BEFORE MUHAMMAD ALI THERE WAS WILLIE PASTRANO

WILLIE PASTRANO,  MASTER OF BOXING SKILL: by Brian Zelley


As I look back into the past, I remember 1972 and the time 
heavyweight Dan Wright  and I visited Muhammad Ali
in his penthouse suite at the Hotel Georgie in Vancouver.
After our knock on his door, Ali stepped-out into the hall
for some brief chit chat, and I remembered the story about
how the then Cassius Clay knocked on Pastrano's door.
I relayed the story to Ali, and a big smile appeared on his 
face and he invited us in to his suite for more detailed 
discussions.

Photo of Ali
signed by Ali in 1972
at the Hotel Georgie
in Vancouver from
Ali to Brian Zelley,
and boxer Dan Wright
also received a copy.
But it was the discussion
about a young boxer
by the name of 
Cassius Clay
 knocking on 
the door of boxer
Willie Patrano 
that would be the
symbolic door 
opener where 
Dan and I were
able to enter the world of MUHAMMAD ALI.




BACK TO WHY WILLIE WAS SO IMPORTANT:
Anyone who understands Muhammad Ali would
understand why Ali would smile and be thrilled
by any discusssion of Willie Pastrano.


In fact, every would be amateur of professional boxer should
understand Pastrano's focus on boxing skill.  One such article
by Willie appeared in the November 1963 issue of the magazine
"Boxing & Wrestling" by Complete Sports Publications.
The article was titled: "I Don't Take Chances" - Willie Pastrano.

The article was written after Pastrano defeated the excellent
boxer HAROLD JOHNSON, for the light-heavyweight crown.


From the article, there are a number of  thoughts by Willie
that is a must read for all persons that would like to be
long time boxers with boxing moves and top rated defensive
skills:
"In my book the smart fighter knows how to make his
opponent make mistakes.  There are many ways to do this and
you don't learn them  by letting him take target practice on 
your chin." AND
"I have always felt every fighter should be a master of defense.
The smart fighter Never tries to prove how tough he is by
taking punches" - Willie Pastrano, light-heavyweight champ, 1963.


The Lessons We Learn:
i remember reading this article so many years ago during my
boxing days and always tried to improve on the defensive skills
thanks in part to the wise words of Willie Pastrano, I fighter who
was respected highly by the great Muhammad Ali.


Passing It Forward:

Boxer Danny O'Sullivan getting a lesson from Coach Brian Zelley - Seventies

BOXING, It happened in DECEMBER

                      DECEMBER 1965 -  Emile Griffith vs MANUEL GONZALEZ
                                  (Emile's last defense of the Welterweight Title)

One of the top December bouts of all time could be the 1958 bout
between ARCHIE MOORE and YVONE DURELLE.  But,
some other title bouts in December 1958 include:
Welterweight DON JORDAN vs VIRGIL AKINS,  and
Flyweight:  PASCUAL PEREZ  vs D. Ursua.
Then in 1959 there was GENE FULLMER vs SPIDER WEBB and
JOE BROWN vs  DAVE CHARNLEY.


THE SIZZLING SIXTIES:
There would be many major bouts in the month of December.
One that should not have been made was the bout that saw
Middleweight champion GENE FULLMER  destroy the
welterweight champ BENNY KID PARET.  Paret in his next
title bout would end in tragedy with EMILE GRIFFITH.


Some other bouts featuring Emile Griffith would be
Jorge Fernandez in 1962 and Manuel Gonzalez in 1965

Some of the other bouts in the Sixties would be
Joey Giardello vs  Dick Tiger in 1963 and Rubin Carter in 1964.
Then there was that light-heavyweight bout TIGER vs TORRES.


THE SEVENTIES;
1975:  JOHN H. STRACEY wins welterweight title with an
unexpected stoppage of champion JOSE NAPOLES.  But, a
loss by Napoles should not be unexpected as he had first lost
the title in 1970 to BILLY BACKUS.


