Hit … Heath Ellis in action against Shane Green in his first professional bout. Picture courtesy Werner Kalin.By Adrian Ceddia
IT took just one round and 58 seconds for 18-year-old Heath Ellis to arrive on the Australian professional boxing stage.
The Taylors Lakes fighter belied his age and relative inexperience to make an ideal start to his professional career by knocking out Queensland’s Shane Green at Knox Netball Centre late last month.
After a glittering amateur career, Ellis made a seamless transition with a powerful display in the welterweight division against an opponent with 13 fights to his name.
After dominating the first round with an all-out attacking style, Ellis landed a left-handed combination early in the second round, sending Green to the canvas and ending the bout.
The nephew of Australian boxing legend Lester Ellis said it was a perfect way to begin his professional career.
“I was rapt with the win. I was really anxious before the fight because it was my first professional and I wanted to look good,” he said.
“The big thing for me was fighting without a head guard and with smaller gloves. It was a lot different.”
Ellis’ team left no stone unturned in preparation for the teenager’s first pro fight, putting him through a tough training regime that included road running and bout simulations.
Despite the hype surrounding the Ellis name before the fight, Heath said he was determined to craft his own mould as an individual fighter.
“I didn’t take notice of it at all. I remember (former world champion) Barry Michael saying when he was commentating that there was a lot of pressure on me because of the Ellis name,” he said.
“I don’t think about that. I just go out there, do my best and hope the outcome is in my favour.”
Despite his obvious talent, Ellis took the decision to turn pro very seriously.
“It’s something I always wanted to do when I turned 18 but it was a big decision,” he said. “We had to sit down to talk about whether I was ready, because usually people turn pro when they’re older.
“But I really wanted to get into the pros. When I was amateur I was always sparring men and fighters older than me.”
It is a case of so far so good for the gifted young boxer, who realises there is a long way to go before he fulfils his potential.
“It was a learning fight for me. Every fight that I have from now on, the fighter will be a little bit better,” he said. “I want to get better, and not go backwards. Once you fight someone in the top 10 you can’t go back.”
