Undefeated boxer Ella Boot, mentored by Johnny Lewis, is eyeing off a world title

Johnny Lewis has mentored six world champions - now he’s predicting his latest protege to become a seventh, declaring he’s ‘as excited with her as he was with Jeff Fenech’.

Ella Boot with her trainer Johnny Lewis. Ella is a rising boxing star who moved from Noosa to Sydney just to be trained by legendary trainer Johnny Lewis, who says she will win a world title. Picture: Richard Dobson

This is the unbeaten boxer who moved 1000km from her Noosa home just to train under master trainer Johnny Lewis in Sydney.

And Lewis – who mentored world champions Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding and Kostya Tszyu – has already predicted Ella Boot will win a world title, declaring: “I’m as excited with Ella as I was with Jeff Fenech.”

Lewis, 79, said he wouldn’t still be involved in boxing if not for Boot.

Boot, 23, has a professional record of 4-0 after a 45-fight amateur career – winning 39 – and has had Lewis in her corner for the past 10 fights. As an amateur, she fought in India, Bahamas, England, Poland and Bulgaria.

A super lightweight, Boot’s surge to the top will continue in a fight against New Zealander Mackenzie Jean on November 25 at Hornsby RSL Club.

“Johnny means the world to me. I look up to him like he’s family. To have him in my corner, knowing he’s always supporting me and is by my side, means so much to me, it’s amazing,” Boot said.

Ella Boot training with Johnny Lewis. Picture: Richard Dobson

“After I met Johnny, I came down from Noosa. I had definitely heard about Johnny and we formed a connection. We both understand each other. He is so clear when he talks.

“Winning a world title would mean everything to me. It’s been my dream since I was a young girl. It’s all I have ever wanted.”

Lewis, a legendary figure in Australian sport, praised Boot’s dedication and attitude toward training and fighting.

“Ella is very dedicated and her discipline is right up there with Jeff. She gives everything, every day,” Lewis said.

“She can win a world title, no doubt, and I hope it comes sooner rather than later. She’s as game as they come, very strong and has got really good skill.

“Let me tell you, the real winner in all this is me. I’m sure I wouldn’t be involved in the sport at my age if it wasn’t for Ella. She plays a big part in the rest of my life.

“Ella really wants to win a world title but I think we’re going to have to travel to do that. I would certainly travel with her.

“She is ideal as a person. She is wonderful inside the ring but is indeed wonderful outside the ring. She’s paramount. I love every moment we spend together.

Boot (L), connects with a punch on Annie Thatcher last July. Picture: Getty Images

“Ella is humble and it’s almost impossible to be as nice as she is. When you talk to her, the last thing you think is that she is going to go out and there and start punching people’s heads in.”

Provided she can overcome Jean, Boot is eyeing fights in the US or England in a couple of months.

“I would like to be heading overseas very early next year. It’s very hard for me to get opponents in Australia and it’s also hard to bring people over,” she said.

“I’m a full-time athlete. My whole life is boxing.”

Boot is living in Cronulla and trains at Sydney University while also doing some boxing training and personal training to fund her career.

She delayed her studies in high performance sport at Australian Catholic University in Strathfield to focus on her boxing.

Originally published as Undefeated boxer Ella Boot, mentored by Johnny Lewis, is eyeing off a world title