THE THIRTIES:
1930:  Featherweight championship and BAT BATTALINO 
over KID CHOCOLATE, and in 1933 it was the flyweights
JACKIE BROWN over GINGER FORAN in Manchester.  

BOXING, It happened in November 1900 - 1929 and beyond

GREAT or INTERESTING MOMENTS:  By Brian Zelley

Group photos:  includes the bottom left photo that appeared in the 
newspaper the "Victorian" in November 1974 that focused on 
the revival of boxing in Victoria, and November 2009 photo 
with a parade of ex-boxers and coaches in attendance at the
Greater Victoria Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. 


Introduction
Throughout the many decades of boxing history, there are
many interesting stories and events that took place in the
month of November in amateur and professional boxing.


1900 to 1909:
It was November 2, 1900 when world featherweight champion
TERRY MCGOVERN recorded his fifth title defense in 1900
with a victory over Joe Bernstein.


Fast forward to 1901, and heavyweight champion J.J.  JEFFRIES
stopped Gus Ruhlin on November 15th., but for featherweight
Terry McGovern after two title victories in 1901, on November 28th.
he would be stopped by challenger YOUNG CORBETT.  Also, in the
bantamweight division HARRY FORBES  would stop Dsm Dougherty
in two rounds in St. Louis.


1903:  BOB FITZSIMMONDS made history on November 25th. when
the former heavyweight and middleweight champion won his third
title by defeating George Gardner in 20 rounds to win the 
light-heavyweight title and become the first evert boxer to win 
titles in three weight classes.  The next great one would be
Henry Armstrong.


1906 - Heavyweight Tommy Burns would defeat Jack O'Brien,
welterweight HONEY MELLODY would defeat Joe Walcott,
and featherweight champion ABE ATTELL would earn a 
victory over challenger Bill DeCoursey.  However, Mellody
would lose to one a former sparring partner FRANK MANTELL
on November 1, 2007.


1908:  Standout and one of the all-time great fighters in boxing,
STANLEY KETCHELL in his sixth title fight of 1908, he 
would regain the title that he had previously lost to Billy Papke.
Ketchell  regained the title with an 11th round KO on
November 26th. in California.


1910 to 1919  THE ACTION CONTINUES:


The key bout in November 1910 was the very
active ABE ATTELL defeating Frankie Conley.


1912 LIGHTWEIGHT SHOCKER:
It was November 28 in California when
WILLIE RITCHIE would defeat the tough
AD WOLGAST for the lightweight title.


1915 and 19165:  TED "Kid" LEWIS and  JACK BRITTON
After winning the welterweight title from Jack Britton
in August, two of Ted's four title defenses in 1915 took
place in November including victories over
Milburn Saylor and Jimmy Duffy. 


Jack would bounce back to regain the title
and in November 1916, Britton would 
face Lewis again and then defeat one
Charley White in Boxton on November 21st.


THE ROARING TWENTIES 1920 to 1929:


1920:  Lightweight Champion BENNY LEONARD
would stop Joe Welling in the 14th round.


1921:  JOHNNY DUNDEE would defeat George
KO Chaney in a junior lightweight title fight and
in the bantamweight division JOHNNY BUFF
would defend against a young Jack Sharkey.


Fast forward to 1925, and the great HARRY GREB was
still winning when he defeated one Tony Marullo in 
New Orleans by earning a 15-round decision.
And in 1926 the junior-lightweight champion TOD MORGAN
would beat Carl Duane by decision in New York.  In 1927,
Canada's FRENCHY BELLANGER would earn the vacant
NBA Flyweight title with a victory over Frankie Genaro  in 
a bout staged in Toronto.


BEYOND 1929:


Remember when DICK TIGER stopped ROGER ROUSE
in a light-heavyweight title fight - November 17, 1967.


Remember when JIM WATT stopped SEAN O'GRADY
in a lightweight bout in Glasgow, November 1980.


NOVEMBER 18, 1960:  Eder Jofre stops Eloy Sanchez
in a bantamweight bout at Los Angeles. 


NOVEMBER 20, 1942:
Willie Pep defeats Chalky Wright for the Featherweight title.

