An Aborigine from the Maryborough area, his potential as a boxer was seen quite early. Although the Australian Bantamweight Champion, he was not allowed to contest the world title as the holder was a South African and Elley Bennett, as an aborigine, could not enter that country under their apartheid laws. His world record for the most punches landed in one round still stands, and he was the Dual Australian Crown Holder – Bantam and Featherweight Crowns in 1951. His later life was dogged by health problems and he died in Bundaberg in 1981.
