Australian boxing legend Olympian Lionel Rose carries the Olympic flame at Drouin, Victoria in this August 10, 2000 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

CANBERRA - Australians on Monday paid tributes to one of Australia's sporting greats, legendary boxer Lionel Rose, who died aged 62.

Rose had been suffering from health problems since having a stroke in 2007 that left him partially paralyzed with speech difficulties. He died on Sunday at the age of 62.

Rose made Australian sporting history in 1968 when he became the first Indigenous boxer to win a world championship.

He was named Australian of the Year in 1968 in recognition of the achievement, becoming the first indigenous Australian to be awarded this honor. That same year, he was also appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

According to three-times boxing world champion Anthony Mundine, Rose is Australia's greatest ever fighter, he has been an inspiration to Australian boxers and his death is a loss for all Australians.

"He was the pioneer not just for Indigenous Australians. He was the first Australian world champion, he wasn't the first Indigenous but the first Australian champion," said Mundine on Monday.

"It's a sad loss obviously and I feel a little bit dudded because I believe he is the best Australian fighter to have come out of these shores.

"[I] have an immense respect for the man and what he's done for Aboriginal culture and what he's done for Australia."

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard also paid tribute to Rose, describing him as an inspirational Australian.

"Lionel Rose was an Australian champion in every sense of the word, and an inspiration to all of us," she said in a statement on Monday.

The prime minister extended her deepest sympathies and those of the Australian government and the community to Rose's family, friends and the Australian boxing community.

Rose remains one of only four Australian-born fighters to win a world title overseas.