Lester Ellis

Lester Ellis
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Master Blaster
Rated at	Light welterweight
Nationality	Australian
Born	15 March 1965 Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	49
Wins	41
Wins by KO	28
Losses	8

Lester Ellis (born 15 March 1965) is an Australian former professional boxer. He is a five-time world champion, having also held the Australian and Commonwealth (twice) titles.^[1]

At the age of 19, Ellis fought and beat then-reigning IBF super featherweight champion Hwan-Kil Yuh over fifteen rounds. In 1993 he won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) welterweight title against Rocky Berg. Ellis faced and defeated Al Coquilla in 1994 for the vacant 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 lightweight and another at light middleweight 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.^[4] Ellis currently runs the Lester Ellis Fitness Academy from his home.^[4] 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.^[22]

See also

• Boxing weight classes
• List of boxing triple champions
• List of boxing quadruple champions
• List of boxing quintuple champions

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 (2013-10-08). "PROFILE: Lester Ellis still a champ". Monash Weekly. Archived from the original on 2013-10-16.
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. Adams, Cameron (13 October 2013). "Chris Lilley reveals how he creates the world of Ja'mie King in utmost secrecy.". Herald Sun.

External links

• Howard, Bruce (1985). "Crunch! Lester Ellis recoils from a heavy punch from Barry Michael in their IBF World Junior Lightweight Champion bout at Festival Hall in 1985". Herald and Weekly Times. National Library of Australia.