CANADIAN BOXING CHAMPIONS, flyweight to lightweight

THE STORY OF THE LIGHTER WEIGHTS:  by brian zelley

Introduction

Looking back through the pages of Canadian boxing history,

one of the original greats would be GEORGE DIXON.  But,

this story looks back at some of the flyweight to lightweight

Canadian boxing champions.


However, the sport of boxing has not been free of tragedy
in these weight divisions such as the case of lightweight
CLEVELAND DENNY and his fatal bout in 1980
with G. HART.

CANADIAN WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONS

CANADA's WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONS:  By Brian Zelley

-  A LOOK AT:  Donato Paduano and Clyde Gray -
(Two outstanding Canadian welterweights that shaped the Seventies)

Going back to the Thirties, some names of interest are Sammy Luftspring

and Frankie Genovese.  Fast forward to the Sixties and Seventies and

some names of interest include Joey Durelle, Donato Paduano, and

Clyde Gray.  Other champions would follow in the Eighties and Nineties

such as Ricky Anderson and Donnie Poole.

But there have been many other names in the welterweight division

such as Gale Kerwin, Armand Savoie, Johnny Greco, and Gordon 

Wallace.

DONATO PADUANO

Looking back to 1967, I remember
Donato Paduano as an amateur 
boxer from Montreal that 
participated in that great 1967
International Diamond Belt
Centennial Championships
held in Vancouver with the 
great ROCKY MARCIANO
as the guest referee.
Fast forward to 1968 and PADUANO 
 would be a member of the Canadian
 Olympic boxing team along with DICK FINDLAY and WALTER HENRY.

DONATO PAUDUANO would turn pro boxer in 1968 and quickly 
move up the ranks under the management of ROGER LARIVEE.
In December 1969, Donato would win the Canadian Welterweight
title with a victory over JOEY DURELLE.


He would compete until 1980 and along the way he would face the
likes of Emile Griffith, Ken Buchanan, Clyde Gray, Fernand Marcotte,
and Marcel Cerdan Jr.


CLYDE GRAY

Looking back on the 
life and times of Clyde,
I remember his best
from his appearance
in Vancouver in 1972
when he faced Houston
boxer Manny Gonzalez.

The bout was a semi-main event of the card of
MUHAMMAD ALI - GEORGE CHUVALO.
That important victory over the veteran
Manuel Gonzalez who had once defeated 
the great EMILE GRIFFITH was an 
important step towards the world title fight
with JOSE NAPOLES. 


Clyde was managed by IRV UNGERMAN
who also managed George Chuvalo and 
Stewart Gray.  He was trained byTeddy McWhorter and Lee Black.  


From 1968 to 1980, Clyde would face many Canadian boxers such as:
A. Sparks, Dave Hilton, Don Ross, Lawrence Hafey and Chris Clarke.
Also, many other top ranked fighters and champions such as:
Pete Ranzany, Pipino Cuevaz, Angel Espada, Bunny Grant,
Eddie Perkins, and Armando Muniz and the rest is history. 

THE DONNIE POOLE BOXING STORY

THE BOXING JOURNEY OF DONNIE POOLE: by brian zelley
(special thanks to Dave Hutchinson for his input and thoughts)

Looking back
 Donnie Poole
was a Hero and
a Champion.


His first time
in boxing
began at 14
under the 
guidance of
George Zeller,
and at age 15
he met with
Peter Wylie
and became a
member of the
Toronto based
Cabbagetown 
Boxing Club.  The club was well known Canadian boxing club that 
produced it's share of good boxers and champions.


He would become a fireman and a paramedic in his post boxing days.
And, one day he would become a hero.  The story was reported by
Kate Strachan of "The Oshawa Express"  with the title:
"Hero saves man's life at mother's funeral".  In her opening line
Kate said: "A Canadian boxing champion from Scarborough is 
being credited for saving an Oshawa man's life."  Of course,
that Canadian Champion was DONNIE POOLE, the former
WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION of CANADA.

