Niagara Boxing Legend Bruce Greenlaw
Bruce Greenlaw’s boxing history goes back to the early 1980s when he fought out of the Merritton Boxing Club and won a bronze medal in the welterweight division at the senior provincial championships.
The 60-year-old stepped away from boxing to pursue a career as a Hamilton firefighter but found another athletic pursuit in flag football. He was a member of two provincial and two national championships teams and competed in two World Police and Fire Games.
“I never really thought much about boxing and then I started coming out to watch some of the (St. Catharines Boxing Club) shows.”
While at one of the fights cards, St. Catharines Boxing Club coach Joe Corrigan asked Greenlaw if he wanted to box on one of the fight cards. It turned out to be the start of his return to boxing and ultimately coaching that would see him being inducted into the Niagara Boxing Legends at the 17th Annual Niagara Boxing Legends Show March 21 at the Merritton Community Centre.
He fought on the Murphy’s Gloves card in 2016 and was hooked.
“I really enjoyed it, I really love the vibe here and I was out of football and I was just getting ready to retire. I loved the team thing, the coaches were great and the kids were really good and I decided that I was going to stick around.”
He ended up fighting two more times and when the other coaches were away, Greenlaw began to run a class or two.
“I got the bug, got my coaching licence and started coaching.”
He has found the St. Catharines Boxing Club to be a special place.
“Unfortunately, I think boxing is the sport that has the saddest stories. Everyone comes in here with a different story, whether you have been bullied, been a bully, have problems at home, a lack of confidence, a million reasons,” he said. “It isn’t like basketball where you can go and play a team sport and kind of hide in the background. They are it and it is a good confidence booster.”
One of Greenlaw’s favourite stories about the club is a kid coming into the club who was looking down at his shoes the whole time.
“He wouldn’t put his head up so I walked over to James Hughes and I said ‘Hey James. That kid is new.’ James went up and shook his hand and said ‘Hi, I’m James Hughes and I am your friend now.’ For that kid, it was like a lightbulb went off.”
Being with the club does as much for Greenlaw as it does for the boxers.
“It’s great. The atmosphere is similar to the fire department. It is one person in the ring but it is a definite team effort and I love the team atmosphere. You see a kid come in who can’t skip and then three weeks later they are skipping. They progress a little but and then they start sparring. If that is as far as they go, that’s fine too. There is an old saying that if you have a club that only makes money, it’s not a successful club. You want to make kids better and I think the club has done a great job at that.”
Greenlaw’s role at the club is to work mostly with the novice fighters.
“I try to teach the basics and don’t reinvent the wheel. You keep it simple, keep them interested and make it fun. Joe had a nickname for everybody (Greenlaw’s is 9-1-1). Realistically, Paul (Zhara) and John (Robertson) and Ray (Riley) are more experienced coaches. We get them in at one level, get them happy, get them going and pass them off to those guys who take them to the next level. We have a tiered system and I am good with chain of command.”
Greenlaw also helps man the corner when club boxers take part in fight cards.
“It is more rewarding being a coach only because you see the progression and maybe you had a little bit to do with that. We don’t take any credit for the wins but we take a beating with the losses. It really hurts watching a kid lose.”
He has loved coaching at the club right from the start.
“You have to remember when I first came here we had the Ryans, we had the Hughes, Dennis Steingart and Jake Isenor. They were pre-made. I gave them water, asked how they felt and took them off the lease. We were so very lucky.”
He always looks forward to coming to the club.
“Around noon, I start thinking about what are we going to do today. Being retired, I love coming here and it is a good part of my day. But it is also a healthy part of my day. Being with kids, you feel a little bit younger and I am semi-active again. It’s really hard to boil it down to one thing but it is a good atmosphere and I see what Joe and the rest of the guys have done before I got here and I appreciate that.”
He is proud to be inducted as a Niagara Boxing Legend.
“I am 100 per cent honoured and humbled. It’s quite an honour, for sure.”
Also being inducted are Gerry Ryan, Jessie Wilcox, Bill Williams, Sonny Pascuzzi, Brian Baines and Baby Joe Mesi.
Tickets for the show are $20 in advance and $25 at the door with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the fighting starting at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, VIP tables and sponsorship opportunities, call 905-988-1244.
Former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney will be in attendance at the fights.
