TWO of the nation’s most inspirational sportsmen, George’s Leslie ‘Bunny’ Grant and Richard ‘Shrimpy’ Clarke, were recognised at the recent ‘Rumble on Jamrock’ fightcard last Saturday at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) for their contributions local boxing by the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) and Sportsmax.

Grant, now 72-years-old, was the first Jamaican to fight for a world title on home soil when he contested the World Boxing Council (WBC) and WBA light welterweight titles on April 18, 1964.

He represented Jamaica in eight world championships in the lightweight and welterweight divisions over a 15-year span, garnering several international titles, including the Latin American junior welterweight and British Empire lightweight title (renamed the Commonwealth title).

Grant, who rounded off his professional career with 86 wins, 10 losses and six draws, had his home in Washington Gardens refurbished and repainted earlier this year by Tank-Weld and Sherwin Williams as a Labour Day project.

He said although this acknowledgment has come years after he retired, he was honoured by the recognition.

“Well, I feel good and I give thanks,” said the soft-spoken former champ. “But I have never felt neglected and I’m so glad that they found the time to recognise us,” he said.

The former Commonwealth and Jamaica lightweight champ is also pleased with the recent surge of interest in local boxing.

“I like what is going on because boxing had become a bit slow… but now it’s getting big again, so I’m very pleased about what’s happening and about this award,” he said.

Clarke, 49, has contributed to Jamaican boxing both in and out of the ring, in addition to holding several international titles, including the Central American and Caribbean Boxing title (1985), the Commonwealth Flyweight Boxing title (1986), and the International Boxing Council Flyweight Title (1992).

He contested the second title fight on home soil, when he challenged Thai champion Sot Chitalada for the WBC world flyweight title on September 7, 1990, but lost by a 11th-round knockout.

‘Shrimpy’, who provides training for upcoming fighters at the Stanley Couch gym in Kingston, said recognition like these come once in a lifetime and he was pleased to be acknowledged for his contribution to boxing.

He said boxing has been on the rebound for some time now and Walter’s victory on Saturday was just the icing on the cake.

“This (honour) came to me by surprise… I really want to dedicate it to all the young boxers in Jamaica, even those who have not started as yet,” he said.