It is certainly some measure of the respect in which Australian boxing trainer Johnny Lewis is held when it is learned that he will be inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017 at the same ceremony that will see the induction of four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
Lewis is and has been a member of the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame since 2006. His most notable students were world champions Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Fenech.
Lewis has worked with four other boxers that made it to the level of world champion and he is still active at the moment, training King Davidson, Leroy Brown and Luke Helm.
He currently spends his time working out of the Sydney University Boxing Gym.
He was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to sport, including the game of rugby, where he served as a trainer to the 1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France through his association with rugby league coach Bob Fulton.
Jeff Harding, former IBF world junior-lightweight champion Gairy St. Clair, Virgil Hill, Solomon Haumono, Billy Dib, Matty Fisher, Vas Ferles and Eddy Younan are other boxers who had the benefit of Lewis’ tutelage.