IN the history of Australian boxing, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more exciting fight than the brutal world-title slugfest between Lester Ellis and Barry Michael.
The former friends and training partners turned rivals stood toe to toe for 15 rounds trading leather before Michael was ultimately crowned World Junior Lightweight champion, in a bout dubbed the Australian Fight of the Century.
Now, 38 years later, both men are in Mildura this weekend as guests of honour for the Hogarth Cup, including a camp for boxers.
They are joined by Australia’s highest-profile referee, former president of the Australian Boxing Federation and cousin to the great Lionel Rose, Brad Vocale.
The three legends of the sport met boxers from Ladd’s Boxing Club on Thursday night to tell their stories and impart decades of boxing knowledge.
On Friday, the trio attended the Mildura club to raise money for its mid-year function.
The men will also run a camp on Sunday for registered boxers to teach them the tricks of the trade, including Michael’s signature liver punch.
Steve Ladd, owner of Ladd’s boxing gym and Hogarth Cup organiser, said it was “a tremendous opportunity” to have the boxing royalty in the town.
“These men fought 38 years ago in the greatest fight of the century and it was the last 15-round fight to be held in Australia and second in the world, so they are a big part of Australian history,” he said.
“Five-times world champion Lester Ellis was here at the Mildura basketball stadium 35 years ago on the 16th of July 1988 and the event was run by his brother. This is his first time back in Mildura in 35 years.
“This is Barry’s third time back to Mildura and he enjoyed it so much last year he was happy to be invited.
“To have two world champions in Mildura this has never happened before. It is good for Mildura, it is good for our gym, and that’s what our gym is about, giving back to the town.”
