Bc Buckskin Gloves

BC BUCKSKIN GLOVES - Looking Forward & Looking Back: By Brian W. Zelley

In the late days of May 2010, Boxing BC will sanction another tournament in the "Road To Glory" series of tournaments in different parts of British Columbia. With the completion of the Golden Gloves tournament on
April 17th. the next special tournament will be the "Buckskin Gloves".

The host club will be the "2 Rivers Boxing Club" of Quesnel. In reviewing the various clubs of British Columbia, the 2 Rivers club is a very interesting
story. Before September, the club had been inactive for a number of years
but over the summer months of 2009, some of the ex-members were
sounding the alarm that they wished to return from "out in the wilderness"
into an active club. So the stage was set to select the training site and
seek out the former coach that had been inactive for a number of years.

In a comparison of clubs to past BC boing tournaments, the Buckskin Glove
would be the perfect avenue for the club to showcase the sport and bounce
back from inactivity to host an important show.

In 1973, the Buckskin Gloves made an interesting comeback after ten years.
The 1973 revival would be hosted by the "Matsqui Sumas Abbortsford
Boxing Club" aka MSA Boxing Club and it took place at the MSA Arena
in Abbortsford in the month of April. A key person behind this revival
was ED WILLIAMS. Also, ROGER ADOLPH, a then co-ordinator with the
"BC Native Amateur Sports Federation", would assist in the promotion.

Fast forward to 1984, and the tournament was hosted by the
"Okanagan Native Band" through the efforts of ALLAN LOUIS and E. LOUIS.
Boxers would compete from Pavilion, Kelowna, Vernon, Williams Lake,
Armstrong, Oliver, Maple Ridge, Richmond and some USA entrants.
Some well known boxers from the 1984 tournament would include
Andrew Peters, Gerald Peters, Brad Morin, Shane Ribalkin,
Tony Francis and Ron Elgie.

Between 1973 and 1984, one of the shining stars was Victoria boxer
Cliff Ballendine who was also a three time BC JR GOLDEN BOY.

So now is the time for 2 Rivers to shine with the tournament.
In April, they demonstrated their desire to participate with their own
revival and entered nine boxers in the 2010 BC Golden Gloves.

Photo: A 2 Rivers Boxer punches straight and true in BC Golden Gloves action at Langford's Eagle Reach Community Centre.

2 RIVERS BOXING CLUB of Quesnel, BC, Canada

Pleased to report that the club is in the planning stage of this important
boxing tournament for First Nations boxers. It is hoped that the show will
be a sellout and there is community support to demonstrate that
the club that came back from inactivity for a number of years
are ready, willing and able to host the tournament
with participation, actionand co-operation from other
boxing clubs and BOXING BC.

Good news BOXING BC has posted information of the tournament
on their web site and plan to have some of their administrators in attendance.

An important example of the 2 Rivers dedication to the sport of amateur boxing
was their participation in the 2010 BC Golden Gloves in April
at Langfords Eagle Ridge Community Centre on Vancouver Island
which is a far distance from Quesnel. Despite, limited activity
in the current season, nine boxers and their coach Wally
came and participated.

For the boxers they did their club and community proud and participated
with enthusiasm and determination. As an added bonus the boxers
had some pictures taken with Canadian boxing legend GEORGE CHUVALO.

There are over fifty boxing clubs in British Columbia, but it was
memers of 2 Rivers that provided the largest number of boxers
for the April tournament. If there was a special award for
boxing clubs at the end of a season the for the CAN DO award,
I would present it to the club without the least trace of
evasion or mental reservation.

The scheduled date of the 2010 show is May 29th.

2013 BC BUCKSKIN GLOVES ready for action in February

*more details expected shortly:kissing: