Basil Sylvester Sterling, known as Bunny Sterling, was a Jamaican-born British boxer, who in 1970 became the first Caribbean immigrant to win a British title when he won the middleweight belt.
12 Facts About Bunny Sterling
1.
2.
Bunny Sterling went on to become European middleweight champion in 1976.
3.
Bunny Sterling won the British and Commonwealth middleweight titles on 8 September 1970 at Wembley Stadium in London, stopping Mark Rowe at the end of the fourth round due to a cut.
4.
Bunny Sterling successfully defended his Commonwealth title in November 1970 against Kahu Mahanga.
5.
Later in 1970, Bunny Sterling was charged with using threatening behaviour and driving offences.
6.
Bunny Sterling made a third defence of the Commonwealth title in March 1971, taking a unanimous decision against Johan Louw in Edmonton.
7.
Bunny Sterling lost the Commonwealth title in April 1972, Tony Mundine stopping him in the fifteenth and final round in Brisbane.
8.
Bunny Sterling made successful defences of his British title against Phil Matthews in September 1972, Don McMillan in January 1973, and Rowe in April 1973, to win the Lonsdale Belt outright.
9.
Bunny Sterling lost the British title in his fourth defence, Kevin Finnegan taking a points decision in February 1974.
10.
Bunny Sterling vacated the title to challenge for the European title.
11.
Bunny Sterling made one defence of the title, losing a unanimous decision to Angelo Jacopucci in Milan four months later.
12.
Bunny Sterling had three further fights, his last a points defeat to Mustafa Wasajja in November 1977, before retiring in 1978.