Lester Ellis
{{short description|Australian boxer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox boxer
| image =
| imagesize = 250px
| name = Lester Ellis
| realname =
| nickname = Master Blaster
| weight = Light welterweight
| nationality = Australian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|3|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Blackpool, Lancashire, England
| style = Orthodox
| total = 49
| wins = 41
| KO = 28
| losses = 8
}}
Lester Ellis (born 15 March 1965) is a British-born Australian former professional boxer. He is one-time world champion and four-times minor titles winner, having also held the Australian and Commonwealth (twice) titles.{{cite web|title=Lester Ellis|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Lester_Ellis|website=boxrec.com}}
At the age of 19, In 1985, 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 [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=32386&cat=boxer Rocky Berg]. Ellis faced and defeated [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=6150&cat=boxer 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 [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=7626&cat=boxer Amado Cabato] at lightweight and another at light middleweight against [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=6259&cat=boxer Eric Alexander].
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.{{cite book|last1=Drane|first1=Robert|title=Fighting the Demons The Lester Ellis Story|publisher=ABC|url=http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Fighting-Demons-Robert-Drane/?isbn=9780733321092|access-date=12 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912124327/http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Fighting-Demons-Robert-Drane/?isbn=9780733321092|archive-date=12 September 2014|url-status=dead}}
At the age of five, Ellis's mother Sheila left the family home, leaving the three boys 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.{{cite news|last1=Cameron|first1=Ben|title=PROFILE: Lester Ellis still a champ|url=http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1791037/profile-lester-ellis-still-a-champ/|publisher=Monash Weekly|date=2013-10-08|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016113403/http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1791037/profile-lester-ellis-still-a-champ/|archivedate=2013-10-16}}
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.
Amateur boxing career
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 [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=5379&cat=boxer Rod Sequenan.] 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.{{cite news|title=One out of the box|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/one-out-of-the-box/2005/07/11/1120934187202.html|publisher=The Age|date=12 July 2005}}
Professional boxing record
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=
|nc=
|ko-wins=28
|ko-losses=5
|dec-wins=13
|dec-losses=3
|dq-wins=
|dq-losses=
}}
Boxing titles
=Titles won by Ellis=
1984-11-16 – Commonwealth (British Empire) Super Featherweight Title, opponent John Sichula{{cite web|title=Boxrec|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=5322&cat=boxer|website=boxrec.com}}
1985-02-15 – IBF Super Featherweight Title, opponent Hwan-Kil Yuh
1987-04-30 – Australian Lightweight Title, opponent [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=41484&cat=boxer Dale Artango]
1988-03-16 – Australian light welterweight Title, opponent [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=39674&cat=boxer Pat Leglise]
1988-08-04 – Commonwealth (British Empire) Light Welterweight Title, opponent [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=56962&cat=boxer Tony Laing]
1993-02-19 – vacant World Boxing Federation Welterweight Title, opponent [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=32386&cat=boxer Rocky Berg]
1994-12-03 – vacant International Boxing Organization Light Welterweight Title, opponent [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=6150&cat=boxer Al Coquilla]
1995-03-10 – International Boxing Organization Lightweight Title, opponent [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=7626&cat=boxer Amado Cabato]
1995-07-17 – vacant International Boxing Organization Light Middleweight Title, opponent [http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=6259&cat=boxer Eric Alexander]
Personal life
Ellis is married to wife Sharon, with whom he has four sons – Lester Jr, Jake (who is a professional boxer and promoter),{{cite news|last1=ANDERSON|first1=JON|title=Son of a champ Jake Ellis wears two hats in the ring|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/boxing-mma/son-of-a-champ-jake-ellis-wears-two-hats-in-the-ring/story-fnii0bqi-1226706490475?nk=3a40e83d5c522256d1c52c0b87d3da5e|publisher=Herald Sun|date=29 August 2013}} Darcy and Demsey.{{cite news|last1=LANGMAID|first1=AARON|title=Boxing great Lester Ellis watches son Jake land KO|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/boxing-great-lester-ellis-watches-son-jake-land-ko/story-e6frf7kx-1226519112626|publisher=Herald Sun|date=19 November 2012}}
They live in the suburb of Taylors Hill, in Melbourne, Victoria. Ellis currently runs the Lester Ellis Fitness Academy from his home. 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.{{cite news|last1=Adams|first1=Cameron|title=Chris Lilley reveals how he creates the world of Ja'mie King in utmost secrecy.|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/chris-lilley-reveals-how-he-creates-the-world-of-ja8217mie-king-in-utmost-secrecy/story-e6frfmyi-1226739060944|publisher=Herald Sun|date=13 October 2013}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Boxrec|id=5322}}
- {{cite web |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3061698 |title=Crunch! Lester Ellis recoils from a heavy punch from Barry Michael in their IBF World Junior Lightweight Champion bout at Festival Hall in 1985 |author=Howard, Bruce |work=Herald and Weekly Times |publisher=National Library of Australia |year=1985}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Regional boxing titles}}
{{s-bef | before=Tony Laing}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commonwealth Super Lightweight Champion | years=4 August 1988 – 21 March 1989}}
{{s-aft|after=Steve Larrimore}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Minor world boxing titles}}
{{s-bef|before=Roger Turner}}
{{s-ttl|title=WBFo Welterweight boxing champion|years=19 February 1993– 19 March 1994}}
{{s-aft|after=Jeff Malcolm}}
{{s-vac|last=Roger Mayweather}}
{{s-ttl|title=IBO Super Lightweight Champion|years=3 December 1994 – 1995
Vacated}}
{{s-vac|next=Mario Martinez}}
{{s-bef|before=Amado Cabato}}
{{s-ttl|title=IBO Lightweight Champion|years=10 March 1995– 1995
Vacated}}
{{s-vac|next=William Irwin}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Major world boxing titles}}
{{s-bef|before=Hwan-Kil Yuh}}
{{s-ttl|title=IBF Super Featherweight Champion|years=15 February – 12 July 1985}}
{{s-aft|after=Barry Michael}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Lester}}
Category:Sportspeople from Blackpool
Category:British emigrants to Australia
Category:International Boxing Federation champions
Category:International Boxing Organization champions
Category:Boxers from Melbourne
Category:Australian male boxers