Jamaicans were happy to see their countryman defeat the British Empire lightweight boxing champion. Bunny Grant led the fight from beginning to end. Political leaders and other dignitaries watched the fight with bated breaths.

Published Wednesday, August 8, 1962

GRANT NEW EMPIRE CHAMP

-Dethrones Charnley in bruising bout

Gleaner Sports Reporter

JAMAICA 21-year-old boxing sensation Bunny Grant competed steadily to dethrone Britain’s Dave Charnley, the British Empire lightweight boxing champion, in their 15-round main bout at the National Stadium last Saturday night. The fight started at 11:55 Saturday night and ended five minutes to one on Sunday morning.

A crowd of about 9,000  watched the first international event ever to be held in the stadium arena. Grant dictated the terms for the entire fight and had the stocky, broad-shouldered Charnley confused as he annexed his fourth boxing title.

Holder of Jamaica’s lightweight and welterweight crowns and junior welterweight champion of Latin America and the Caribbean, Grant ripped open Charnley’s defence with a fusillade of jabs and hooks, and at no time seemed worried by the Britisher’s southpaw style.

There were no surprises nor disputes when the official verdict was announced.

Judge Vivian Blake saw Grant the winner, 146-144, while Judge Gilbert Aarons and referee Emelio Sanchez had Grant ahead 152-129 and 150-138, respectively.

Aarons and Sanchez penalised the former champion for biting - an offence which drew repeated warnings from the referee.

The Gleaner’s scorecard had the new champion a 149-143 winner.

Charnley aired his best but, despite being one and a half pounds lighter, Grant at 133½1b could never be bullied around and it was the Jamaican who landed the heavier punches.

There were no knockdowns in the fight, watched by ministers of government and foreign dignitaries and other VIPS here for the Jamaica Independence celebrations, but jarring jabs and staging books had Charnley holding on on several occasions.

With Harry Wiley, trainer of former world welterweight and middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson, in his corner, Grant went at Charnley from a round of popping jabs and left hooks into his opponent's face. One hook had blood running from a cut below Charnley’s right eye in the eighth round. Grant himself lost blood as, in the 11th round, he got a butt to the forehead over his right eye. Charnley was never able to exploit this cut, however, as Grant’s defence was sure.

Dropping his ninth defeat in 54 contests and his second in a row, Dartford Charnley, holder of the British and European lightweight titles, looked like a bag of nerves from the opening gong and, as the fight progressed, was completely befuddled by Grant’s sustained attack.

When his right jabs could not find the mark, he resorted to short hooks and left crosses in his spasmodic attacking moments, and the few punches which found the mark were taken unflinchingly by the Jamaican.

In chalking up his 32 victories in 38 outings he has two draws and four defeats, the product of Boys' Town, christened George Leslie Grant, was delightful to watch as he swung into the offensive tearing away at his man at close and long range. All Charnley could do to protect himself was to run into clashes.

No artistry

There was no artistry in Charnley’s display. He was breathing heavily from as early as round five and, in fact, did more brawling than boxing, as he was invariably in difficulty.

Grant sustained a bruised rib during his workout in New York for the fight. This was kept a secret. The injury, however, started to trouble him towards the end of the bout, but, by then, Charnley was a beaten man, and Grant, after coasting in the early stages of the rounds, would suddenly come to life with a barrage of blows to capture the round.

Charnley’s best round was the 14th

Charnley made a vain last-minute effort to tag his man but, by then, the steam had left him and his punches had no effect.

With his man fully sized up from the second round, Grant lashed out with rapid combinations in round four, and had Charnley holding on.

By round five, the Jamaican was propelling with energy and confidence. A picture of complete relaxation, he danced around Charnley and built up a comfortable lead with piston-like hooks and crosses. Charnley knew all that he had but was invariably beaten to the punch.

Round 10 was a good one for Grant, as Charnley could find no answer to his combinations and speed and the round ended with Charnley looking very puzzled.

From then on, Grant’s superior control was in evidence and he kept tearing away at Charnley’s cut eye with stinging jabs.

The four-fight card was promoted by the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control and sponsored by the Machado Sports Foundation.

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