FORMER BOXING CHAMPION

DONNIE  "El Toro" POOLE,

 FIREMAN and HERO

DONNIE POOLE, THE BOXER

Donnie turned pro in 1980 with a victory over

Steve Robinson in Toronto.

In 1981, he would drop a decision to GAETEN HART,

but would bounce back to win six straight bouts 

including a stoppage of Hart and a win over Johnny Herbert.

His first shot at the Canadian welterweight title would

result in a close 12-round loss to MARIO CUSSON.

Donnie, as expected, would bounce back with more wins

and on July 30, 1985 in Halifax, he would win the

the Canadian Welterweight Title from RICKY ANDERSON.

and the rest is history.

His last bout took place on July 1990 in Jacksonville, Florida

and DONNIE "El Toro" POOLE

would defeat Larry Nichols.

"GOLDEN MEMORIES from the TREASURE CHEST"

- looking back through eyes of others -

FANTASTIC FIFTIES - TV STARS

BOXING ON TV "The Fantastic Fifties:  By brian Zelley

There was a time when TV boxing was a must view once a week

Looking back into the files of old boxing magazines of the
Fifties and early Sixties, there were always stories about
the fights and the fighters.  Some may remember some of
the names. It is believed that the one with the most Television
bouts was RALPH (Tiger) JONES.  But there were plenty of
names to drop into any discussion.  At random some
were Al  Andrews,   Wes Bascom, Rocky Castellani,
Chuck Davey, Del Flanagan, Billy Graham, Arthur King,
Danny Nardico, Randy Sandy,  Gil Turner. Chico Vejar,
and one of the West Coast TV regulars was Art Aragon. 


But, we cannot forget the names of JIMMY SLADE and
JIMMY BIVINS.

from FLOYD PATTERSON to DAVEY MOORE and HOWARD WINSTONE

CHAMPIONS:  SOME UNSUNG HEROES:  By Brian Zelley

INTRODUCTION

As we look at the many lists of great champions, or top ten lists,

or the best boxers some of the following names never appear.

But put aside the lists and remember the following 12 boxers:

Ezzard Charles, Floyd Patterson, Harold Johnson,

Bob Foster, Freddie Steele, Alan Minter, 

Curtis Cokes, Emile Griffith,  Joe Brown,

Ken Buchanan Howard Winstone, Davey Moore 


HEAVYWEIGHTS:
The two heavyweight champions in this list are
EZZARD CHARLES and FLOYD PATTERSON.


LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHTS:
The two light-heavyweight champions are:
HAROLD JOHNSON and BOB FOSTER.


WELTERWEIGHTS  and MIDDLEWEIGHTS:
The middleweights and welterweights are
FREDDIE STEELE, ALAN MINTER,
CURTIS COKES  and EMILE GRIFFITH.

                                  Emile Griffith and Manuel Gonzalez


LIGHTWEIGHTS and FEATHERWEIGHTS:
The lighter weight champions are:
JOE BROWN, KEN BUCHANAN, 
HOWARD WINSTONE and DAVEY MOORE.

HALL OF FAME - WESTERN CANADIAN BOXING

THE HALL OF FAME and CANDIAN BOXERS & BUILDERS"
by Brian Zelley

From coast to coast and on and International basis, some of the
many folks that have been involved in amateur or professional
boxing have been inducted into one or more halls of fame.

BRITISH COLUMBIA
As of September 2011, only seven of the thousands of  folks
 that have been  involved in boxing have been inducted
into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame:
Jimmy McLarnin, Billy Townsend, Tommy Paonessa,
Harold Mann, Bert Lowes, Dale and Lennie Walters.

