Max Carlos

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

In the early 1950’s there was a teenager boxing at the Shepparton Boys Club gymnasium who would become a household name throughout the Goulburn Valley. He was destined to become an Australian champion boxer and Shepparton’s first Olympian, boxing in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Max Carlos boxed as an amateur at the Shepparton Boys Club and won the “Golden Gloves” in 1955. As the National Amateur Champion, he represented Australia and won a gold medal in the South East Asian games in the light welterweight division.

The City of Shepparton was full of excitement when the name of Max Carlos was announced as a member of the Australia’s 1956 Olympic team. He was defeated narrowly in the second round of the competition by American Joe Shaw.

Following the Olympic Games Max turned professional  and trained under the well-known boxing trainer, Ambrose Palmer. In two years as a professional he had nineteen bouts for 11 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws.

His career culminated by winning the Australian lightweight championship, over 15 rounds against the indigenous boxer and titleholder George Bracken before a packed house at Melbourne’s Festival Hall. Carlos had become a star and carried the best wishes of thousands of Goulburn Valley sports fans into every fight.

Unfortunately, injury stepped in and cut short his career when he suffered a fractured ear drum.

Max used his fame to become a businessman, opening a successful men’s wear store in Shepparton.

He Joined the Apex organisation and was one of their principal organisers of the annual Sports Star of the Year award.

When boxing arrived on television Max Became a referee, officiating at bouts on HSV7s TV Ringside. He also Enjoyed playing snooker and became the “Shepparton Club” snooker champion.

Max Carlos was an immensely popular sporting legend in the Goulburn Valley and will always be remembered as our first Olympian.