Johnny Lewis needs just three words to sum up what makes a good boxing trainer. "A good fighter."

After some 50 years in sport, the man behind four world champions steps into the limelight this Australia Day after being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to boxing and the Australian Rugby League.

Lewis, 61, trained Australians Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding and Kostya Tszyu, as well as American Virgil Hill, to world titles, and also served as national coach of the Australian boxing teams during the 1989 world championship and 1990 Commonwealth Games.

He also spent the early part of the 1990s as trainer for Australian rugby league team, and still continues his work at local PCYC gyms in Sydney - which is where his passion for the sweet science began as an eight-year-old amateur fighter at Newtown Police and Community Youth Club.

"I don't think the script could be written any better for my life," said Lewis, a member of the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame.

"I've always been a proud Australian, so to be recognised for doing something you really love and enjoy doing, it just makes it even more worthwhile. There's a lot of people that play a part in it, particular your family."

Lewis admits Paul Briggs, who became his latest star pupil late last year, will likely be his last prize fighter.

And as for the future of Tszyu - who is yet to announce his retirement or a return to the ring, but is set to feature in television's Dancing With The Stars - Lewis said: "I reckon you're better off dancing with the stars than being in the boxing ring seeing him. He doesn't have to prove himself to anyone."

Lewis finds it hard to split the world titles of his three Australian fighters as career highlights.

"The fact having Jeff Fenech from day one and seeing Jeff make the Olympic teams and go on to win three world championships, that in itself is something I'm very very proud of, that we started from scratch together," he said.

"To train someone like Kostya, who when he did come to Australia had already proved himself to be the greatest amateur in the world... and be part of his journey was really good.

"And I still think Jeff Harding, when he won his world title against Dennis Andries, that was one of the greatest moments for me in the sport, to win against the odds and to come from behind the way he did."

And he also admits there is a little bit more to being a good trainer.

"You've got to be there for them at all times... be with them everyday."

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