Famous Boxers

Jeff Harding.

Known as "Hit Man," Harding turned professional in 1986 and in 1989 won the World Boxing Federation Light Heavyweight Title, which he lost, then rewon in 1991. He defended the title twice and then retired after losing it in 1994.

Lester Ellis.

Ellis, who turned pro in 1983, became world boxing champion in 1985 when he won the International Boxing Federation super lightweight world title.

Tony Mundine.

The only Australian boxer to have competed in four weight divisions, Mundine held the Australian middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight, and heavyweight titles. In addition to his career in boxing, Mundine also played rugby. He currently manages a gym in Australia.

Jimmy Carruthers.

A world champion in the bantamweight division, Carruthers began his boxing career in the 1948 Summer Olympics, and turned pro in 1950. He retired still holding his world title in 1954.

Dave Sands.

Like Darcy, Sands also won the Australian Heavyweight title while boxing as a middleweight, and also died tragically: in a car accident, at age 26. He came from a large family of boxers, including a nephew who held the welterweight championship.

Jeff Fenech.

Born in Sydney, New South Wales in 1964, Fenech was captain of the Australian 1984 Olympic boxing team. After the Olympic games, Fenech ("The Marrickville Mauler") turned pro and won both the International Boxing Federation bantamweight title and the World Boxing Federation super bantamweight title before retiring in 1996.

John Famechon.

Born in France in 1945 before moving to Australia at age 5, Famechon was the continent's third world boxing champion. He never boxed as an amateur and began boxing in pro bouts in 1961. He retired in 1970 after losing his title as world flyweight and bantamweight king.

Lionel Rose

. The oldest of nine children in an Aboriginal family, Rose followed in the footsteps of his father to become a boxer. He became the second world title winner from Australia when he won the world bantamweight championship in 1968.

Young Griffo.

Griffo became the first world boxing champion from Australia when he won the world featherweight title in 1890. He also held the Australian featherweight title for many years before retiring in 1904.

Les Darcy.

Darcy, possibly the most famous Australian boxer of all time, has the distinction of holding the Australian Heavyweight title while also boxing as a middleweight. Tragically, he died of a strep infection at the age of 23.