The 2012 Tournament: By Brian W. Zelley
It is hoped that this preliminary history and the
follow-up results will provide some Golden Memories
for those that participate including the
boxers, coaches, officials and other volunteers.
THE LIFEBLOOD OF CANADA's BOXING FUTURE:
from the Big Tyme Boxing Club
coached by Bryon Mackie
(the photo was included in a story by
Mike Maloney, "Orangeville Banner"
Introduction
Looking back, the only junior or youth national tournament
that I have covered in detail was the "1984 Junior Nationals
and Senior box-offs. There were no high expectations of who
would win, but has the action rolled it became clear that a few
of the boxers would be in the running for the best boxer award.
At the end of the process, the three standouts were
Eric Grenier, Scotty Olson and Stewart Hilton.
But one thing was clear, even some of those that did not win
the 1984 Junior title had the skills and dedication to make
a difference in the future. Getting beyond, this tournament,
some of those that did not win a national title in 1984 would advance
and be part of Canada's 1988 Olympic boxing team.
As the action progresses between February 28 to March 3, the same
will be true that a select few will shine, but when we fast forward to 2016
and it is possible that any boxer could be part of the 2016 team.
- 2012 Junior and Youth Boxing Championships:
By Brian Zelley http://zelleyonboxing.blogspot.com/
be the current youth and junior boxers that will be the Senior open champions that will participate in the 2014 Commonwealth Games or the 2016 Olympics.
So it is important for all those involved in the sport of
amateur boxing in the year 2012 to support and
encourage excellence in performance as the best
of 2012 engage in the 2012 Boxing Canada
Junior and Youth Championships that will take
place in St Hyacinthe, Quebec between
February 28 to March 3, 2012.
For the young junior boxers there should be no high expectations, just
an opportunity to expand their level of experience to prepare for
future youth boxing competition.
For the Youth boxers, this is an opportunity to fine tune their
ring skillls and expand their experience fighting against a
broad range of boxers with different skills, styles and
experiences. At the end of the tournament, regardless of the
results they have the opportunity to improve on their strengths
and minimize their weaknesses and errors as they prepare for
future senior open competition and represent Canada in
future International competition against the best in the world.
THE KEY OBJECTIVE OF THIS BLOG WILL BE TO
RECOGNIZE ALL THE BOXERS FROM EACH PROVINCE
and to follow their performances as they engage in battle. For some
it will be possible to highlight some past achievements with the help
of the boxers, coaches, friends and fans. Each one has an
opportunity to be recognized and profiled.
2012 Junior/Youth Nationals, photo courtesy of Billy Irwin)
2011 Youth Champions:
some of the champions will not be in the 2012 action as they
are now seniors, so we are expected to see some new names.
2011 Junior (Male) Champions:
(photo - c adams, Cranbrook, BC)
BOXING BC JUNIOR and YOUTH TEAM
*you can't hit what you can't see", so the
BC team will have a hidden strategy to
keep the other Provincial boxers
looking into the dark and punching
fresh air and missing the target.
-this of course, is idealism at it's best.
It is expected that BC boxers will
uphold the tradition of winning
some titles, and placing well in
the others.
The two team coaches have a
variety of experience and they
should be helped along by
other coaches that make
the trip to Quebec.
The complete team details will be posted on or before the
starting date of the Nationals that are scheduled to begin on
February 28, 2012.
However, coach Graham McIntosh of Kelowna is expected to attend.
A young MARCUS SANDHU back in early years:
There were many boxing photos that could be selected,
I picked this one that was posted in 2008 because it shows early
years, winning one of those little trophies and having family support.
then getting beyond those early years to continue the journey.
Good to hear from team coach Matt Brown who is working six
days a week getting ready for the tournament including time
spent preparing Cody and Jess for their shot at regaining a
National title.
club where Marcus Sandhu is preparing for
a trip to Quebec.
In the next little while Matt will have many
of the team members stop at the Mission City
Boxing Club. Also, there is a possibility
that former Canadian champion and now
an official Derrick Hoyt will visit to discuss
new rules to coaches and boxers.
BOXING ALBERTA JUNIOR and YOUTH TEAM
Contact person for Boxing Alberta is SILVIO FEX
BOXING ALBERTA officials.
BOXING SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR and YOUTH TEAM
*One of the names mentioned as part of the Team is JARID CLARKE.
jared will be competing in his second Nationals tournament and for
2012 he will compete in the featherweight division. Later, it is expected
that Jarid will be part of a team that will travel to Wales for a show.
Jarid is a member of the Swift Current Friendship Boxing Club
which is coached by Robert Hattum.
Boxing Saskatchewan or Boxing Canada. Some of the boxers are:
David Edwards, Elijah Dela Cruz, Logan Cloutier and Claudino Nelson.
BOXING MANITOBA JUNIOR and YOUTH TEAM
*Phillip Natividad indicated the team to be confirmed January 30th.
