1973 - Spruce Capital

Photo - HAROLD MANN

Photo: JACK MEDA

Photo: Brian's last fight 1973 - Nanaimo, BC

1973 / SPRUCE CAPITAL - PRINCE GEORGE

Back in 1973, the head coach for Spruce Capital was Sports Hall of Fame member HAROLD MANN,

At that time Prince George had an excellent cast of star boxers such as
DALE ANDERSON, CAPI DAMANI, STEVE BELLIS, ROY PATTISON,
LAURIE MANN, SID McKNIGHT,

JACK MEDA was no longer involved in competition, but the havyweight division in
British Columbia was lean with the likes of Jim STEVENSON & Dan WRIGHT
in the game along with Neil MELROSE.

Some of the past outstanding Prince George boxers were Laurie RORICK and Buzz MONTOUR.
And who could forget Harold HANDLIN from the Sixties, and a number of others.

Fast forward to 2009 and the head coach is WAYNE SPONAGLE and one of the
outstanding boxers is lightweight MARCUS HUME.

Also in Prince George is the Inner City Boxing Club with coach BOB PEGUES
and boxer KEN LALLY. Pegues began boxing at the Nanaimo Boxing Club
that was started by heavyweight amateur contender DAN WRIGHT and former
boxer from Nanaimo & Vancouver Brian ZELLEY.

BEYOND the SPRUCE CAPITAL WARRIORS

The year 1973 was interesting in British Columbia as most of the senior boxers of the Sixties
were gone, and the new young warriors were ready and able to carry the flag forward
to touch gloves in the middle of the ring and be ready to fight under the bright lights.

Some of the top senior boxers in addition to the Spruce Capital Warriors were
boxers from assorted clubs scattered from Cranbrook to Richmond and across
the pond to Vancouver Island and Nanaimo.

Victoria was in a renewal stage, but would soon play a key role in Vancouver Island boxing.

1973 Boxers of note:
Chris Ius, Kelly Sumra, Keith Hunter, Danny Tatton, Gordie Lawson, Shane Hoyt, Willie Benallie

Some of the juniors that will do intresting things, some into the Eighties:
Dale Walters, Barry Blatter, Ed McCaffrey, Darren Lussier, Mike O'Reilly,
Rick Eedy, Joe McCaffrey, Ian Pye, Jack Snaith and David Ius.

One of the last of the notable senior boxers from the Sixties that was still
rocking and rolling in the ring was Steve Tohill, but all stories must end.