Fight For Charity Event Program Fight For Charity 2019 | Page 11

Canada, so MABA put together a rules
committee to become workable with
international boxing rules. Members of
the rules committee included Alan Wall,
Herb Embuldeniya, Mike Pestrak, Ray
Martin, Al and Freda Tummon, Brian
Harris and Len Johnson.
The completed report was
presented to the Canadian Amateur
Boxing Association at its annual
meeting in Montreal. CABA accepted
the rules unanimously and had its first
rule book – a proud accomplishment of
the Manitoba association.
In the late 1960s and early
1970s, Manitoba continued to be a
powerhouse in the sport with many
Canadian champions including Marv
Arnesen, Steve Ross, Dennis Bercier,
Wayne Caplette, Bill Turner and a host
of others in several weight classes.
In 1999, Winnipeg once again
played host to the Pan American
Games and the boxing venue was again
sold out.
Some of the most prominent boxers
in recent years are Ken Johnson, Bobby
Olsen, Shawn Krasnesky and Harry
Black.
Black started his boxing career
in 1976 and participating in the sport
changed his life. Black is now president
of Pan Am Boxing Club, Winnipeg’s
oldest boxing gym, and acts as both
trainer and coach.
“Going from the local boxing scene,
to small U.S. towns, to nationals to
representing Canada internationally
brought great maturing experiences
– as well as heartbreak and defeat
– culminating with a very rewarding
career in boxing,” Black says.
Black has always believed in the
power of boxing. “The extreme physical
and mental discipline and training
required to be successful in the square
of the ring is exactly what is required in
the ‘ring’ of life,” he says.
In the 1980s, 1990s and into the
2000s, other notable Manitoba boxers
included Chris Scott, Ryan Savage,
Gary Head, Mike Fenner, Chad Brisson,
Megan Megan, Damien Roach, Stormy
Roach, Jeremy Laquette, Arthur Cook,
Roberto Romero and Amy Heska,
who are all current or former national
champions.
Several Manitoba boxers have been
inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall
of Fame: Al Sparks, Billy Marquardt,
Charley Belanger, Donny Lalonde,
Eddie Haddad, Frankie Battaglia,
Herb Embuldeniya, Peter Kawulia and
Terence Fowler.
Nieva Embuldeniya is the most
recent inductee, joining the Manitoba
Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. She
became one of the first female boxing
officials in Manitoba, working her way
up the ranks as a judge. More than
20 years after her start, Embuldeniya
judged at the London 2012 Olympics
as well as at other international
tournaments.
“When I sat for the officials
examination, I was encouraged by my
husband, Herb Embuldeniya, who was
one of the boxing officials,” she says.
“My challenges came as I moved up
internationally. My strong foundation
as a provincial and national official
has helped me to overcome them. I
am grateful to Boxing Manitoba and
Canada for the opportunities.”
Mark Collins is head coach of Pan
Am’s Youth Competition program.
Sabrina Carnevale contributed to this
article, and some information in it
comes from the Manitoba Sports Hall
of Fame.
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