                                           BERT LOWES - BUILDER

                             DALE WALTERS  and LENNIE WALTERS

British Columbia Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame:
As of  September 1, 2011 there are 25 inductees in the 
BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame:

from Alan Brown (Junior & Youth Boxing)

to the 

1967 International Centennial

 Diamond  Belt Championships 

                  Six of 15 Inducted in 2010 - members of the core group
                        Freddy Fuller -  Eddie Haddad - Frank Scott
                          Dale Walters -  Dick Findlay - Fred Desrosiers

ALBERTA
As of September 2011, there are 29 boxing folk inducted into the
Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.  Some of the 29 include:
Allan Ford, Bill McGrandle, Kai Yip, Paul Hortie,
Scotty Olson, Wilf Greaves and Willie deWit

                                              SCOTTY (Bulldog) OLSON

                                                     WILF GREAVES


SASKATCHEWAN


A few of the names from Saskatchewan boxing inducted
in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame are:
Adam Faul, Ken Goff, and Hank Hartenberger.

                                HANK HARTENBERGER and BOXERS
                                     Soo Line Boxing Club, Weyburn, Sask.
                               (reprint from the BC Amateur Boxing News  - b. zelley, editor)


MANITOBA
Some of the names of inductees in the 
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame are:
Charlie Belanger, Eddie Haddad, Frankie Battaglia,
Herb Embuldeniya and Steve Trojack.


Cities, Municipalities and Town Sports Halls:
Throughout the various Provinces, there are alos
numerous Municipal Sports Halls of Fame such as
Prince George, Burnaby, Nanaimo and Greater Victoria


In Prince George, one of the boxers inducted is JACK MEDA

                           Along with Jack Meda, some other names are
                                      Sid McKnight, Harold Mann, 


In Greater Victoria, there is boxer Eddie Haddad and builder Mike Caird

                             IAN WEIR - MIKE CAIRD - BRIAN ZELLEY
                            .1974 photo from the "Victorian" by Jim Ryan
                       used in a Patty Pitts story about the revival of boxing 
also named in the article as one of the persons helping with the revival 
was "Dynamite" Dan Wright.  Wright along with Zelley also started the
revival of boxing with the formation of the Nanaimo Boxing Club 1971.


(Ian Weir was from Saskatchewan and can be seen in the photo with
Saskatchewan Hall of Famer, Hank Hartenberger of the 
Soo Line Boxing Club, Weyburn)

JOHNNY COULON, Canadian Born boxing champion

JOHNNY COULON (1899 - 1973):  by Brian Zelley

Looking back, it has been some time since reading about Johnny Coulohn.
Johnny was born in Toronto and died in Chicago and was a former
bantamweight boxing champion.

Johnny also operated a boxing gym in Chicago called Coulon's Gym.
And, was a manager of former jr. welterweight champ Eddie Perkins.

                          EDDIE PERKINS - Jr. Welterweight Champion

CANADIAN BOXERS 1979

CANADIAN BOXERS 1979 and 1980: by brian zelley

Trevor BERBICK, Jean guy BINETTE Frank BULLARD, Wayne CAPLETTE,
Albert and Jim CHARD, Arthur CLARK, Chris CLARKE, Pat CUILLO,
Cleveland DENNY,  Kim EDWARDS, Barry EMO,
Jean Yves FILION,  Charles FINDLEY, Nick FURLANO, Ron FURLOW,
Gary GIRISH, Jimmy GRADSON, Clyde GRAY,Lawrence HAFEY,
Ralph HOLLETT,  Gary HUNTER, Lancelot INNLES, Terry JESMER,
Don JOHNSON, Goodwin JOSEPHS, John KUBINEC,  Jean LAPOINTE,
Jean LE CLAIR, Earl McLEAY, ron ROUSSELL, Raymont ROUSELOT,
Danny STOKES, Gary and Johnny SUMMERHAYES,  Alain TURENNE,
Dave VENT and Ron WILSON.

RON WILSON made his mark in amateur boxing in British Columbia in 1967
He turned pro and headed south, and at one time he was joined by
6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666and Steve sent me the original documentation which covers a lot of boxing in
the Fifties and some pro boxing post 1958 and names such as Dave Brown,
Bert Lowes, Lindy Lindmoser, Harold Mann, Kai Yip and many others.
RON WILSON was a member of the South Burnaby Boxing Club along
with coaches HARRY TWIST and JOHNNY PHILLIPS,  Some well known
boxers that are alumni of the club include Freddy Fuller, Frank and Keith Scott. 

