We often read or hear of spectacular feats of individuals in the world of sports. In this county we've had our share of athletes who've stretched it to the limits, those who've achieved at very high levels, male and female those of us that follow, all know them. However it's rare to hear of a group of individuals (not a team), that achieves similar goals at the highest levels, at the same time from such a small area, these feats stand alone!
However on this day it is a rarity of this nature in ( Pictou County) which I will bring to your attention! It was in the early seventies and “a pack of wolves” so to speak had descended upon our pure and pristine countryside. These purebloods were very similar to the “Canes Lupus” that stalks our Northern forests as they roamed together. Stalking prey in a collective that had never before been seen in any other part of the province, maybe country. It's difficult if not impossible to remember when so many thoroughbreds sought title of so much in a similar time frame. I'm referring to the boxing phenomena that had brought together a” band of brothers” in Pictou County, intent on wreaking havoc on the world of pugilism like never before. And they did! Like distant stars they shone from the five corners of the county, and challenged for titles as quick as the boxing world could set them up.
I talked with several members of the pack recently and asked what they felt gave them the edge over opponents in so many battles. “A common thread was conditioning.” These warriors who very often worked out together, thought nothing of running the circumference of the six mile lake where they often trained, swim it a couple of times catch their breath then head for the gym that evening. Their opponents not only faced a highly conditioned athelete, but they also faced one that very often demanded victory for the survival of the pack. Indeed they survived!
There were the fighting Hafey's Lawrence and Art, as well as the Linthorne brothers, Brian and Pete, hailing from Stellarton. Joe Joe Jackson, Joltin Joe Borden, Reggie MacLean and Gary McNeil of New Glasgow decent. A real brawler from Westville by the name of Kelly Oickle and the Sponagle brothers Barry and Wayne of Pictou! A pack of wolves all right! In many cases they had either challenged or brought titles and glory to the county in their respective weight classes. In fact Art Hafey had not only become an elite boxer in Canada but fought his way to the top of the world rankings. As did his peers Barry Sponagle, winning Canadian titles for the county in the light weight division and Lawrence Hafey, as Canadian middleweight champ, back in a day when there were only two belts to be sought after. This was incredible. Now there are enough belts to fit around a large grain silo! A bit watered down if you ask me. Both “Pistol Pete” and Lawrence had trained under Lou Gross at the famed Miami 5th st. gym a former stomping ground of Muhamid Ali! I doubt if again you'll ever see the kind of pack mentality these boxers had, they trained , watched each others fights , won titles, and hung out together daring opponents to enter their territory! The consequences were often brutal!
These days The Albion Boxing club located in Trenton is grinding out some fine amateur talent in the different weight classes. Kudos has to go out to the dedication of Jim Worthen who has been the head coach from it's inception. His efforts have kept the spirits of those great warriors alive and well every time someone laces them up for Pictou County!
