Lionel RosePrint Page
The sculpture commemorates former bantamweight boxing champion Lionel Rose (1948 - 2011).
Lionel Rose was a former bantamweight world boxing champion born at Jacksons Track near Warragul who fought many of his early fights in Gippsland. He was the first Aboriginal Australian to win a world boxing title.
His father was an amateur boxer and introduced Lionel to the sport when he was fourteen years old. Rose won his first major fight at Melbourne’s Festival Hall in 1963 the day after his father died; by the end of the year he had claimed Australia’s national amateur flyweight title.
Rose turned professional in 1964 under legendary Australian trainer Jack Rennie. After a string of successful bouts he won the Australian bantamweight title in October 1966. He made history in Tokyo on 26 February 1968 when he defeated Japan’s Masahiko Harada for the World Bantamweight Title.
Location
Address: | Queen Street, Mus Park, Warragul, 3820 |
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State: | VIC |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -38.164044 Long: 145.931671 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Sculpture |
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Monument Theme: | People |
Sub-Theme: | Sport |
Artist: | Stephen Glassborow |
Dedication
Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Wednesday 2nd June, 2010 |
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Lionel Edmund Rose
Undisputed World Bantamweight Champion
Australian of the Year, 1968
Plaque :
Statue initiated by Stephen Mold and Rob McCarthy
Patron : Barry Michael (IBF World Champion)
Sculptor : Stephen Glassborow
Made possible through the support of :
The Shire of Baw Baw
Martin & Eva Chiminello Barry Smith
The Koorie Heritage Test The Kilcunda Community
Brett Robert McCormick The Stanley Family
T. S. Management Brendan Fitzpatrick
The Vingt Cing Club Watersun Homes
The Fitzroy Stars (MAYSAR)
Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame
Nilma Darnum Football & Netball Club
National Centre of Indigenous Excellence
The State Government of Victoria 2010