                                            Donato Paduano

CANADIAN BOXERS 1971

NAMES ON THE WALL of 1971 and 1972:  by brian zelley

Canadian Boxers in the Game during the early Seventies

Luigi APRILE,  Carl, Frank and Walter ARSENAULT,  Paride BALDASSARE,
John BARIL, Al BASHIR,  Andre BEAUBIEN, Ernie BIGNEY, Bob BOZIC
Leslie and Joe BORDEN, Raymond BOUCHARD, Don BOULTER,
Gary BROUGHTON, Levi BROWN, Ron BRYDEN, Clement BUREAU,
Jackie BURKE, Marshall BUTLER, Charlie CHASE, Ray CHRISTIAN,
Ray DOIRON,Vic DOUCETTE, Tony DOWLING,
Bill DROVER, Fernand,  Joey and Rene DURELLE, Gary FALLS,
Colin FRASER, Gay GAGNON, Marc GERVAIS, Les GILLIS,
Michel GODIN, Stu GRAY, Art and Lawrence HAFEY,  David HILTON,
Jo Jo JACKSON,  Jimmy MCGOWAN,  Billy MCGRANDLE,
Earl MCLEAY,

Gary MCNEIL Rocky MACDOUGALL,  Gary MACLEAN, Jim MALLISH,
Fernand MARCOTTE, Leo NOEL, Jack OAKLEY, Donato PADUANO,
Don ROSS, Kalman SANTOSI,  Barry SPONAGLE, Lonnie STATES,
Gary, Johnny and Terry SUMMERHAYS, Les Vegas,  Bobby WOODS,

GEORGE CHUVALO - CLYDE GRAY - AL FORD -

JANUARY 1972, PACIFIC COLOSEUM, VANCOUVER, BC
Main Event:   George Chuvalo vs Charley Chase
Semi-Main:    Clyde Gray vs Lonnie States

MAY 1 1972,  PACIFIC COLOSEUM, VANCOUVER, BC
Main Event:  MUHAMMAD ALI vs GEORGE CHUVALO
Semi Main:    CLYDE GRAY vs MANUEL GONZALEZ
In the undercard, Jimmy Nobody faced Les Vegas and 
Tom Burns faced Leslie Borden. 

GEORGE CHUVALO

                                                 CLYDE GRAY

CANUCK CLOUTERS, LANGFORD, WALLS, CHUVALO, DURELLE

CANADIAN BOXERS by brian zelley
From Sam Langford to George Chuvalo and
the heavyweights,  Yvon Durelle and the
light-heavyweights.  

CANADIAN BOXERS, welterweights and middleweights

CANADIAN BOXERS
- Welterweights and Middleweights -
By Brian W. Zelley

                                                    CLYDE GRAY and WILFIE GREAVES


The Long Road of Excellence
On the world stage we have seen the likes of:
Jimmy McLarnin, Lou Brouillard and Arturo Gatti.
But, along the way, there have been countless good
welterweight and middleweight Canadian boxers.
Some of the names:
TOWNSEND,   GRAY and GREAVES

CANADIAN BOXERS - FLYWEIGHTS TO LIGHTWEIGHTS

THE CANADIAN BOXING STORY
  -  Flywights to Lightweights -
- By Brian W. Zelley

Over the years, Canada has produced some excellent boxers in the
lighter weight classes from flyweight to lightweight with such names
from GEORGE DIXON to ART HAFEY. from AL FORD  to
TYRONE GARDINER and RICHARD (Kid) HOWARD,
 then there was Buddy 
Daye (see photo)

(photo from Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame)

Looking back through the Eighties and Nineties

 from amateur and professional boxing

two names of interest are

 SCOTTY OLSON and DALE WALTERS 

and in the here and now of 2011

LOGAN MCGUINNESS and BENOIT GAUDET

VIC FOLEY, CHAMPION

Won the Canadian Bantamweight title in 1924, then fought 

an eliminaton tournament for the featherweight title and

lost a controversial decsion to LEO (Kid) ROY in Montreal

Also, fought world Jr. Lightweight champion TOD MORGAN

in an exciting battle in Vancouver, BC in 1927.

