Lionel Rose, recognized as Australia’s first Aboriginal boxer who gained a world title, dies at 62.
Rose had been facing a long battle against illness for several months. It was in 2007 when he was known to suffer a stroke leaving him to be partly paralysed as he began to find it difficult to speak.
The Australian boxer was noted to possess a great fighting spirit that in 1968, he was able to beat Japan’s Fighting Harada winning the world bantamweight title. It was on the same time when the Times of London honoured him as the “Australian of the Year”.
The great Australian boxing icon finished his career with 53 fights and gained 42 wins. Thus, he was later on noted to be a bantamweight champion.
For Australians, the death of the beloved Lionel Rose has been significant for Australia’s boxing history.
Aside from being a boxing champ of Australia, Rose also used to spend his time being a recording artist of his famous hits entitled “I Thank You” and “Please Remember Me”.
With his determination, Rose had lifted his life from poverty. He was born at Jackson’s Track close to Victorian town of Warragul. At an early age of 10, he already was already engaged in the field of boxing. While at a young age of 15, Rose got the Australian amateur flyweight title.
Bernie Balmer, a boxing official, even testifies that Rose had been into “an extraordinary life” that with his strong willpower, boxing opened his way towards the world stage.
Carrying the world title for less than two years, Lionel Rose is still considered to be a hero of all times when it comes to the field of Australian sports.
Indeed, some people say that the Australian boxing champ Lionel Rose will live as an inspiration for those who may either be indigenous and non-indigenous individuals in the world of sports.
