LIGHTWEIGHT boxer Lennox Blackmoore collected the most impressive scalp at that point in his professional career when he knocked out Jamaican Percy Hayles on April 23, 1976 in Guyana. The Jamaican had vast experience and had defended the Commonwealth lightweight title several times before meeting the Guyanese.
The contest was the feature event on a card that saw Patrick Ford debut against Roy Smith. Blackmoore (25) stopped his 35-year-old opponent in round five of the fight that was scheduled for ten rounds, to collect his 10th victory in 11 bouts. Hayles on the other hand slumped to his 29th defeat in 69 fights.
The Jamaican had one more fight (a loss to Jonathan Dele in July 1976) and died in July 1978. Blackmoore improved and defeated Dele in October 1977 to win Guyana’s first Commonwealth title.
The Guyanese legend moved up one division and challenged WBA super lightweight champion Aaron `The Hawk’ Pryor in June 1981. During that time the `Cincinnati Cyclone’ ruled the division with a stern hand having knocked out both opponents in the two defences he made.
Once considered one of the best counter-punchers in the business, Blackmoore was in early trouble against `The Hawk’. Pryor swarmed from the opening bell and knocked down his taller opponent several times in the brief encounter to win by a TKO in round two.
Blackmoore lost his next two fights and hung up his gloves after defeating Wayne Harris in June 1986. He is now a sought-after trainer in New York and in 2002 piloted `Vicious’ Vivian Harris to victory in the battle for the WBA super lightweight title.