Date of Birth: 01/07/1988

Age Started Boxing: at the age of 12

Amateur Record: 32-8

Professional Record: 12-1-1, (6 KO's)

Favourite Current Fighter: Andre Berto and Miguel Cotto.

All-Time Fighter: Sugar Ray Robinson for a boxers style of fighting and Roberto Duran for a brawlers style of fighting.

Favourite All-Time Fight: Roberto Duran vs Esteban De Jesus II.

Favourite Music: I love all music because it relaxes my body and mind but generally house and electro anything fast as im a fast paced individual

Favourite Movie/s: The Matrix, Shawshank Redemption, and all movies that have Will Farrell and Adam Sandler funniest blokes ever.

Job Outside of Boxing: Work part-time for Woolworths while completing my final year at Victoria University, studying to be a School Teacher.

Pre-fight Meal: Most fighters have a special ritual like meal they have before each fight that helps them feel like it prepares them more for victory. As for me I have a big bowl of pasta then anything goes all night eating chocolate, lollies, coke I go shopping a couple of hours before weigh in when im angry and hungry so I get everything that ive missed out on eating for the past seven weeks in the lead up to the fight.

Toughest Part about being a fighter: Definitely missing out on events and having to isolate myself from friends. During the lead up to the fight its strict eating and drinking no mucking around which is really hard for me and my girlfriend its always when im in the lead up to a fight when I got a wedding or bucks night, or a mates 21st birthday that I have to miss out on because I can't eat or have a couple of beers with me mates, definitely a sport filled with sacrifices.

Toughest Opponent Faced: My toughest opponent is always myself I have the ability to make a fight easy or hard for myself. Every opponent that have faced I should have stopped but it's all a learning process and turning professional at only 18 years of age leaves me with many years up my sleeve to continue to develop and become a very successful fighter.

What's your training routine before a fight like:

Plenty of pads, sprint drills on the bag, running, sparring, strength development training, and also a couple of things will keep secret (Heath laughs to himself).

As a young kid growing up, who were your idols in Australian boxing:

When I was young I was a fan of basketball and martial arts and my idols were from those backgrounds.

Being an Ellis shoulders responsibility as well as undue expectation, what are your views on this:

Yes, I agree that there is a responsibility for me to live up to the family name and always show and live up to what a fighter from the Ellis family is and that's someone with speed, knockout power, balls and unlimited potential. As for undue expectation I consider that a positive because people are never going to be impressed with an average performance from me because they all know and believe I have the ability to be a special fighter.

Your uncle is former IBF super-featherweight and three division IBO world champion Lester Ellis, what is it like fighting in his shadow:

No... not at all, I don't think im fighting in his shadow Uncle Lester had his own career and I have mine, Uncle Lester's achievements are just a guide of what I have to do to beat his record.

What is your connection with Daniel Iannazzo:

Best mates, I met Daniel through school in 2004 introduced him to fighting and he's never looked back. When we're not fighting we usually hit the town and run riots together.

You have now been a professional since July 2006, how do you feel you have settled into the professional ranks:

Great, but due to major injuries my fighting has been set back to only having 3 fights in each year for the past two years 08/09, but God willing with an injury free run i will have six to seven fights this year and continue my rise to the top.

You have two genuine regional titles (IBF Pan Pacific & WBC Asian Boxing Council), this is a huge achievement for a 21-year old as well as three State titles in three divisions. This is more than some Australian fighters have had in their entire careers, why do you think that is:

Look behind every great fighter is an even greater management team. Team Ellis has an amazing team my father Neil Ellis and Elio Doria do their jobs and find create opportunities which are going to embetter my career, some managers don't have a clue and therefore their fighters stick to state and national honours, others like myself are chasing world honours.

Some readers would love to know why did you jump the Australian title and instead fight for a regional:

Danny Green never won a state or National title, he seems to be doing well earning millions and knocking out greats. A national title is just another type of strap to add to your collection. Only thing is it doesn't move you anywhere in the world side of things. Australia is a small pond with no fish in it, what's the use of having the title with only 2 to 6 people in your division. When I was a kid I used to read The Fist and see Danny Green, Anthony Mundine, Lovemore Ndou all great Aussies who have gone on to win world titles who held the IBF Pan-Pacific championship. Now I too hold this title it's one of the belts I've always wanted, the Aussie title really never crossed my mind to be honest. I am also fortunate enough to be one of only two Australians who hold a WBC regional title which with one title defence which I will have this year will get me a world rating in the talent rich WBC Welterweight division.

