In his own words, renowned Sunshine boxing trainer Max Bowman has thrown his “last punch”, dying at the age of 86.
Just days before his death, he turned to his daughter, Michele Dutton, and used that phrase as he faced his mortality.
Last month, more than 160 mourners paid their respects to the boxing trainer of nearly 50 years.
Bowman, born Max Harberger, died peacefully on December 29.
“Dad was so loved,” Michele said.
“We get dozens of calls every week from people who don’t yet know he’s gone. He was that sort of guy everyone knew.”
The Sunshine East resident and father-of- three lived and breathed boxing from the time he was 16.
“Dad’s parents didn’t approve of him boxing so he fought under the alias Max Bowman,” Michele said.
After four years in the ring, Max decided he wanted to teach the craft to others.
He created a backyard gym at their Dorothy Avenue home in 1971 that was graced by greats such as Lester Ellis, Rocky Mattioli and Hector Thompson.
Football legend Ted Whitten worked out there, and in the 1980s when Mick Malthouse was coaching Footscray, he took his players in for training five times a week.
But Bowman’s greatest moment was watching his son, Rodney, win bronze at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. He also took pride in winning the Merv Williams Award as Victoria’s leading trainer in 1981.
In 2009, Bowman’s wife of 57 years, Edith Jones, died. After grieving, Bowman kept up his commitment to his gym.
In 2012, his three children say they “yelled him into retirement”.
“The last few years were challenging as his body wasn’t as young as his mind,” Michele said.
“He couldn’t understand why he still couldn’t do the things he used to do. He still wanted to train boys, do the gardening and his everyday chores.”
Rodney, 54, says his dad will always be his inspiration.
“He’ll always be known as one of the greatest boxing trainers, not only in the western suburbs but in Australia,” he said.
