RIP Lionel Rose

[kylamy]

It is with the greatest sadness, i announce that former World Bantamweight Champion, Lionel Rose Passed away a little over an hour ago at his home in Warrigul, Surrounded by wife Jenny and Son Michael, Lionel was just one month shy of his 63rd birthday.

Australia has lost one of our greatest ever fighter's, His professional record 42 wins, 11 losses, he was the former Australian Bantamweight champion, and won the WBC World Bantamweight championship from the legendary Masahiko "Fighting" Harada at the Nippon Budokan stadium in Tokyo Japan on February 27, 1968.

RIP Slim,
Brad

[Brute]

I am really sad to read that. Lionel was the first Australian world champion of my generation, as well as the first Aboriginal world champion.
Great bantamweight.

[dan h]

RIP Champ!

[hearns]

What a day........ One of the great days in aussie boxing now becomes one of the saddest. A true Legend gone.

R I P Lionel.

[bollox]

RIP champ

[Harry27]

RIP Lionel a true Champion

[unleash06]

RIP Lionel Rose......a true legend in our game.....one of the guys that ignited my love of the sport.

[Lethaleigh76]

R.I.P Lionel Rose, deepest sympathy to all his family, cheers Leigh...

[Sweet P]

It's a truly sad day for Aussie boxing, RIP Lionel. A true champion.

[Grant]

Sad day.
What can I say.

[iron rhino]

Again another thing that can't be denied,from triump to tragedy,R.I.P lionel,always remembered.

[billybob29]

Dont know what to say im shocked!

RIP Lionel.

[Beltane]

RIP Lionel, a true legend and the people's champion.

[Aussiedave]

R.I.P Lionel
You will always be a Champ.

[He's Gone Jim!]

R.I.P Lionel. Lovely, stylish boxer.

[whyohbee]

A legend, who will never be forgotten.

[Da Voice]

R.I.P. Champ

[alexpaterson]

Rip, what a skilled boxer he was! The first 8 rounds against Rudkin were true class, some of the smoothest boxing I've come across. Though He struggled like mad with Rudkin in the next 7 he showed guts to hang in there and eek out a decision. I've only seen 3 more of his fights, 1 a title defence against an overmatched opponent who he beat brilliantly and then the Limon fight, by which time he was terribly washed up and heavily outgunned. Sad loss RIP champ!!

[Marlin]

RIP

[thunderfromdownunder]

just heard on the radio. Rest in peace champ. Imo in the top 3 aussie boxers of all time. Legend

[dberry]

RIP Lionel, a true champion and a great inspiration for the generations of Australian boxers following. Another void that can never be filled. The first Australian to win a world title on foreign soil, past away on the day Danial Geale become only the fourth to do so.

[amwsnw]

RIP Legend.

[dberry]

Legend indeed, a rare time where that word is aptly used.

[Da Voice]

RIP Lionel, a true champion and a great inspiration for the generations of Australian boxers following. Another void that can never be filled. The first Australian to win a world title on foreign soil, past away on the day Danial Geale become only the fourth to do so.

Not quite, but close enough

[Brute]

RIP Lionel, a true champion and a great inspiration for the generations of Australian boxers following. Another void that can never be filled. The first Australian to win a world title on foreign soil, past away on the day Danial Geale become only the fourth to do so.

No offence, but Jimmy Carruthers was the first Australian to win a world title on foreign soil. "Shoulders" beat Vic Toweel for the World Bantamweight title in South Africa in 1952.