TEAM MANITOBA COACHES:
Mark Collins of Alliance and Mike Frederickson of Brandon
Boxers that will compete in the Senior final team selection box=off
include Brandt Butt, Andrew Gardiner, Brad Katona, Jan Quinit,
and Katie Saull.
Junior or Youth boxers include:
Julian Alvarez, Clayton Bruchanski, and Natasha Armstong
Manitobs clubs that will be represented include:
Alliance, Brandon, Cresentwood, Eastman,
Orioles and United.
BOXING ONTARIO JUNIOR and YOUTH TEAM
*Team coaches for Boxing Ontario will be
Billy Irwin and Bob Wilcox.
Boxing Ontario is expected to field a team of 30 and
Coach Irwin indicates five of those should be from
his club. Those named include:
Gabe and Josh Lupia, Mike Abbruscato, Lucas Badhl and Dallas Sexton.
Boxers from other Ontario clubs includ Zack Ridgewell.
One of the expected boxers returning to regain a title
will be ZSOLT DURANYI Jr. Zsolt is a boxer with
the "Clancy's Boxing Academy" and his chief coach and trainer
is former Canadian champion and Olympic boxer Chris Johnson.
(one of the recent stories about Zsolt was by Iain Colpitts that was
published on the http:mississauga.com/ site.
Coach Johnson is expected to be in attendance at the tournament.
http://mississauga.com/ following an interview
with Chris Johnson. Chris is banking on speed and power
will be the two qualites that will mine GOLD in Quebec.
(photo by permission of Zsolt)
*Two of the Ontario boxers were profiled in the :ST CATHERINES STANDARD"
including defending champion JAKE JAMES and first timer STEVEN RYAN.
Two coaches quoted in the article were John Robertson and Joe Corigan.
BOXING QUEBEC JUNIOR and YOUTH TEAM
One of the expected woman boxers is JOCELYN GUENETTE.
BOXING NEW BRUNSWICK
Boxing New Brunswick or Boxing Canada.
BOXING NOVA SCOTIA
(photo from "The Annapolis County Spectator" - January 2012)
One of the coaches expected to travel to Quebec at
the end of February will be BRUCE HARKNESS
of the Pegasus Boxing Club. Also, boxer
CYRUS TAYLOR is expected to compete.
(the Harkness and Taylor news was from
Lawrence Powell, "The Annapolis County Spectator"
- December 17, 2011).
quote from the past :
"...to be successful, you have to have good work habits
and be coachable...", South Shore Boxing Club coach
Dave Penny in a boxing story that included Brett Fraser.
Fraser was one of Boxing Nova Scotia's boxers in the
Canadian Winter Games. Others included:
jason Downey, Matthew Whitford and Cyrus Taylor.
THE OFFICIAL NOVA SCOTIA TEAMS:
In the "Cape Breton Post" she indicated that she may meet Quebec's
Jocelyn Guenette in her weight division.
Brad Ross of the Sydney Boxing club is expected to be one of the
team coaches. But, other coaches that are expected to attend will
be Greg Martin, Wayne Gordon and Bruce Harkness.
(part of the senior box-off action with a clear focus)
TAYLOR ROSS speaks for the first timers in the Nationals.
"...this is my first year...whatever happens, happesns.
As long as I do my best. - taylor ross, in the Caper Breton Post.
RING OFFICIALS
The ring officials ready for action in the Nationals have not
been made public but some of the key folks in recent years:
include
Sonny Wong, Ian Gibson, Roland Labbe, Claude Plante,
Pierre Chiasson, Ed Blanchard, Bill Arsenault and Mike Summers.
VOICES from the PAST JUNIOR and YOUTH BOXERs
For the current gathering of boxers, coaches and officials
they will all have a story to tell at the completion of the show.
But, what are the views of past members of these tournaments?
Round 1: Graham McIntosh, all things are possible with new beginnings:
and gives the current boxers some vision for the possible future, but that
journey will require additional experience but they are on the right road.
Round Two: 1984 Flashbacks
It was back in 1984 when I was one of the three "best boxer award" judges.
There was a lot of talented juniors and box-off seniors. On a broad level
in got the many volunteers in British Columbia to do their small part in the
journey of each boxer. And, some of the boxers would go on to win medals
in various tournaments such as the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and the
Commonwealth Games. I have had an opportunity to do a number of stories
on the tournament and some of the boxers. The first article appeared in the
June 1984 issue of the "BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING NEWS".
- then editor, Brian W. Zelley.
Round Three: Paul "P-Mac"MacKenzie, "Chase Those Dreams"
professional journey to send a message to the junior and youth
boxers of today. Gotta love that "Chase Those Dreams" close.
BOXING CANADA PREPARES FOR THE ACTION:
*Boxing Canada primary preparation will take place on
February 27 th. with a referees and judges clinic, and a
technical meeting.. Aside from the Junior and Youth
Championships, the senior box-off bouts are important
as the final winners will be included on the National Team.
