Former boxer fought to keep youth off the street
Welland Boxing Club founder Frank Degazio remembered as coach who gave ‘100 per cent’
In the 1970s Frank Degazio’s family extended beyond wife Julie and their four children.
It got so large the former professional boxer, then in the midst of a 35-year career at General Motors in St. Catharines, bought a building to accommodate them all.
Dan Degazio, recalling the origins of the Welland Boxing Club that his father founded and owned and operated for 12 years, said a building that now serves as Open Arms Mission on Fifth Street was as much about keeping youth off the street as it was about promoting the sport.
“He paid for it out of his own money, he ran the club with his own money,” Dan said. “He promoted the sport, but his biggest thing was keeping kids off the street.
Frank Degazio, who died Sunday at age 83, was all about “helping the kids” when he coached young boxers, including several who went on to win Canadian championships.
“We had a lot of kids in our club that probably could have ended up going the wrong way,” Dan recalled. “But they came into our club and he was very disciplined with the kids and made sure that they all toed the line, whether it be in their private life or in the gym.”
As a coach and as a father, Frank Degazio expected 100 per cent, but he gave it in return.
“He put his heart and soul in every fighter he had, no matter how good or how bad he was.”
Dan trained under his father at home, but he was more focused on hockey growing up in Welland. It was younger brother John who worked with their father in the gym and became his favourite fighter.
“Johnny was treated just like everyone else, no favouritism at all, actually Johnny might have had to train harder,” Dan recalled with a chuckle.
Degazio was “100 per cent” in his children’s corners, whether they were in the ring or on the ice. When Dan spent five years playing junior hockey, his father was almost always there cheering him on.
“Very rarely did he miss a game. He would miss a shift or take half a shift off work to make sure that he was there for us,” Dan said. “He supported us 100 per cent in our endeavours.”
Whether Dan’s team won or lost didn’t matter to a man who won eight fights, including two by decision, and lost four in a pro career that lasted from 1952 until 1955.
“As long as we gave a 100 per cent, that’s all that mattered.”
Dan Degazio, economic development director for the City of Welland, said he couldn’t have asked for a better role model than his father.
“He was an absolutely fantastic father,” Dan said. “He also pushed for us to do better and reach for the best we can be.
“He always encouraged us.” In 1979 Frank Degazio was selected as both Welland’s coach of the year and sportsman of the year. He was inducted into Niagara Legends Boxing in 2014.
Family and friends are invited to J.J. Patterson & Sons Funeral Residence, 19 Young St., Welland, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Service will be held in the chapel 11 a.m. Friday.
Donations in Frank Degazio’s memory can be made to Open Arms Mission.