GREAVES, RICHARDSON, EMERY and SPARKS

  CANADIAN BOXERS:

 GREAVES, RICHARDSON, EMERY and SPARKS

- by Brian Zelley

There are many ways to tell the story of   Canadian

boxing, but when the final bell stops ringing, it all boils 

down to the hundreds of individual stories of all the boxers.

Looking back,  four of the many that provide some interesting

highlights  of the sport in Canada are Al Sparks, Blair

Richardson, Burke Emery and Wilfie Greaves.  But we cannot 
forget  ARMAND SAVOIE and ARTURO GATTI, GORDON
WALLACE, FRANKIE GENOVESE and JOHNNY GRECO.

                                                  AL SPARKS


                                                  WILFIE GREAVES

                                     BLAIR RICHARDSON


NAMES ON A PAGE OF BOXING HISTORY
Al Ford, Al Sparks, Art  Hafey, Billy Townsend,  Blair Richardson, 
Bob Cleroux, Chris Clarke,  Clyde Gray,   Dale Walters,
Dave Downey,  Earl Walls, Fernand Marcotte,  George Dixon,  
George Chuvalo,  Harold Mann, Jimmy McLarnin,  Ian Clyde,  

                                                    IAN CLYDE
Jimmy Walters, Jo jo Jackson, Kenny Lindsay,  Lennie Walters,                                                        Les  Gillis, Leslie Borden, 


  

BOXING CHAMPIONS INVADE CANADA

TITLE FIGHTS to EXHIBITION in CANADA:    by brian zelley

In 1966 and 1972, boxing great MUHAMMAD ALI made a couple
of appearances in Canada to engage in a title fight and another bout
with GEORGE CHUVALO.  Before the 1972 bout with Chuvalo
in Vancouver, Ali appeared in an exhibition with one time sparring
partners as part of the George Chuvalo vx Charlie Chase show.

In the fight with Chuvalo in Vancouver, both boxers trained in
North Vancouver along with welterweight boxers CLYDE GRAY
and MANNY GONZALEZ.  Ali would stay at the Georgia Hotel
in downtown Vancouver.

  BEFORE AND AFTER MUHAMMAD ALI
Beyond Ali,  many one time champions have  engaged in activity in 
boxing rings from Vancouver Island to the Maritimes including some 
of the Canadians to win world titles or partial titles by one of the many 
boxing organizations.  


ARCHIE MOORE vx YVON DURELLE


The light-heavyweight title fight between champion Archie Moore
and Canadian Yvon Durelle  in Canada in 1958 must be rated as
one of the best fights of all time, and likely Moore's greatest
achievement, and in the space of that one fight the Canadian
boxer would turn into a Canadian legend.


1900 to 1969


1901 -  JOE WALCOTT vs RUBE FERNS
.Walcott wins welterweight title with a KO victory over
Rube Ferns in Fort Erie, Ontario.


1903 - GEORGE GARDNER vs JACK ROOT
.Gardner wins light-heavyweight title with a KO victory 
over champion Jack Root in Ontario action.

1928 - TONY CANZONERI vs VIC FOLEY
.Canzoneri decisions Foley in Montreal.


1929 - TOD MORGAN vs BILLY TOWNSEND
.Motgan and Nanaimo's Billy (the Blond Tiger) Townsend
fight to a ten round draw in Vancouver.

1935 - FREDDY MILLER W10 ROGER BERNARD - Toronto.

1938 - BARNEY ROSS W10 GORDON WALLACE - Vancouver.


1949 - DADO MARINO bouts in Vancouver
.In 1949, Dado Marino defeated STAN ALMOND
and JACKIE TURNER in a pair of bouts at
Vancouver's Denman Auditorium. 


1966 - MUHAMMAD ALI vs GEORGE CHUVALO
.Ali wins a 15 round decision over the Canadian warrior
George Chuvalo at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens.


