Aussie boxing legend Johnny Lewis hails Ella Boot after tough win over Zoe Putorak with broken hand

Legendary Australian boxing trainer Johnny Lewis has trained some of the best and toughest fighters the country has ever produced – and now you can add the name Ella Boot to that list.

Sutherland Shire boxer Boot won the vacant Australian welterweight title at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre earlier this month, defeating Canberra’s Muay Thai World Games champion Zoe Putorak via unanimous decision.  

Ella Boot, trained by Johnny Lewis, competes in her bout against Zoe Putorak at Newcastle Entertainment Centre and claiming an extraordinary victory with a badly broken hand

But it was how she did it that will her name etched in Australian boxing folklore forever.

And she did it after breaking her hand in the third of eight rounds suffering a completely displaced metacarpal fracture. It was an injury so severe, it shocked NRL physio Brien Seeney.

About Johnny Lewis 

Lewis gives Boot some words of advice during her professional bout in Newcastle 

 In 1989, Lewis was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Among his awards and inductions are the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his service to boxing as a trainer and coach, the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2017 as well as the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

As a 17-year-old boxing coach, Lewis coached Jeff Fenech to the Australian Super Flyweight title, the South Pacific Bantamweight title, the Australian Featherweight title, and the WBC Super Bantamweight title. As a result of this success, Lewis became the first Australian boxing trainer to coach a boxer to three official world championships.

Also in 1988, he coached Jeff Harding to the WBC Light Heavyweight title, making him the first Australian boxing coach to coach two world champions.

He has also trained the likes six world champions, most notably Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding, Gairy St. Clair and Kostya Tszyu along with Olympic bronze medal winner Harry Garside. 

Lewis served as the Australian rugby league trainer for the 1989 New Zealand tour and as the boxing coach at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.  

‘To keep fighting with a fracture all the way through the bone is phenomenal,’ he said.

‘Besides the pain levels, which would be through the roof, the function of her hand would’ve been extremely limited.’

As a result of the serious nature of the injury, surgeons had to insert a metal plate and screws to stabilise the hand. With a title belt on the line, Ella never even considered quitting mid-fight despite the excruciating pain. 

‘I mentioned it to Johnny at the end of the third round,’ she said. ‘Johnny said ‘darl, you’ve just got to keep punching. You’ll get through it.’

‘We had no idea then how bad the break was. It was horrible pain, especially afterwards when I’d cooled down and I was at the hospital.’

The injury means Boot will have to wait until January before she can start punching the bags again.

 But not even that is keeping her out of the gym.

‘I’m already in the gym doing some strength and conditioning,’ she said.  

Lewis, who has steered the likes of Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding, Gairy St. Clair and Kostya Tszyu to world titles, had high praise for the level of mental resolve it took to fight through the pain. 

‘She is extremely tough,’ Lewis said, ‘And also courageous and very skilful.

‘The best fighters have that pain tolerance.

‘I could not be any prouder of Ella – she is a beautiful person who deserves every bit of success that comes her way.’

The fight was well received by the punters as well, under the bright lights of a main event and on a card featuring both male and female boxers.

‘Great talent Ella Boot better than most male boxers,’ one fan said.

‘Well done your talent is shining through for all to see,’ said another.

‘Ella boot excellent , top fight by both ladies,’ added another.

‘Great work Ella, lovely right hands over the top. Brilliant to see you do so well,’ a friend of the family replied to her proud father Jeff Boot.

‘Great result Ella. How satisfying after all your hard work,’ posted another. 

It was Boot’s third professional fight after having competed in karate for nine years, becoming a 2nd Dan black belt and winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.