SENIOR BOXERS and the FINAL TEAM SELECTION
*this portion of the tournament will cut short the dreams and hopes
of many Canadian boxers to earn a spot on the Olympic team.
For some it will be a door for them to enter and travel to Brazil
for the last change.
Jag Seehra and Bob Pegues
Jag Seehra (Prince George) and Dylan Bishop (Maple Ridge),
Some of the competition will include:
Josh O'Reilly, Chris Plaitis and Brad Katona.
A recent "Prince George Citizen" story was titled:
"Seehra looks to keep National B team status"
2010 BC Golden Boy Dylan Bixshop.
TIMELINES for THE NATIONALS per BOXING CANADA:
*Prior to the start of the tournament on February 28 th.
there will be a clinic and a technical meeting for officials.
The actual tournament will begin on February 28 th. with
official registrations, medicals and weigh-ins. The
preliminary bouts will begin in the evening. This will
be followed in subsequent days of quarter finals,
semi-finals and then the finals. For the senior boxers like Seehra, Bishop,
O'Reilly and Nova Scotia's Joey Laviolette this will be the final team
selection and will determine how many boxers will earn the right to
attend the men's final chance at the Olympic Team in the competition
in Brazil.
THE ACTION BEGINS"
*some of the early results of the boxing action for juniors and youth:
*Early results as reported by Philip Natividad of Manitoba was
Quinit wins his opening bout with a victory over
Noran Lachance of Ontario. Also, a couple of boxers were uncontested.
*BC boxer Spencer Howard has reported he lost his first
bout to the Canadian champion in the Nationals. Indicated the
champion "hits hard".
*Connor McKinley, of Boxing BC reports that he won his prelim bout
and is ready to face theboxer from Team Ontario on Friday.
Boxer Marcus Sandhu of BC faces Boxing Saskatchewan
boxer on Thursday in quarter-finals.
the division includes the heavy hitting Zsolt Daranyi and Ontario's skilled
Mason Blythe.
Jessy Brown moves forward in a heavily contested division including
Saskatchewan's Logan Clouthier and Ontario's Rega Jihad.
A quaterfinals bout: Downey vs Adams
*Jason Downey of Nova Scotia over Colin Adams of BC
The journey of Cranbrook boxer Colin Adams was reported
in his local newspaper with the following headline:
"Adams takes bronze at national boxing tournament"
- as reported by Trevor Crowley, "The Daily Townsman".
*Jarid Clarke of Saskatchewan earned a victory over Travis Benoit of Nova Scotia,
but in the second bout lost to Ontario's Zack Ridgewell. In "The Saskatchewan
Booster", some of the details of Jarid's journey were reported.
*Ryan Sanford of Nova Scotia moved forward with a victory over
Quebec's Michael Blanchet.
*Reported in "Herald Sports" was in senior competition, Joey Laviolette
dropped a bout to Justin Hocko. And, the champion Rodolfo Velasquez
was defeated by Jermaine Badchkam.
In the final, HOCKO of Windor wins Gold with a victory over
Hamilton's BADCHKAM.
In senior action JAG SEEHRA of BC will fight in the finals to determine
the B-Team member. BRAD KATONA of Manitoba won the final bout.
For Team BC, Cody Brown win gold in juniors, but Jessy Brown
settles for bronze. Nova Scotia's Cyrus Taylor came through to win
gold with Max Rizzi settling for silver in the Youth 81 kg division.
Saturday Action and the first 13 bouts:
tournament, some of the bouts such as the Zsolt Daranyi vs Mason Blyth
coud have been predcted. In the final Zsolt won the title.
Daranyi is trained by former champion Chris Johnson.
But there were some surprising results such as
the performances of Alisha Enslen and Michael Abbruscato.
POST TOURNAMENT VIEWS:
Mark Collins, one of the Manitoba coaches, had some thought provoking
comments on the tournament. They are the words that express
co-operation and communication on a high level.
Billy Irwin is one of our great boxers, and like others he is paying it back
by coaching and his participation in the tournament was appreciated
and his comments before and after the tournament are worthy of posting.
In a story by sarah Ferguson, the title was
"Teens win Gold and Bronze in first natonal boxing competition"
*A photo appered with coach Billy Irwin with boxers
Gabe and Josh Lupia. Bill indicated "he was proud of how well
Josh and Gabe performed along with three other fighters from
"Fight ClubCanada"..."
*Kerry Fahlman reports on Medicine Hat boxer Alisha Enslen:
Medicine Hat Boxing Club
Best Female and Champion
Medicine Hat, Alberta)
*the head coach of the BC, Matt Brown looks back at the
experience:
Coach Brown back at the gym with boxers
Cody and Jess Brown and fellow Mission City
coach Dale Gatin.
The pre-tournament hope:
The post-tournament message:
with the reference and praise if Ontario coach Billy Irwin and the
outstanding performance of Team Ontario.*****