THE SEVENTIES


1973 - JOSE NAPOLES vs CLYDE GRAY
.Champion Jose Napoles defeats Canadian challenger
Clyde Gray in Toronto for the welterweight title.


1974 - EMILE GRIFFITH vs DONATO PADUANO
.Former welterweight and middleweight champion Emile
Griffith earns a decision over Canada's Donato Paduano
at Montral's Forum.

                 DONATO PADUANO - 1968 Canadian Olympic boxer

EIGHTIES ACTION

1980 - ROBERTO DURAN vs SUGAR RAY LEONARD
.Duran won a 15 round decision over Leonard in Montreal
in  a WBC Welterweight title fight.




BEYOND THE EIGHTIES


1995 - SCOTTY OLSON vs JESUS JIMINEZ
.Home town boy Scotty (the Bulldog) Olson earns a
victory over Jesus at Edmonton's Convention Centre.

                                     THE EDMONTON BULLDOG


2000 - ARTURO GATI vs JOE HUTCHISON
.Gati by Decision over Joe at the Molson's Centre in Montreal.

THE CLOUTING CANUCKS

FIGHTING CANADIANS:  by brian zelley

                              An Olympic Team from past decades


Some of the best Canadian boxers were born in Nova Scotia.  
Two of the best were GEORGE DIXON  and SAM LANGFORD.
Some of the Canadians have won world titles such as 
JIMMY MCLARNIN and LOU BROUILLARD, and others
have won Olympic medals such as LENNOX LEWIS, 
DALE WALTERS.  SHAWN O'SULLIVAN et al. 

Some of the current elite senior amateurs are hoping to
make the cut for the 2012 Canadian Olympic team such 
as KENNY LALLY, ALEX RYNN and JOEY LAVIOLETTE.

                                 National Elite Champions - 2011


Some of the professional boxers, never won world titles, but they
are still considered legends in Canada or parts of Canada.  Some
names of interest include George Chuvalo, Clyde Gray, Sammy
Luftspring, Al Sparks, Billy Townsend, Harold Mann  and many more.


Take any given decade for any specific province and there were many
boxers that made the headlines or the front page of the sports section 
of the daily newspaper.  Some were local heroes and others National 
stars.  

                                      Victoria, BC, Canada
               Caird, Orr, O'Sullivan, Robinson, Orr, Zelley, Wright
                              (photo by Dorothy Zelley,  November 2010)

                 THE BEST OF  BRITISH COLUMBIA 1948 to 1984
                         Freddy Fuller - Eddie Haddad - Frank Scott 
                        Dale Walters - Dick Findlay - Fred Desrosiers

BOXING, THE ITALIAN CONNECTION

THE BOXERS WITH ITALIAN ROOTS:  by brian zelley

Throughout the history of boxing, those with an Italian heritage
have produced countless numbers of top boxers and champions
from ROCKY MARCIANO to WILLIE PEP.  From ROCKY
GRAZIANO to JAKE LAMOTTA and countless more.

                Rocky Maricano - undefeated heavyweight champion

A Long Line of Champions and great Challengers of Italian Heritage:

*A sample of names of the boxers:
Lou Anbers, Sammy Angott, Vito Antuofermo, Fred Apostoli,
Carmen Basilio, Tony Canzoneri, Nick Furlano,  Joey Giardello, 
Rocky Graziano, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Marciano, Willie Pastrano, 
Willie Pep, and many others such as Tony Galento.

FRED APOSTOLI
One of man boxer 
with Italian heritage
to hold a middleweight
title.

Canadian Italian:
Donato Paduano.

NICKY FURLANO
Canadian boxer.

THE IRISH BOXERS

BOXERS WITH IRISH ROOTS:  by brian zelley

                                  (courtesy of John Paonessa)

From the days of  JOHN L. SULLIVAN to the current boxing scene
the sport of boxing has produced countless numbers of boxers with
an Irish heritage with some greats ranging from JIMMY MCLARNIN,
and MICKEY WALKER to the likes of MICKEY WARD.