the FIRST DECADE - 1971 to 1981

 FIVE TOP or KEY EVENTS


1, Getting Started 1971 - Wright, Zelley, Nepper and Ormandy

2.  The first fight card hosted by Nanaimo Boxing Club - 1972
* the boxers: Darren Lussier, Wayne Peace, Fred Thorsell
Bob Pegues, Dan Wright and Brian Zelley

3. Jack Snaith - Canadian Champion 1973

4.  Mickey Griffin receiving the Jimmy Symes award
Bob in photo
5. The first annual BATHTUB CAPITAL GOLDEN GLOVES - 1978

PARADE of BOXERS

THE PARADE OF BOXERS in NANAIMO BOUTS

 - Alex Angelomatis - Alex Bankier - Allen MacLellan
Barry Creswell  -  Barry Neufield -   Bob Pegues - Brett Summers   
Brian Zelley - Chris Ius - Chris Rathy -  Chuck Robinson
Dan Wright - Danes Kent - Darren Lussier - Dave Houliston 
Don Preston - Dwayne Evenson - Ed Lee - Ed McCaffrey 
Ed Williams -  Gary Ivers - Gordie Lawson - Jack Snaith -
John Herbert  - John Hunter -  Kelly Gourlay - Kevin Maughan
Kevin Howard - Lee Ranger - Les Hamilton - Malcolm Elridge 
Mark Hartell  - Mark Barr - Marty Burton - Mickey Griffin
Norm Greenwell - Paul Dodd - Perry Evans - Ron Williams
Ralph Torrie -  Rick Davidson - Rick Evenson - Roman Grimard
Scott Cessford - Scott Sinclair - Shane Amderson - Sheldon Samuels
Stan Murphy - Steve Alexander - Steve Varro - Takeshi Sasagawa
Tim Hunter ********* Stefan Melideo*******Zack McKay.  

Two years after he appeared in Nanaimo in 1978, CHUCK ROBINSON
would die along with other members of the 1980 USA Olympic boxing
team while heading for a tournament in Poland.  The plane crashed
and exploded in Poland.

Of course, there are many others that fought in some of the club
shows and tournaments hosted by Nanaimo over it's 40 plus years.
Since the first action of the club in the early Seventies, many Nanaimo
boxers would compete in various club shows and tournaments 
in British Columbia and other locations.  

THE VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAMPIONS

THE THREE CHAMPIONS

GILLES NEPPER - BRIAN ZELLEY - MIKE MURRAY
Also 1984 Island Champion ALAN BROWN and GARY WOOD would join
 the Nanaimo Boxing Club for a brief period.

NANAIMO BOXING 1972

THE FIRST FIGHT CARD - NANAIMO BOXING CLUB

With the formation of the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971, it wasn't long beforethey hosted their first fight card in early 1972.

The first Nanaimo boxers to lace on the gloves and come out fighting were:
Dan Wright, Bob Pegues, Fred Thorsell, Darren Lussier and Wayne Peace
In the semi-main event was Brian Zelley, while Gary Bridal faced Ed Williams of
Abbortsford in the main event.

The card was held at the Quennell School .

The pre-fight publicity included a piece in the April 1, 1972
 issue of "The Nanaimo Daily Free Press"

Looking back to the early years, and important contribution concerning the public awareness
came through the column of Nanaimo Daily Free Press, sports editor MARK KIEMELE.
In one of his "Sports of Sorts" columns the title was "Good Man To Have Around"
dated May 9, 1974.

Brian Zelley, Semi-Main Event
Nanaimo Boxing Club's
Debut Fight Card.

BOB PEGUES 

NANAIMO BOXING CLUB

        
                     NANAIMO BOXING CARD  - ED WILLIAMS (Main Event)

Recent BOXING BC AWARD WINNER

BOB PEGUES - Nanaimo Boxer & Prince George Coach
(Photo by Dorothy Zelley - April 17, 2010 at BC Golden Gloves, Langford, BC).

Bob was the 2010 recipient of the "Harold Mann Award" for Lifetime achievement in Amateur Boxing.

NANAIMO CONNECTION:
In 1969, Bob showed an interest in amateur boxing in Nanaimo.  
After Dan Wright and Brian Zelley formed the Nanaimo Boxing Club in 1971,
  Pegues would become a regular member.
One of his notable bouts was a bout in Nanaimo against former
Canadian Champion Les Hamilton.  Of interest, a champion from the
 team of 1970 Joe Cooke was the referee.

PRINCE GEORGE CONNECTIONS

Bob began coaching at the Spruce Capital Warriors Boxing Club,
but several years ago formed his own club called the Inner City Boxing.
Bob has moved up in the ranks of Canadian coaches and has often
appeared with Provincial teams for National competition and some Interntional activity,

At the present time his primary focus is the training of boxers Jag Seehra and Kenny Lally.
The light must of been shining bright because at the 2010 Boxing Awards it was three prizes for
Inner City Boxing boing coach Pegues and boxers Seehra and Lally.

JANUARY 2011 HAPPENINGS

The award is so justified - In recent Boxing Canada FTS - Final Team Selections
KENNY is on the A Team and Jag in on the B Team great action and achievements 

by both boxers with kudos for Coach Bob. 
(photo from Champion Alex Rynn - Four of the A-Team including Kenny).

'60's Flashbacks - Newcastle Boxing Club - Nanaimo

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It was just another boxing card with Nanaimo boxers' travel to Victoria in a card hosted by the London Boxing and at the end of the evening, as reported in the "Nanaimo Daily Free Press":
"NANAIMO BOXERS SPLIT IN VICTORIA BOUTS".

Nanaimo winners: Gilles & Roger Nepper and Brian Zelley while the others lost;
Gilles over Andy Ross, Roger over Larry Hay, Brian over Pat Alwood,
Leo lost to Norman Williams, Leon lost to Charles Forscutt, and Chris
 dropped a close decision to Tom Kelly.
 Others on the card were:
 Dave Way over Gordon Miller, Mike Miller over Jim Fenwich, and
 Rich Uche over Bill Pepper.

COACHES, TRAINERS & VOLUNTEERS.

DOROTHY RUNACRES

PARADE of VOLUNTEERS

Over the years there has been a parade of volunteers or sponsors that have helped move the culb from obscurity to success.

When ZELLEY & WRIGHT were planning the formation of the club in 1971 many of those early discussions
took place at the home of JOHN ORMANDY. Once the club was formed, Ormandy would be there to help out.

In the beginning, before the doors were opened, there was no boxing equipment, but GEORGE NEPPER
was the first to donate some of the old equipment from the old NEWCASTLE BOXING CLUB.
The City of Nanaimo's Recreation Department came through with facilities for the first number of years.
To obtain that prize a little help came from MYRT SAXTON of Ucluelet, BC who put me in touch with the
Nanaimo Recreation head to get ideas on HE-TIN-KIS Park and touch base on boxing in Nanaimo.