Johnny Lewis

John Alfred “Johnny” Lewis OAM (born 18 March 1944) is an Australian boxing trainer and the head coach of six world champions, most notably Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding, Gairy St. Clair and Kostya Tszyu. Lewis’ career spans from training amateur boxers on the local Sydney circuit to working with Australian boxing champions and rugby league international representatives. The philosophies and coaching career of Lewis merited him many accolades including an Order of Australia medal and an induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, both of which were achieved in 2006. Due to these accolades, Johnny Lewis has been asserted as one of Australia's most acclaimed boxing coaches. Early life Johnny Lewis was born on 18 March 1944 at Bankstown hospital to father Alfred and mother Marge. His family lived in Wallangarra at the time, before moving into a housing commission flat in Erskineville, in Sydney's inner-west. Lewis' first employment was selling papers at Football games as well as working the scoreboard at Erskineville Oval for local first-grade Australian Rules matches, where he would listen to coaches’ team talks. Lewis played Australian Rules Football and Tennis throughout his teenage years. An athletic career for Lewis was cut short at age 19 as he sustained an ankle injury after falling off a ladder whilst sign writing.