BYE-BYE, BUNNY
The boxing world mourns as Sterling and Grant depart
BUNNY STERLING, the first Caribbean immigrant to win a British title, passed away on Friday (November 16) at the age of 70, following a four-year battle with dementia.
Born Basil Sylvester Sterling, “Bunny” moved from Jamaica to England with his family at the age of eight and spent much of his life in Tottenham, North London.
His professional boxing career began in 1966 and couldn’t have got off to a much worse start. He lost his first three fights, all on points, and lifting a title of any description seemed a pipe dream.
Bunny, however, was determined and busy – fighting eight times in the first four months – and it wasn’t long before he hit the ground running and reversed his fortunes. By November 1968, in fact, he had stopped Johnny Kramer inside eight rounds to become the Southern Area middleweight champion, and then, in 1970, he won a couple of British title eliminators against Dennis Pleace (rsf 9) and Harry Scott (pts 12).
This set him up for the big one – a shot at the British middleweight title. It arrived on September 8, 1970, and Sterling would go on to record a fourth-round cuts stoppage over Mark Rowe at Wembley’s Empire Pool, making a little history in the process and ensuring his name would always be remembered.
That same year, Sterling defeated Kahu Mahanga on points to add the Commonwealth middleweight title to his collection, while a 1976 win against Frank Reiche (rsf 13) in Germany landed Bunny a European middleweight title at the third attempt.
Simon Block, Honorary Secretary of the Commonwealth Boxing Council, believes Sterling could have won a world title had he been born a decade later.
“Despite their talents, British boxers in the ‘60s and ‘70s who either came from the Caribbean or were born to immigrant families were generally not as wellsupported as some of their indigenous counterparts,” he said. “So, it is unlikely that Bunny received the kind of financial reward that was earned by those that followed in the next couple of decades, such as Frank Bruno, Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn.
“His record shows almost no easy matching and the fact that he was so successful against the odds speaks well of his character and ability.
“Any analysis of his record reveals that he should be recognised as one of Jamaica and Britain’s ‘greats’, but during his active years and in retirement his achievements have tended to be undersung in comparison to many of his contemporaries. Had he been born 10 years later he may well have won a world championship. May this outstanding fighter and man rest in peace.”
Bunny Sterling wasn’t the only Bunny the boxing world lost in November.
Bunny Grant, another Jamaican who made life easier for those who followed, passed away two weeks before Sterling on November 2 at the age of 78.
Born George Leslie Grant, this Bunny turned professional in 1958 and remained based in his native Jamaica for his whole career. He became Jamaican lightweight champion in 1960, and Jamaican welterweight champion the following year.
On August 4, 1962, meanwhile, two days before Independence Day, Grant became Commonwealth lightweight champion when dethroning Britain’s Dave Charnley before an overspill crowd at Kingston’s National Stadium. For Jamaicans, this victory served as their Independence gift, and Grant, their hero, was now synonymous with Jamaica’s political independence from Britain.
“He really loved the sport,” Grant’s son, Junior, told The Gleaner. “I remember last year we took him to a gym and he was so excited to teach the young boxers. I hope they continue to grow the sport locally because he would have loved that.”
Stephen Jones, president of the Jamaica Boxing Board, points to Grant’s 1964 WBA and WBC world super-lightweight title shot against Eddie Perkins, also held at the National Stadium, as evidence of both the Jamaican’s popularity and ability: “Bunny Grant not only set the tone for boxing locally but he set a bar that Jamaican boxers past, present and future have and will continue to aspire to,” said Jones.
Minister of Sports, Olivia Grange, said Jamaica had lost a “great champion”.
“We will forever remember his victory over Dave Charnley, the Commonwealth lightweight champion, at the National Stadium on August 4, 1962 – just two days before Jamaica’s Independence Day,” she said.
Bunny Grant, dubbed the Usain Bolt of the 1960s by the Jamaica Observer, retired with a 52-15-5 (14) record. He, like Bunny Sterling, 35-18-4 (14), will be sorely missed, yet the impact these two Jamaicans had on their sport, and their country, will be everlasting.