Lionel Rose, the Australian boxing champion and for a brief moment pop star, has died at the age of 62.
Rose had been ill in the past year after suffering from a stroke in 2007
Lionel Rose was 19-years old when he won the world bantamweight title in 1968. Over 53 fights he had 42 wins and 11 loses. 12 of his wins were knock-outs.
In 1970, he was signed by Festival Records and recorded ‘I Thank You’, written by Johnny Young. It was a number one hit in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, no. 8 in Adelaide and no. 14 in Sydney.
Rose was raised in Jackson’s Track, Victoria, a poor aboriginal settlement 70 kilometres out of Melbourne. He began his boxing career under the guidance of trainer Frank Oakes. He later married Frank’s daughter Jenny.
Once at the height of his boxing fame Lionel met Elvis Presley. He once told The Age "I was punching a heavy bag in a gym in L.A., and I hear a voice sing out, 'Hey, Lionel! What's doin'?' And it was Elvis himself.” Elvis said he was “in awe” of Rose.
Rose’s music career was short-lived but he did have a second single ‘Pick Me Up On Your Way Down’. He recorded two albums for Festival Records.
VIDEO: Lionel Rose ‘I Thank You’:
