The President of the World Boxing Council Ratings Committee, Frank Quill, has sent the WBC an update on a tribute being paid to former world bantamweight champion Lionel Rose who won both the WBC andWBA titles from Japan's Fighting Harada with a 15 round majority decision in Tokyo on February 27, 1968.
Rose lost the title when he was knocked out in the 5th round by Mexican great Ruben Olivares on August 22, 1969. Rose went after the WBC junior lightweight title which Yoshiaki Numata won by a majority 15 round decision over Gabriel "Flash" Elorde but lost a unanimous decision over 15 rounds on May 30, 1971.
The Australian launched a comeback on the world heavyweight title fight card in which Muhammad Ali beat Joe Bugner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 30, 1975, scoring a ten round unanimous decision over Bomber Uchida in a fight card we covered on radio for the the government network DPI Radio.
Quill informed WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman that on June 2nd, 2010, in Australia, there will be a significant homage to Lionel Rose, who is the first WBC Australian world champion as well as our country?s first aboriginal world boxing champion.
On that date, in the City of Warragul, in rural Victoria (my home state), a statue will be unveiled in the civic square to honor the pride of Warragul, - Lionel, who lives in that city".
Lionel was Bantamweight world champion. He won the title by defeating Masahiko ?Fighting? Harada by decision in 1968. He lost it to Ruben Olivares, who knocked him out at the Forum of Inglewood.
The homage that will be paid to Lionel Rose is more than deserved. He was born in a small and modest place, and from there he rose to the great success his career was.
Rose began boxing in 1964 and retired in 1976, having shaped a record of 42 wins and 11 losses. He is an idol in his country, and the World Boxing Council congratulates him and is part of the homage he will be paid to.
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