BOXING CANADA 2012 BEGINS

2012 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: By brian zelley

With provincial championships complete, provincial champions will now

look forward to the 2012 National Championships with Nova Scotia

hosting the Senior Open Championships, and Quebec hosting the

junior and youth national championships.

The senior tournament will take place at the
"Membertou Trade & Convention Centre"
Part of the organizing committee is comprised
of "Ring 73 Amateur Boxing Society"
A special guest expected is former heavyweight
champion "Larry Holmes".


A contact person is Tracey Boutilier.  When Boxing Canada
announced the host selected, the president of Ring 73 was
WILLIE MCNEIL.


The first bouts are expected to begin on 
Tuesday, January 10th. about 5pm,

MANDY and MARY, Canada's GOLD DUST TWINS

CANADIAN BOXERS STRIKE GOLD:  By Brian Zelley

It has been a long time coming since Canadian boxers won
gold at the Olympics, Pan Am Games or the Commonwealth
Games.  But, for  MANDY BUJOLD and MARY SPENCER,
2011 is an important moment when they both earned Gold Medal
in the 2011 Pam American Games in Mexico.

Between 1975 and 1996, Canadian boxers set an interesting
record of achievement in various International tournaments
beginning with a gold medal by CHRIS CLARKE at the
Pan Am Games.  Others followed, including the magic at
the 1984 LA Olympics and the 1988 Olympic Games.
Names such as LENNOX LEWIS, SHAWN O'SULLIVAN,
WILLIE DeWIT, and DALE WALTERS have become
symbols of Canadian boxing excellence.  They have been
followed by others such as Scotty Olson, Dale Brown, 
Michael Strange, Mark Leduc and others.  Maybe 2011
is taking us back to 1984 or 1988, to start  a fresh new
record of Excellence.

1980 FLASHBACKS - the IAN CLYDE message

THE IAN  CLYDE LETTER - 1980

                  Ian Clyde - A Canadian Boxer


Introduction: by brian w. zelley

                                                           Brian Zelley

A look back at Canadian Amateur Boxing history and one
of our stars was boxer IAN CLYDE.  he was a Canadian
senior open champion for much of the Seventies, but one
of the most important things that Ian did  took place in 1980
when the Canadian Olympic Boxing Team received the
news that they would not be attending the MOSCOW
OLYMPIC GAMES of 1980.


In 1984, the words of Ian Clyde were posted in the
June 1984 - BC AMATEUR BOXING NEWS with
the following caption:
"Ian Clyde was a member of our 1980 Olympic Team.
This is his message after Canada wthdrew."


THE IAN CLYDE MESSAGE
(re-printing authorized by Ian)


"I am an Athlete.  A Canadian Athlete.  I consider myself a
representative of my Country in the same manner as a Canadian soldier, 
or a Canadian Diplomat.  My privilege is to represent my fellow
countrymen as a member of their Team...an all Canadian Team.


As a Canadian individual, I want to participate in the Olympics
more than anything else in the world.  For years I have sacrificed
pleasures, trained exhaustively, and built my entire existance around
waiting for this precious moment. 


To be denied the completion of my athletic goal for the sake of a
political boycott will be a tremendous sacrifice.  Although this will be
the greatest disappointment of my personal life, I am, nonetheless
prepared to accept it.


As an amateur athlete I have made many sacrifices, but I have also
enjoyed many rewards.  Over the years my country has sponsored me
around the world, enabling me to experience a wealth of memories
that I could never have accomplished alone.


When I enter another country, I do so as a proud representative of
my homeland, its people, and its beliefs.  Our forefathers sacrificed far more 
for the protection of this nation's beliefs than that which is being asked of me.


My personal 'Moments In The Sun' cannot supercede the serious political
stand of our Country.  If we, as a Nation of conviction decide to sever
goodwill, trade and cultural exchanges as a protest, then I, 
as an Athlete supported by this Nation, stand by that decision." 

CANADA VS ENGLAND 2011 Boxing

Kenny Lally, Tommy Stubbs, Alex Rynn, Martin Ward, 

Yves Ulysse, Tom Stalker, Custio Clayton, Scott Cardle, 

V.  Thibeaut, Callum Smith, Andrew Gardner, O. Mbwakingo,

Samir El Mais, Danny Price, Simon  Kean and F. Abbas

         CANADA vs ENGLAND  May 6 and 8, 2011

ENGLAND's TOM STALKER wins in 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Introduction:  By brian zelley


The Ken Goff Memorial Tournament was started in 1994 through the efforts of
GEORGE GOFF and Regina mayor PAT FIACCO.  One of the objectives
 was to keep the memory of KEN GOFF alive.  Ken was born in 
Bournemouth, England and founded the REGINA BOXING CLUB  in 1947.


The first event featured Team Saskatchewan vx Team Quebec and include women boxers JAIME CLAMPITT vs DAYNA SANDERSON.   But would expand to include Team Canada boxers vs Teams from other countries such as Mexico, USA and England.  In 2001, a top bout was
England's  CARL FOTCH vs Victoria BC boxer DONNY ORR. 

  

                         DONNY ORR - Team  Canada - 2000 Olympic Games


For 2011 it will be Team Canada boxers vs Team England boxers some of which had participated in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

THE JOURNEY BEGINS:  By Brian Zelley


The boxing journey for each boxer on the 2011 A team began long ago
in a number of boxing gyms scattered across the Nation, with competition
in a series of clubs shows and tournaments.  It consisted of tournaments
in …rovincial Championships for that opportunity to make the Provincial 
Team or register  for a wild card spot.  


Winning a National title was only the beginning, but it took the box-offs
in Boxing Canada final tam selection for boxers to make the A or B teams.


As a 2011 Boxing Canada team member , the real journey begins as a team.
As  a team member it is a new day with fresh duties and responsibilities.
They have not been chosen to represent their clubs, communities or
Provincial Associations, their Prime responsibility in to represent Canada
in International Tournaments.