Lester Ellis

Lester Ellis
Statistics
Nickname(s) Master Blaster
Rated at Light Welterweight
Nationality Australian
Born 15 March 1965
Blackpool, England
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 49
Wins 41
Wins by KO 28
Losses 8
Draws 0
No contests 0

Lester Ellis (born 15 March 1965) is an Australian boxer and former two-time Australian, two-time Commonwealth and five-time World Champion.[1]

At the age of 19, Ellis fought and beat current Super Featherweight International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Champion Hwan-Kil Yuh over 15 rounds. In 1993 he won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Welterweight Title against American Rocky Berg. Ellis faced and defeated Al Coquilla in 1994 for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) Light Welterweight title. Ellis went on to win another two IBO world titles, both in different weight divisions. One in 1995 against Amado Cabato at the Lightweight division and another in the Light Middleweight division against Eric Alexander.[2]

Early life

Lester Ellis was born on 15 March 1965 in Blackpool, England to mother Sheila Ellis and his father Keith Ellis Snr. He is the youngest of three boys, with Keith Ellis being the oldest followed by Neil Ellis. The Ellis family migrated to Australia when Ellis was three on 2 October 1968.[3]

At the age of five, Ellis's mother Sheila left the family home, leaving the three children to live with Keith Snr. Ellis took this very hard and as a result he grew a hate towards authority figures and often did not attend school.[4][5]

At the age of 12, Ellis began boxing training with Matthew Quinn at the Glengala Boxing Club in the Melbourne suburb of West Sunshine. Quinn had seen great potential in young, hateful Ellis and taught him how to harness his hate through the art of boxing.[6]

Amateur boxing career

Under amateur boxing trainer Matthew Quinn and his brother Keith, Ellis had an outstanding amateur career with a total record of 50 fights for 45 wins. Ellis had collected four Australian titles and six Victorian titles throughout this period. Ellis turned professional in 1983[7][8]

Professional career

Super featherweight IBF champion

In 1985, with a professional boxing record of 14 fights for 14 wins, 11 by KO at the age of 19, Ellis was offered to fight Hwan-Kil Yuh for the Super Featherweight International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Title. Ellis won this fight which went for the scheduled 15 rounds via split decision. Ellis successfully defended his title the same year against Rod Sequenan.[9] Later that year on 12 July 1985 Ellis lost his IBF world championship via unanimous decision to ex training partner and then rival Barry Michael.[10]

Boxing titles

Titles won by Ellis

1984-11-16 - Commonwealth (British Empire) Super Featherweight Title, opponent John Sichula[11]

1985-02-15 - IBF Super Featherweight Title, opponent Hwan-Kil Yuh[12]

1987-04-30 - Australian Lightweight Title, opponent Dale Artango[13]

1988-03-16 - Australian light welterweight Title, opponent Pat Leglise[14]

1988-08-04 - Commonwealth (British Empire) Light Welterweight Title, opponent Tony Laing[15]

1993-02-19 - vacant World Boxing Federation Welterweight Title, opponent Rocky Berg[16]

1994-12-03 - vacant International Boxing Organization Light Welterweight Title, opponent Al Coquilla[17]

1995-03-10 - International Boxing Organization Lightweight Title, opponent Amado Cabato[18]

1995-07-17 - vacant International Boxing Organization Light Middleweight Title, opponent Eric Alexander[19]

Personal life

Ellis is married to wife Sharon, with whom he has four sons - Lester Jr, Jake (who is a professional boxer and promoter),[20] Darcy and Demsey.[21] They live in the suburb of Taylors Hill, in Melbourne, Victoria.[22] Ellis currently runs the Lester Ellis Fitness Academy from his home.[23] Ellis's son Lester Ellis Jr has begun an acting career, recently starring as the title character's love interest in Ja'mie Private School Girl.[24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lester Ellis". boxrec.com.
  2. ↑ "Lester Ellis". boxrec.com.
  3. ↑ Drane, Robert. Fighting the Demons The Lester Ellis Story. ABC.
  4. ↑ Cameron, Ben (08/10/2013). "PROFILE: Lester Ellis still a champ". Monash Weekly. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ↑ Drane, Robert. Fighting the Demons The Lester Ellis Story. ABC.
  6. ↑ Drane, Robert. Fighting the Demons The Lester Ellis Story. ABC.
  7. ↑ Drane, Robert. Fighting the Demons The Lester Ellis Story. ABC.
  8. ↑ "Lester Ellis". boxrec.com.
  9. ↑ "Lester Ellis". boxrec.com.
  10. ↑ "One out of the box". The Age. 12 July 2005.
  11. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  12. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  13. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  14. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  15. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  16. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  17. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  18. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  19. ↑ "Boxrec". boxrec.com.
  20. ↑ ANDERSON, JON (29 August 2013). "Son of a champ Jake Ellis wears two hats in the ring". Herald Sun.
  21. ↑ LANGMAID, AARON (19 November 2012). "Boxing great Lester Ellis watches son Jake land KO". Herald Sun.
  22. ↑ Cameron, Ben (08/10/2013). "PROFILE: Lester Ellis still a champ". Monash Weekly. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ↑ Cameron, Ben (08/10/2013). "PROFILE: Lester Ellis still a champ". Monash Weekly. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ↑ Adams, Cameron (13 October 2013). "Chris Lilley reveals how he creates the world of Ja'mie King in utmost secrecy.". Herald Sun.

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Hwan-Kil Yuh		 IBF Super Featherweight boxing champion
15 February 1985– 12 July 1985 		Succeeded by
Barry Michael
Preceded by
Roger Turner		 WBFo Welterweight boxing champion
19 February 1993– 19 March 1994 		Succeeded by
Jeff Malcolm
Preceded by
Roger Mayweather		 IBO Junior welterweight boxing champion
3 December 1994– 29 July 1995 		Succeeded by
Mario Martínez
Preceded by
Amado Cabato		 IBO Lightweight boxing champion
10 March 1995– 8 June 1995 		Succeeded by
Billy Irwin