KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) today hailed legendary boxing champion, Bunny Grant, who passed away recently, as a pioneer.

In paying tribute to his passing, the PNP’s Shadow Minister of Gender, Sports and Information, Natalie Neita said, “legendary is what comes to mind when I think about the life and work of George Leslie ‘Bunny’ Grant.”

Neita extended condolences on behalf of the PNP to his family, friends, colleagues, and to the entire boxing fraternity on his death.

She noted that the native of Trench Town and Boy’s Town was a trailblazer, who fought his way to fame during a time when such reputation eluded others in the world of boxing. “At the height of his boxing career, he represented the best of the Jamaican athletes in the profession”.

The Opposition Shadow Minister said that as a true champion of a man, Bunny Grant fought across various weight classes, starting from featherweight and going up to the light middleweight class. He won various titles across the Caribbean and the Commonwealth throughout his career, but the most significant to the Jamaican people was his victory over Dave Chamley to secure the Commonwealth Lightweight title inside the national stadium on August 4, 1962, just two days before Jamaica gained independence. The euphoria set-off by his victory became the perfect backdrop to the independence celebration, which ensued after the official ceremony.

Neita added that a proper classification of Grant’s influence in the field of boxing could only be catalogued as a pioneer, who blazed a trail which resulted in many other Jamaicans following in his footsteps to become champions in boxing on the world stage.

“We have lost a legend, but we are comforted that his life’s work and legacy will live on and will act as a testament and motivation for generations to come,” Neita said.