Jake Ellis believes his style of boxing is better suited to the professional scene. 59830_10 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
HE may have been a world champion himself but Australian boxing legend Lester Ellis is just like any other parent when one of his kids enters the ring.
Ellis’s 20-year-old son Jake will make his professional debut on 16 November as part of a seven-fight card at Malvern Town Hall.
While Ellis is confident his son will go well, he admitted to Star the night will be difficult for him to get through.
“I’ll be there on the night but I’ll be a nervous wreck and having a beer trying to relax,” Ellis said.
“I don’t want to see him get hit.”
The Taylors Hill former amateur has spent a few years away from the ring as he pursued the promoting game, and although his 7-3 amateur record does look impressive, Jake Ellis says he cannot wait to make the step up.
“I didn’t make the best amateur because my style was more of a professional style, and even so my natural progression was always to go professional anyway,” Ellis said.
“To be honest I’m looking forward to the change.
“I never really liked the amateurs and I never really liked that whole thing of just concentrating on getting points and I really like to take my time and pick my punches.
“For the lack of a better word I just really want to try and hurt the bloke, rather than just thinking of trying to get points and pretty much playing tiggy.”
Ellis has been working hard alongside Dave Hegarty out of Tarneit Boxing Gym and has been visiting the infamous Heartbreak Hill in Bacchus Marsh twice a week as part of his rigid training schedule.
Hegarty believes Ellis has the drive and ability to take his boxing a long way.
“I think he’s still got a lot to learn and if he sticks with it and continues it and enjoys it, I think he’s a boy that could go a long way in the sport, and it’s obviously in the blood,” Hegarty said.
“He’s very neat, very straight, and quite powerful. He fights at 56kg, so he’s got some good skill.”
Ellis admits he knows very little about his opponent, New Zealand’s Chris Potter, but claims that is by design.
“I don’t like to know a whole lot about my opponent just because it makes me nervous, and if I start looking at them and start watching I’ll start having doubts,” Ellis said.
“I’d rather just know nothing and be confident that I’ll pretty much have an answer for anything he brings to the table.”
Such confidence has also rubbed off on his father.
“I think he’s a certainty,” the former world champion said.
