Remembering legends
Brothers honoured with photo tribute in Bras d’Or
For Ron Laffin, memories of his father’s stories of competing in the boxing ring remain fresh in his mind.
“He was trying for a championship and he needed to get down a couple of pounds, so he went to the doctor,” said Laffin. “The doctor gave him animas and he lost three pounds, so that qualified him for the championship — that’s one story he told me.”
Laffin’s father, Nicolas (Nick) Laffin, was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame along with his brothers Bill Laffin and Robert (Bob) Laffin in 1996.
The Bras d’Or boxers combined to win many championships over their careers including Cape Breton Golden Gloves as well as Maritime championships.
Recently, the boxers, who have since died, were honoured with a picture tribute, which hangs proudly at the Blue Mist Dining Room and Lounge in Bras d’Or.
“There were tears coming out of my dad’s eyes at the induction,” said Ron Laffin, thinking of the induction ceremony held 21 years ago in New Brunswick. “My father said he wished his other brother (Bill) was alive to accept the honour because he had worked so hard exceeding the obstacles he faced.”
“The Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame doesn’t just pick you off the street, you have to qualify for this — the odds are one in million,” said Laffin. “I was just looking for my dad to get into the hall of fame — it was mindboggling to see the three brothers get inducted into the hall of fame together.”
Laffin began preparing for the picture tribute about two
months ago, with the goal of having the boxers memory remembered in the community.
“These guys aren’t from another country, these guys are from right here in our own hometown in Cape Breton,” said Laffin. “It means a lot that
the community is accepting this tribute with open hearts.”
Nicholas Laffin began working in the coal mines at age 15 to help his father support a family of 12. Any feuds with the boys were settled in the backyard with the boxing gloves — that’s where his love for the sport began. He finished his career with a 29-3-2 record.
Bill Laffin was a counterpunching welterweight boxer, finishing his career with a 41-4-1 record. He overcame his physically handicap; he was born with two clubfeet. Despite the fact that his right leg was three inches shorter than his left leg, he turned to boxing for personal control, self-reliance and confidence.
Robert (Bob) Laffin accumulated nearly 100 boxing bouts, as a featherweight to lightweight, during his 14-year career. His
style was one of non-aggression, which led to wins over many top Canadian fighters including Benny Delorenzo, Keith Paris and Rocco Jones.
The tribute was also on display at the Cape Breton County Farmer’s Exhibition last month in North Sydney. Ron Laffin said the tribute was well received by the community.
Laffin said the strategies used by the boxers gave him inspiration throughout his life.
“The strategies used in that timeline, given the restrictions they had with certain health problems, they overcame that to reflect and study their opponents,” said Laffin. “It’s just like the obstacles we see today, the political obstacles, but you have to be careful how you deal with some obstacles in life.”
The tribute will remain on display at Blue Mist Tavern for the time being.
Laffin encourages those interested in seeing the picture to visit the local dining room and lounge. Anyone wanting more information about the boxers is asked to email Laffin at ronlaff@hotmail.com.