Top 10 Facts about Lionel Rose

Lionel Rose. White City Tennis Stadium, Sydney, Australia – by Val Hopwood – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Facts about Lionel Rose

Lionel Rose is an Australian former professional boxer and world bantamweight champion. Rose was born on 21st June 1948 in Labertouche, Victoria, Australia. He passed away at 62 years of age on 8th May 2011 in Warragul, Victoria, Australia.

Rose’s career can be described only as the stuff of legends. Starting as a poverty-stricken aboriginal in Australia, he was able to build his name and become one of the greats in the sport.

He developed a trademark punch which helped him become a great and curve his name in the history books permanently. Rose completed a total of 53 fights in his career losing only 11 times.

The following is a list of interesting facts about the life of the boxing legend; Lionel Rose.

1. He Followed His Father into The Ring

Rose was raised in a poor aboriginal settlement south of Melbourne called Jackson’s Track. His father was then an amateur boxer. Rose claims that he first donned a pair of gloves thanks to his father.

Lionel Rose trained with his father in a ring made of chicken wire. At the time there were tent matches that were being held by a traveling crew much like a circus.

It was in one of these matches that Rose met George Bracken, an aboriginal boxer who was Rose’s inspiration. Rose claims that Bracken’s fighting style and peed made him grow interested in boxing more than before.

2. Made His Debut At 16 Years of Age

Rose made his professional boxing debut at age 16. This was in a match against Mario Magriss on 9th September 1964. Rose won this match by outpointing him over 8 rounds.

This match came in the back of Rose’s missing selection to attend and represent Australia at the 1964 Olympic Games that were held in Tokyo. Despite missing out, Rose was sure he wanted to make a career out of boxing. Therefore, he decided to go professional.

3. Lionel Rose Was a Serial Winner

SPORT CHAMPIONS LIONEL ROSE (AUS) -BOXING – Author Unknown – Wikimedia Commons

Rose won his first professional bout in September 1964 and this was a foreshadowing of what was to follow. He went on to win his next four consecutive fights. Throughout the year 1965, Rose won all his matches except for one against Singtong Por Tor. This was a rematch between the two, Rose had won the first one. This loss was the first in Rose’s career.

In 1966, Rose qualified for the Australian bantamweight title by winning six of the seven matches. He would win this title on October 28th, 1966 by beating the then reigning champion, Noel Kunde.

Rose won the next nine consecutive matches. A run that saw him face Rocky Patellar in December 1967 to defend his bantamweight championship (which he did).

By 1968, Lionel Rose had only lost twice in 31 outings. This record made Rose very popular. In 1968 he was offered a chance at the bantamweight world championship against Fighting Harada. Lionel went on to win that match.

His winning record did not stop there. Rose ended his career with only 11 losses in 53 matches. It is worth noting that most losses came toward the end of his career. 

4. The First Indigenous Australian to win a World Boxing Title

Lionel Rose 1968 – Author Unknown – Wikimedia Commons

On 26th February 1968, Rose made history. He challenged Masahiko Harada (Fighting Harada) for the World bantamweight title and won.

This made him the first aboriginal (indigenous Australian to become a world champion boxer. This moment can be considered as the single moment in his career where he fully attained legendary status.

Rose became an instant Australian national hero and an icon to fellow aboriginals in Australia and the world at large.

5. He Was A Musician Too

During the 1970s, Rose took a break from boxing and embarked on a music career. Unlike his prowess in boxing, the success he had in music can be described as modest.

During his short-lived stint as a musician in the early 1970s, he produced several hits. One was “I Thank You” which was a nationwide hit and “Please Remember Me” both in the album titled “I Than You” (1970). Rose released only one other album titled “Jackson’s Track.”

6. He Has a Longstanding Pop Culture Imprint in TV and Film

The 1968 television drama The Battlers was released. The show starred Vincent Gill in blackface as an Aboriginal fighter and was inspired by real events in Rose’s life.

In 1991, Paul Williams and Telly Savalas starred in the period drama Rose Against the Odds. It was a TV miniseries based on Rose’s life story. In 1995, it was made into a feature picture.

At the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2008, Melbourne filmmaker Eddie Martin debuted his feature-length documentary “Lionel.” This was after spending nearly three years interviewing Rose, his family, and friends. A shortened version of the movie debuted on SBS television on November 28, 2008, following a brief theater run.

7. Retired Twice

On May 30th, 1971, Rose challenged Yoshiaki Numata for the WBC world junior lightweight championship. Rose lost that game by decision. Soon after the loss, he announced his retirement from professional boxing.

In 1975, Lionel Rose came back from retirement. However, what many expected to be a spectacular comeback was not to be. Rose lost four out of six bouts after his return. He, therefore, decided to retire for good.

8. A Winner Off the Boxing Ring Too

Statue of Lionel Rose at Warragul, Victoria – by Mattinbgn – Wikimedia Commons

Lionel Rose was collecting awards both on and off the boxing ring. In 1968 after his famous world championship win, he was named Australian of the year.

In 2003, Rose was honored by being inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame. An honor that only a select few receive. In 2005, he received the Deadly Awards, Lifetime Achievement in Sport.

In 2010, Lionel Rose became only the second person to be elevated to “legend” status.

9. He Married His Childhood Darling

In December 0f 1970, Lionel Rose Wed Jennifer. The two had known each other since their childhood. Jennifer was the daughter of Lionel’s first boxing coach Frank Oakes. Their son Michael, was born in 1974.

10. The Final Years of His Life Were Plagued with Health Issues

Lionel Rose suffered a severe stroke in 2007. Consequently, the stroke left him with both speech and movement impairment.

Illnesses continued to plague Rose for the rest of his life. On 8th May 2011, Lionel Rose passed away due to prolonged illnesses.