THE legendary Lennox Beckles suffered his only first-round knockout defeat on December 19, 1969. Beckles, a slick and talented boxer, travelled to Milan, Italy to challenge Sandro Lopopolo in a fight scheduled for 10 rounds.However, the 30-year-old Lopopolo, a former World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) junior welterweight champion took control of the contest early and finished off the Guyanese in the opening round. The result was a complete opposite of their first encounter which Beckles won on points.
Born on October 12, 1942 Beckles is still considered one on the best from Guyana to have laced up the gloves. Very few would deny that his skill and ring craft is unmatched by any of the current crop of pugilists.
Beckles had brushed aside the likes of Rugged Mack, Caesar Barrow, Eddie Perkins, Vernon Lewis and Johnny DePeiza to name a few, while in his prime. He made his professional debut in 1960 and won the British Guiana welterweight title five years later. He closed an eventful career 14 years later.