FORMER Commonwealth lightweight champion Lennox Blackmoore was rated the number one junior welterweight by the World Boxing Association when he challenged champion Aaron `The Hawk’ Pryor on June 27, 1981. The fight was held at the Hacienda Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada and was the main event of a six-bout card promoted by Don King. The contest turned out to be the toughest two rounds that the Guyanese ever endured, as Pryor swarmed from the opening round throwing punches from all angles.
The American, who weighed in at 140 pounds (half a pound heavier than Blackmoore) came into the fight with imposing credentials. He was undefeated in 27 fights and had 19 consecutive knockouts leading up to the Blackmoore challenge.
Rated among the best counter-punchers in the world, Blackmoore was down within the first 30 seconds of the fight and graced the canvas one more time before the first round was over. A left-right combination sent the darling of Guyana’s boxing back to the floor early in the second round.
Like a true warrior Blackmoore got up but `The Hawk’ delivered a few more telling blows which forced referee Mills Lane to stop the fight at 58 seconds of round two.