Boxing purists believe your record lacks a strong foundation of Australian scalps, or some say you have an appetite for Thai's, why is that:

Simple, there's no one to fight, it's only been the last few who have been Thailanders, but it doesn't bother me I have an appetite for any nationality in the ring. Johnny Cotterill was challenged he was to scared, so were Allan Luxford, Steve Maxwell (knocked out favoured Matthew Paulley from Sydney) and "Fatty" Peter Mitrevski Jr just name a few Aussies for ya they never wanted a bar of it so the next best thing is always Thais, at least they want to fight. Also my last win was over Aswin Cabuy who has a win over WBO World Rated Samuel Columban. People are scared of Heath Ellis. IF you find an Aussie for me give my management a call im always up for it.

Some people are of the opinion that aside of Anthony Mundine, you are the most hated fighter in Australia boxing and would love to see you get knocked out. Why do you think that is or do you disagree with the statement:

Look, to a certain degree I find this true but there are people who love Heath Ellis. They are the ones taking photos with me after my fight and the kids that I let carry my belts when I enter the ring they are the people I care about. There are always people out there that are jealous of and try to wreck the plans of others who are successful like myself. These are usually old men who couldn't do what I can do, or maybe could do but never had the backing like I have "such is life" I guess. All elite athletes have people out there hoping their dreams crumble it's pretty sad to be honest.

Your father Neil Ellis and Elio Doria are your managers. Neil has no managerial experience, why didn't you go to one of the more experienced managers:

Because all these blokes think they know it all and push you into taking fights too early in your career to put themselves up on a mantle piece so people can kiss their behinds. My father and Elio Doria have been in the boxing business for years and my Dad learnt alot through being part of my Uncle Lester's career. I can talk to these people and they care about me and what happens with my career. It's like the greyhounds really once you have no value managers take boxers out for the shooting, that won't happen to me.

You are fighting Onikeke on April 9th; Peter Maniatis has taken you under his wing and is nurturing you well. Why would you fight knockout artist that was once rated WBC #20 and is the former Commonwealth, All African, Nigerian and IBF Pan Pacific champion:

Because I have the ability to beat fighters of this calibre and also to shut up critics who say I fight only Thais. But I know this won't shut them up they always keep coming but that's ok it keeps my fire burning people love to talk about me and I love that too because im always on their minds. No Australians have fought Onikeke because they are scared and don't possess the skill, will and balls to beat him I do. Except for Lance Gostelow who is world rated in the WBO.

In Onikeke's last fight, he lost to WBO #12 Lance Gostelow. You are not rated by any world sanctioning body, don't you think that you have jumped on the elevator rather than have a taken a step:

Not really, I only need to defend my WBC title once to get the world rating, but im not in a rush this will happen the title is in my bedroom and no one can take it unless I defend it so the rating comes when I choose to defend it. Im defending my IBF Pan-Pacific title against Onikeke so if the IBF think this is a worthy fight for a world IBF Ranking they will grant it.

Heath, your dad is a multi-millionaire, you will graduate as a teacher later this year and you live in a fifty square mansion in the well to do suburb of Greenvale. What motivates you to fight:

My motivation is the ability that God has given me so why waste it I come from a family of fighters so that's what we do fight, some people go fishing with their dad, some go footy or tennis, I go to the legalised human fights and take part in it. At the end of the day that's what it is it's like dog fights but with men.

First Greg Grogan then Keith Ellis Jr and now Dave Hegarty, why are you playing hop scotch with trainers:

I do what suits me not what suits what people think of me, if something isn't working out you change it that's all.

What are your thoughts on the Australian fight game in general:

People think of Danny Green and Anthony Mundine when people talk about Australian Boxing one day that will be changed to Heath Ellis and its already starting. I don't think much of Australian Boxing I never watch it, don't read about it I didn't even watch the contender final because it's all low class boxing and I don't want to pick up any bad habits. I only buy the fist when my mugs in it.

What fighters would you like to have on your resume:

Anthony Mundine, Lovemore Ndou and that's all for Aussies the rest are too scared ill look overseas maybe some more Thai specials. Cheers

Some boxing pundits believe you cannot punch with only 50% of your wins coming by way of knockout, what are your thoughts on that:

Every fighter I have faced should have been knocked out but turning professional at only 18 and still being one of the youngest professional fighters in Australia it's all learning some I let off when I should have kept on but they played their poker face... well its all learning.

They say boxing fathers and boxing sons don't mix, what are your views on that:

Mine's going ok.

In closing, who would you like to thank:

Everyone in my team knows what their roles and jobs are and they do them perfectly, there are too many to mention and some that don't need to be mentioned. I like to thank my girlfriend of eight years Natalie for her ongoing support.