How an Aussie butcher went from a police cell to ’50 Cal’ blockbuster on TV

Four years ago George Rose was sitting in a police cell. Now he’s swapped his footy boots for boxing gloves and is ready to take on one of Australia’s most promising boxers on live TV.

Four years ago, George Rose (not that George Rose) was sitting in a police cell in his hometown of Albury-Wodonga, and looking at serious jail time.

Now the 22-year-old former amateur prodigy is just two-and-a-half weeks away from fighting Australian Olympic hero Callum ’50 Cal’ Peters live television.

And Rose promises to derail the hype train of one of the country’s most promising young boxers before it even leaves the station.

But even if he doesn’t, from where he started out, Rose says his journey is already a success.

“I can’t lose,” he tells this masthead from his gym in Melbourne. “From sitting in a bloody police cell four years ago to fighting on Fox Sports, even if the decision doesn’t go my way, it’s a win.

“How can you lose from where I was?”

Rose has big plans for his career. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Rose’s journey is a long but not uncommon one.

He started boxing as a way of staying fit for AFL. When asked what type of footy player he was, he says a switch to fighting was always the natural progression.

“I was a bit of a hot head out on the field,” he says. “I had a few red cards and a few suspensions.

“Boxing’s been a bit of an outlet, really. It actually brings out the calm in me.”

After making the decision to ditch footy to focus on boxing, Rose had 25 amateur bouts and won a national title before getting caught up with the wrong crowd back home.

“I made a few mistakes in life,” he says. “A few years ago, I got in trouble and I fell out of the sport for a little bit and went off the rails.

“I’ve done some things I’m not proud of.”

Rose had too much of a hot head for AFL. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Two assault charges threatened to not just end his boxing career, but see him spend a significant stint of his young life behind bars.

As soon as he was able to, Rose packed up his car, and moved to Melbourne to dedicate his life to boxing.

“I moved down in February this year,” he says. “I was on a court order from some things that happened a few years ago, and as soon as I got off that, I just up and left.

“I just got outta there and wanted to focus on boxing full time and get away from all the drama.

“I can’t blame other people, it was me. I made those decisions that I did, and that comes with growing.

“The next time I’m out of boxing will be when I’m old and retiring.”

Rose now works as a butcher at the Prahran Markets as he dreams of one day fighting for world titles.

He laughs when asked if he ever imitates Rocky Balboa and uses the carcasses in the meat locker as a punching bag.

“We do have carcasses hanging up, but I don’t punch ‘em,” he says. “You’d probably break your hand on it, and my team would kill me if I did that.”

As for his namesake, the No Limit CEO, Rose says there’s no relation.

“People always ask about that, and about Lionel Rose as well, but no, there’s no relation,” he says. “It’s just my dad’s last name, and I couldn’t have picked a better one.”

Rose’s opponent on December 13 – Callum Peters – was one of Australia’s hard luck stories at the Paris Olympics. Most pundits felt he was robbed against the more well-known Nurbek Oralbay, and he has since signed with No Limit and won the 75kg national title in Canberra last weekend.

Callum Peters is one of the brightest stars in Australian boxing. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Rose knows he’s the underdog, but is adamant on springing the upset.

“I can see myself knocking him out,” he says. “It’s a good fight for both of us.

“He’s no bum. He’s not a walkover, but I feel they’re overlooking me. I’ve been inactive, and he’s got a big name – you’ve gotta respect him.

“But I’m in this sport to win world titles. That’s why I moved to Melbourne. I don’t wanna half-ass things anymore. I don’t want to reach an age where I regret not taking these risks.

“I’d rather try and fail and not try at all.”

Originally published as How an Aussie butcher went from a police cell to ’50 Cal’ blockbuster on TV