50 years on from Fighting Harada: remembering Aboriginal boxing champion Lionel Rose
27 February 2018 02:18
Australians embraced the boxer less than 12 months after the 1967 referendum on Indigenous rightsFifty years ago today, Lionel Rose defeated Fighting Harada in Tokyo to become Australia’s first Aboriginal world champion. For a time in 1968 and 1969, he was the most famous Indigenous person in Australia, and perhaps the most famous Australian athlete in the world.It’s hard to overstate the impact Rose had in his home country. He was the first Indigenous person to be named Australian of the Year. He released a hit country record. He received a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). Elvis Presley wanted to spend time with him. When Rose returned from his win over Harada, 100,000 Melbournians lined the streets. Related: Boxer Scott Westgarth dies after winning fight against Dec Spelman Related: The first rule of Celebrity Fight Club: post about it, then post about it again | Paul MacInnes Continue readingread full article
