Daye fought in and out of the ring
From the time he was born in New Glasgow Nova Scotia in 1929, Delmore Daye was a fighter. Even before getting his start in the ring in 1953, Daye knew what he wanted to do with his life. While still a young man of 19, Delmore enlisted in the Merchant Marines and served for a number of years as a Mariner.
Daye moved to Halifax as a youngster along with his three brothers after a family breakup and lived with his aunt on Gottingen Street. That was a tough area of Halifax and young Daye was known for never backing down from anyone. Daye made his Pro boxing debut on Sept. 29, 1953 and by the time that he retired, he would be credited with having fought a total of 88 fights, winning 81, losing only six and earning one draw.
He was always in top shape when he fought and there have not been too many Maritime fighters who could match him when it came to punching power. He was one of those fighters who like to fight as often as possible and he would have fought every week if he could have. He was blessed with having fast hands as well as being very fast on his feet, and being as tough as nails.
After winning his Pro debut by knockout in the second round against Jerry Morrisey, it didn’t take long for “Buddy” (as he would be known for the duration of his boxing career) to become a real fan favorite while fighting in the Halifax area. Daye would win more than half of his fights by knockout and he was also able to fight to earn a decision win if he had to.
“Buddy” beat a number of rough and tough Maritime lighters early in his career and he would be the Maritime Feather-weight champ for over five years. Name such as KO Roberts, Tiger Pyle (Daye lost and beat Pyle during two fights with him), Johnny Devison (future Canadian champ who Daye KO’d in one round), and Gerry Simpson (future Canadian champ) were just a few of the tough fighters who Daye took on during the early part of his career.
Starting on Oct. 29, 1954 until May 5, 1957, “Buddy” would score nine straight wins in a row. One of those wins would be a decision over Benny “Red” Randall on June 3, 1956 at the famed Halifax Forum. Randall would be good enough to take on the great Willie Pep (former World champ who had over 220 wins during his career) and last the distance with him in a 10 round bout held in Quebec City during his own ring career.
Daye would prove to be very hard to beat while fighting in his adopted home town of Halifax. One of the few who was able to beat him in Halifax would be American BobbyScares. Scares would stop “Buddy” in four rounds on July 7, 1957. Less than a year after stopping Daye, Soares would fight Pep and last the 10 round distance with him while giving a good account of himself.
After losing to Soares, Daye would return to action and get right back on the winning side of things. On Oct. 8, 1957, “Buddy” scored a decision over Toronto’s Ray McNeil in a bout in Halifax. He followed the McNeil win up with several more good wins and then on Aug 18, 1959, faced the current Canadian Feather-weight champ, Dave Hilton in a non-title 10 rounder. Hilton was undefeated and had just captured the Canadian title in a 12-round war against Gerry Simpson only three months before facing Daye. “Buddy” would score a 10 round decision over Hilton and set himself up for a shot at the New Brunswick born Hilton’s championship.
On November 2nd, 1959, Daye traveled to Montreal Quebec and this time around, Hilton scored a TKO to retain his title. It would be almost two years before “Buddy” got another shot at the championship and he would end up on the wrong end of a 12 round decision against Andre Milette in Sorel Quebec on July 18, 1961.
It would then take Daye another three years before he’d be given another chance at the Canadian title. This time around, the Nova Scotia fighter would score a 12 round decision win over Jackie Carter to finally earn the right to be called champion of Canada. He would hold the Canadian Super Feather-weight crown for almost two full years before losing it to Les Gillis on Jan. 15, 1966 in a fight in Glace Bay. (Gillis would retire with a record of 30-4.)
Then in what would prove to be Daye’s last fight, he would lose to Moncton’s Leo Noel on Sept. 10, 1966. After retiring from the ring, Daye would in no way give up his fighting ways.
He would use his name to fight for equal rights for others. He served as Chairman of the NSAACP Human Rights Committee. He worked for a number of years in the north end of Halifax, fighting against the impact of poverty, racism and for better housing as well as trying to get more jobs and more community centers for the kids in that area.
He ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party in the 1967 N.S Provincial election. In 1990, Daye became the first African Nova Scotian to serve as the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and held that post until 1995.
During his life, Daye also worked as a social worker, a rail road employee and as a laundry manager. He always believed in the on-going need for black Canadians to fight for recognition and respect.
During his ring career, Daye had to beat four Canadian champs before finally laying claim to the Canadian title. After his ring career ended, he became a true champion to his race.
“Buddy” Daye passed away in 1995 from cancer, but his passing would in no way stop him from being recognized for all that he was able to do during his life time. In 1996, a picture of Daye was placed as a permanent memorial in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
Then in 2003, a street was re-named in his memory. “Buddy” Daye Street was formerly a section of Gerrish St. in the north end of Halifax, between Gottingen and Maynard Streets. A fitting tribute to a kid from the Gottingen area, who grew up to be a true champion in every sense of word!