Much loved ‘Uncle Ray’ will be much-missed

100 Golden Gloves boxing champions since arriving on Palm Island in 1999.

part of his local community.

The late and great Palm Island boxing trainer Uncle Ray Dennis passed away on 1 June and will be sadly missed.

Uncle Ray was highly respected on Palm Island and beyond, and he died on his beloved island home.

Uncle Ray trained an amazing 68 Australian, 70 Queensland and more than

His charges included members of the fighting Sam family, Geia, Oui, Baira and Nona pugulists.

Uncle Ray was a big fan of the Waiben’s Zenadth Kes Boxing Club.

Octogenarian Uncle Ray celebrated his 86th birthday on 30 March this year.

Age and illness may have slowed him in recent years, but he remained very much a

He lived in a room which was part of the Barge Terminal, near the end of the Reel Women jetty.

“I used to train in a tin shed at the local Barracudas Rugby League Oval which was often very hot,” he said.

“After my first three months in 1999 we took 11 Palm boxers to Proserpine for a State of Origin tournament fought between Queensland and NSW fighters.

“The lads won 10 of their 11 bouts and Robert Haines was judged the best senior boxer and Ted Nona the best junior.

“That was a good start to my career on Palm.”

He said there were several boxers who qualified as the “best”.

“Luke Lenoy was most likely the best I trained on Palm, he won over 60 bouts including three Australian Titles,” he said.

Peter Bonner, Luke

Lenoy, Esrom Geia, Pita Bourne, Patrick Clarke, Selwyn Seaton, Hosea Murphy, Assan Sam, Joey Geia, Patrick Clarke, Levi Baira, Reggie Palm Island, John Baira, David Baira, Telstan Sibley, Ebanese Oui, David Sam, Alex Dennis, Joshua Geia, Alfie Clay, Gerald Wotton, Thomas Tanner and Peter Bonner all trained under Ray’s guidance.

Peter Bonner won many amateur bouts and also was victorious in his professional debut in 2008.

Over the years Uncle Ray also trained quality Palm Island female boxers of whom he said Noby Clay was the best.

“Even though she was small and fought many opponents who outweighed her by kilograms she had a good win record,” he said. He also trained Seneva Baira, Kathleen Haines and Josie Nallajar.

RIP Uncle Ray.