By Brian Zelley
Introduction
The year 1968 would see the revival of the Silver Gloves Boxing Tournament
in Briish Columbia. In 1960, the British Columbia Silver Gloves was
directed by Harry Twist, coach of the South Burnaby Boxing Club, at
the Burnaby High School. From 1961 to 1967, the tournament did not take
place, but in 1968 it was revived.
It would be hosted by the United Commercial Travellers and held
at the Sea Island Hall in Richmond.
with Newcastle Boxing Club coach George Nepper.
1968 SILVER GLOVES, CHAMPIONS and FINALISTS
Michael O'Reilly, Eddie McCaffrey, Johnny McCluskey, Ian Pye, Billy Berrow,
Matthew Cardell, Cedric Hamilton, David Ius, John Young, Chris Ius,
Happy Seigner, Wayne Gordon, Les Hamilton, Mark Millman, Dave Swartz,
Chuck Massey, Neil Austin, Perry Demosten, John Gamble, Rick Johnson,
Joe Cooke, Lanny Thom, Darryl Wood, Jim Crook, Paul DiBenedetto,
Bob Scharff, Tony James, Don Fraser, Joe Shannon, Alf Cool, Ian Hunter,
Danny Gontas, Gordie Lawson, Wayne Tickell, Ron Trainor, Darryl Smith,
Dave Darin, Ian MacLeod, Buzz Montour, Bob Lewis, Art Gourley,
Darryl Wright, Darryl Olsen and Howard Hewitt.
FOLLOW-UP TOURNAMENTS
The Travellers would host the show again in 1969 and 1970, but in
1971, the tournament would be hosted by the Astoria Boxing Club.
Over the years, the tournament would be held in other locations such as
in 1976, the event was held in Cloverdale and in 1981 it was Campbell River.
AS THE YEARS FLASHED BY
- the journey continued for some of the champions and finalists.
One of the interesting subsequent stories was the case of boxer
TONY JAMES. In his very next competition, Tony would
reach for the star by taking on 1967 Canadian Featherweight
Champion WAYNE BOYCE in the 1968 BC GOLDEN GLOVES. At the
end of that prelim bout on the first night of the Golden Gloves
there was a buzz that James was the winner, but when the judges
scores were read, the close decision went to Wayne and not Tony.
of the 40 plus boxers, two would be part of Canada's 1972
Olympic Team - CHRIS IUS and LESLIE HAMILTON. But, many of the
others would have some interesting years ahead in senior open
competition such as Neil Austin, Joe Cooke and Darryl Olsen.
ALF COOL is currently an administrator for the
BC Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame. Inductees
include Gordie Lawson and Chris Ius.
