanaimo boxers were all novicesNanaimo Boxing Club,
in that first fight card in 1972

                                 1974. it was goodbye to Nanaimo Boxing and hello Victoria
                                          Ian Weir  - Mike Caird - Brian Zelley, November 22.
                                  (photo by Jim Ryan, the "Victorian" courtesy of the
                                    Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame)  pacific nortwest boxing

PACIFIC NORTHWEST the five key tournaments
* when it comes to the five key tournaments,  I MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY NANAIMO PRODUCED BOXER TO COMPETE IN ALL FIVE

BC golden gloves, BC Diamond Belt, Tacoma Golden Gloves,
Oregon Golden Gloves, and
Seattle Golden  Gloves/PNW AAU Championships 

                                                 Boxing Video

Dan Wright and Brian Zelley, co-founders 1971 NBC

FOUNDERS OF THE NANAIMO BOXING CLUB

*thirty eight years later in 2009 Dan Wright and Brian Zelley

Dan Wright and Brian Zelley, co-founders of the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 2009
t the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for builder Mike Caird

  

The Importane of One Man

As we look through the pages of amateur boxing in Nanaimo

without a doubt, George Nepper stands at the top of

the ladder for being the major influence in the sixties, and his vision carried forward with the formation of the

Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971.

For many years now the head coach of the club has been

Barry Creswell

Between George Nepper in 1963 and

Barry Creswell in 2013

much has happened

there have been various coaches and boxers over

the years from the likes of Skimp Williams to Clark

MacLellan, from Harry Pollitt, to Joe Preston

Boxers from the early days such as Leo Rock and Mike Lazare, to Fred

 Wicks jr. and Zack McKay

Links
There are many links that try to expand the

complete story which is important

http://nanaimoboxing.com/

the above link is the current web site of the club

It does not give much in the way of history

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nanaimoamateurboxing

The above link does not have any set story

line, but does have a variety of comments,

posts and photos, as well as links.

http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingforum/43265-nanaimo-boxing-club.html

above link is one of the popular boxing forums

The Live JouenL

http://zelleybuzz.livejournal.com/

the live journal includes a number of stories:

Nanaimo Amateur Boxing 1963 to 1974

A 1966 Club Show in Victoria

Start of Nanaimo Boxing Club and coaches

Nanaimo Boxing History, Now Public

http://www.nowpublic.com/nanaimo-boxing-history

Billy Townsend, the best ever boxer from Nanaimo, was a Canadian
amateur champion and a professional champion, and faced some of the best
boxers of all time.

Newcastle and Nanaimo
*Back to where it all began:
http://www.nanaimoinformation.com/forum/showthread.php?196-Nanaimo-Boxing-Club
The above link takes us to the
story that was started in 2005
which began as a brief history of
the two boxing clubs in Nanaimo
between 1963 to 1968, and the
revival from 1971 to 2005. 

The first active boxer in 2005 *2006
time period to make contact on the
site was Zack.

Individuals Links:
http://briansboxingbuzz.blogspot.ca

The above piece is a collection of stories
from 1963 to 2013 with the most recent
being the 2013 Boxing Round-up. 




Hall of Fame Links
http://bcboxinghallofame.blogspot.ca/

this piece includes a six minute video that captures images of the Nwcastle and 
the Nanaimo boxing clubs. 
The narrative begins with the opening line:
The modern history begins in 1963
with the formation of the Newcastle
Boxing Club by George Nepper. 

It closes with reference to former
Vancouver Firefighters' boxer
Jack Snaith in 1973.

Nanaimo Boxing Club, 1971

Nanaimo Boxing Club, 1971
the listing about the beginning of a club but the end of the story

THE FINAL STORY

THE OBJECTIVE and CONCLUSION - 

By Brian W. Zelley, former

member of the Newcastle boxing club,

and one of the co-founder of the

Nanaimo Boxing Club.

The overall objective was to bring

some awareness to and understanding

of the sport of amateur boxing in 

Nanaimo to those that would like to

have some background to the overall story.  But, it is not possible

to tell the complete story as that would require input from all to 

the current and past members from 1963 and 2013.  What is 

important to one person will not necessarily be as important

for someone else.  

*  From my point of view, the first important element was the

formation of the Newcastle boxing club, and some of the

highlights of the club and the alumni.  The second important

step was building that bridge from the old club to the new one

called the Nanaimo Boxing Club.   The third important thing

is building the  club with a solid foundation and opportunity

for a long term future.  I believe some of that was done

very early in the process during the first three years.

I have indicated the progress from August 1971 to

May 1974.  There are many others that have their own idea

of what was and is important, and nobody is wrong as the

true history of the sport is seen through the eyes of many

and remembered in different ways.  

There is no attempt to say who was more important than

another, or who was the best coach or best boxer.  There

can  never be total agreement on those matters, as most 

have not experienced the full 50 years.

* What happens after 2013, is up to those involved, and 

there can be no predictions as to the many possible 

achievements by individuals in future years.  

This is my last words on the Nanaimo Boxing Club.
But, over time, there may be more about the Newcastle
boxing club that set the stage for the Nanaimo Boxing club. 

                         The Now Captain of the Ship:  Barry Creswell, coach

Scattered Links:
http://zelleysround.wordpress.com/
see: Nanaimo Amateur Boxing: 1963 to 1974

http://zelleyonboxing.blogspot.ca/
takes us through many stories some of which have a
Nanaimo connection.

BC Boxing Hall of Fame and Nanaimo Boxing:
http://bcboxinghallofame.blogspot.ca/

THE FINAL CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING BOXING IN NANAIMO BOXING
* Without the Newcastle Boxing Club in the Sixties, there likely  would have
been no Nanaimo Boxing Club formed in 1971.  There was a very small 
window that provided that one opportunity for the club to start in the
closing months of   1971.  Anytime, after that it is unknown if there was
anybody that could pull of the timing, and gather the connections and the
resources.  There would have been no time for Jack Snaith to get prepared for
his National title journey in 1973.