THE CANADIAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONS 1980 to 1989

THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS by Brian Zelley

THE EIGHTIES:

Looking back between 1980 and 1989 there are many intereting
stories and the early ones include the likes of:
IAN CLYDE and JAMIE OLLENBERGER

BEYOND 1980 there was that interesting 1984 year

BEYOND 1980
There would be many interesting stories and events with a variety of
names from ASIF DAR, LENNOX LEWIS, DALE WALTERS and many others.

1982 Commonwealth Game
Willie DeWit and Shawn O'Sullivan, Gold
and Kevin mcDermott, bronze.

THE 1984 SENIOR BOX-OFF
A dozen boxers would arrive in Burnaby, BC in time for the actuob
that took place from May 25 to 27th. at the BCABA Training Centre.
Two of the boxers would have to engage in two bouts to determine which one
would be considered for the Olympic Team. In the first bout, the winner
between Canadian champion Dennis Lambert and Peter Britt was
Peter. However, to replace a champion required two wins, and in the
second bout Lambert pulled out the win and became a Olympic team
member.
Steve Pagendam would earn a decision over Stephen Nolan
to secure a spot on the team, along with John Kalbhenn and
Rick Duff. Shawn O'Sullivan would win over Lawrence Rolfe.
Alberta's RICK DUFF would get past Darrell Flint to
earn a shot. But, Manitoba's KEN JOHNSON would decision
BC's Wayne Welsh, the Canadian champion, but, Johnson would
not be selected for the Olympic Team for Los Angeles.

Then there would be the training camp in July 1984
with most of the 1984 Olympic team members, and some
of the other boxers such as Steve Beaupre
various coaches and officials such as Taylor Gordon.

1984 LA OLYMPIC MEDALS
Willie deWitt, Shawn O'Sullivan and Dale Walters

1985 SENIOR NATIONALS
The 1985 Senior Nationals would be very interesting.
There were some surprises with BC boxer Joe Pendry
winning the Canadian welterweight title, and two
boxers than were on the 1984 Olympic team were
defeated along before the finals.

Selected as best 1985 fighter was ASIF DAR.
Even back in his junior days, Asif was a classy
and winning boxer. In 1980 after punching his
way into the finals, he met Victoria's
Cliff Ballendine. Dar not only won the
fight in the Junior Nationals but was selected
as the best junior boxer in Canada.

1986 Commonwealth Games, Canadiam medals:
Scotty Olson, Steve Beaupre, Bill Downey, Asif Dar,
Howard Grant, John Shaw, Dan Sherry, Brent Kosolofski,
Dominic D'Amico and Lennox Lewis.

POST 1988 OLYMPIC GAME, OLD FACES AND THE NEW BREED
After the 1988 Olympic Games, some would turn pro like
Lennox Lewis, others would remain a couple more years,
and others would say goodbye. Then there were new faces
that had won titles in the juniors and youth boxing.

At the close of the Eighties some of the 1989 senior champions
would be and important part of the Nineties such as
MARK LEDUC and BILLY IRWIN.

A NINETIES MARK LEDUC MOMENT:

1980 THE VETERAN CHMPION IAN CLYDE
Of the 1980 champions, the most experienced one was IAN CLYDE.
Ian first won a senior title in 1973 and continued to be an active
champion until 1980. He had been in previous International
tournaments including the 1976 Olympic Games, but the team
of 1980 lost out on the chance to represent Canada in 1980
due to a political boycott of the USSR. Being the team
leader, Clyde took the difficult step to announce his
understanding of the decision by the Canadian Government.

Two of the other 1980 champions were returning
champions from 1979. Laurie Mann and Kevin
Howard. Boxer Jamie Ollenberger
had paid his dues in his early years of boxing,
but in 1980 he was one of the best and exciting
boxers from BC and he was 1980 BC Golden Boy.
Ollenberger would be a repeat BC Golden Boy
in 1981,then he would turn pro.

THE 1980 OLYMPIC BOXING TEAM MEMBERS
Ian Clyde, Stephen Nolan, Patrick Fennell and Ricky Anderson.

(Photo: Courtesy of Ian Clyde).

TREASURE CHEST OF GOLDEN MEMORIES
- from boxers, coaches, officials and fans -


brian zelley
There are many interesting moments, one of mine
was attending the 1984 Canadian Olympic Team
training centre experience in July, but
there were many others

(Photo: taken at the Olympic team training centre in July
in Burnaby, BC.) In the picture is Alan Brown,two time junior
national champion in the early eighties and former boxer and
an official Vic Murdoch, and Brian Zelley, then a director of
Boxing BC (BCABA).

A Few of the Asif Dar moments and memories.:

The above events are just two from Asif's fantastic treasure chest.

Thoughts from Ian Clyde