Lester's 220 cans a week

[pies4ever]

Lester's 220 cans a week
Kelvin Healey
November 19, 2006

TROUBLED former boxing hero Lester Ellis swilled 220 cans of beer a week during his battle with alcoholism.

The former world champion has admitted the shocking truth about his struggle, during which he spent six weeks in jail this year.

Ellis, who won his first world title at 19, said he did not realise he had a problem until he hit rock-bottom suffering alcohol-fuelled depression.

The 41-year-old walked into a Melbourne video store in May armed with two knives and a samurai sword and wasn't subdued until police used capsicum spray.

Days later he attempted suicide by jumping in front of traffic and urged police to shoot him.

Ellis has revealed he drank 220 cans of beer a week, and sometimes up to 40 a day.

"(I was drinking) over 30 cans a day easy, maybe more, maybe 40," he told Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, in a story to air tonight.

http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,20781330-2862,00.html

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Sadly, it's a path of destruction which many ex boxers do take. A corrupt, greedy and ruthless industry which cares little for the welfare of retiring fighters

[Didaicos]

Is he the same boxer who has the compulsion for clean living as in bordering on the Obsessive compulsive level?

[Dr Alf Andrews]

I had a major drinking problem in my mid to late 20s.

There was this early opener near Central Station in Sydney and I used to drink there on Saturday mornings.

You'd get in conversations with all these down-and-out types and I noticed how these guys would always make the point of bragging about all the different boxing titles they used to hold.

I was never sure if they really were punch-drunk ex-fighters or whether it was just a bluff in case you were thinking of rolling them for their money. I was never game to find out.

[David]

Reminds me of the film Raging Bull

[~Madness~]

It was very sad to watch 60 minutes last night. Mens mental health is starting to be recognised a lot more these days. It was always a perception that only women suffered from depression/anxiety and other mental health problems.

It is great some men are coming out for help now. I am sure with all the help he is getting that he will pull through. He was a champion Australian. ALthough I am not a boxing fan, I still support anyone who don's the green and gold!

I wish him all the best.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Indeed it was very sad, great to see his wife stand by him despite what they've been through, as Lester said she's definitely one out of the box. He's a very lucky man in that regard

[~Madness~]

He is lucky frankiboy. A lot don't stick around. I guess she could see what could be. It takes a brave woman to stay around also. And his kids were great too. Though, they seemed to have the regulation Melton hair do! lol

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

yep a little rough around the edges but good kids nonetheless lol

[HAL]

Pardon me? What's your sign? I'm glad you find this amusing.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Here's my sign Hal

[GO RUPERT 10]

whats the bet its a sensationlised bit of crap so it can make his 60 minutes thing more dramatic


like they didnt pay him for the story did they?

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Well it wouldn't be current affairs if the story wasn't sensationalised, doesn't mean it's all crap. Who cares if they paid him, good luck to him I say

[HAL]

I care, otherwise I would not have typed it all in.

[zoia]

thats not a bad effort i must say