Eugene 'Cyclone' Hart

The Meanest Left-Hook in Philadelphia,

Eugene 'Cyclone' Hart

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By February 1972,

The 21 1/2 year-old North Philly Hooker,

Got to 22-0-0 (21 KO's) and was the #3 WBC Middleweight.

At 5' 11 1/2", was tall and lean, and suprisingly could make
154 lbs. (Light-Middleweight) without a problem.

But, they wanted him in the more 'lucrative' Middleweight division.

Had 'super leverage' with his body torque, resulting in numerous
'one-punch' Knockouts.

* KO 2...Matt Donovan
* KO 5...Fate Davis
* KO 1...Stanley Hayward

 

Manager Jim Jacobs and Trainer Cus D'Amato feel that 'Cyclone' Hart will win a
Championship Title within a year, either at Middleweight or Light-Middleweight

Cus D'Amato said, 'Though he has power, Cyclone has to become more elusive
if he wants to win a Championship, and smarter if he wants to keep it.'

'The Cyclone' put 'The Kitten' to sleep at 1:00 of Round 1.

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Definitely the 'most feared' Middleweight in the early-1970's

Loading up with 'knockouts' at the popular Philadelphia venue's;
* Blue Horizon
* The Spectrum
* The Arena

Got to 22-0-0 (21 KO's) then;

Had his 'bubble' burst by visiting California Middleweight, Nate 'The Gnat' Collins in March 1972.

 

March 7, 1972

20 year-old 'Cyclone' was supposed to destroy the visiting 'Nate the Gnat' Collins.

Nate came in with a deceiving 22-14-0 (15 KO's) record.

The 27 year-old from San Francisco was the #3 California Middleweight,
and had turned his career around after going {5-9-0} in his first '14' bouts.

Since the horrendous start, he had gone 17-5-0 (12 KO's), and was a pretty
good left-right banger, could take a decent shot, and was durable.

After getting rocked in the 1st Round, and battered and floored in the 2nd Round,
'Nate the Gnat' slowly broke the 'Cyclone' down.

First, by letting the Philly left-hooker wear himself out, and then by popping in
short left-rights to the face of the wide-open Hart.

By Round 6, Cyclone Hart's eyes were nearly swollen shut, and 'Nate the Gnat'
was pop-shotting him.

Solid rounds by Collins in Rounds 7 and 8, had 'Cyclone' fading badly, and he was
not offering any offense, as he was getting banged hard along the ropes.

At the end of Round 8, the bout was stopped by the Physician (Ring Doctor) in attendance.

This was the first loss in Eugene 'Cyclone' Hart's career, as he fell to 22-1-0.

 

September 21, 1971

The Eugene 'Cyclone' Hart vs. Denny Moyer bout, was one of those
Tuesday Night fights at the Spectrum.

It was broadcast by WNEW-TV in New York (New York feed).

The 'Cyclone' was on a roll with a record of 21-0-0 (20 KO's), and Jim Jacobs, Sam Solomon
and The Spectrum's Herman Taylor were pushing him for a World Title shot with Light-Middleweight
Champion, Carmelo Bossi.

Denny Moyer, at 80-22-4 (24 KO's), a veteran 32 year-old from the Northwest (Oregon) was also
on a roll, with '11' wins in a row. The fomer (1963) World Light-Middleweight
Champion was ranked the #3 Middleweight, and was also the NABF Middleweight Champion.

The 5' 8" veteran, was no easy guy to fight, as Denny knew and used every trick in
the book. The only way to get Denny Moyer to come to Philadelphia, to be a supposed opponent,
was to guarantee him 'twice' as much money as he normally got.

His Manager, Sid Flaherty, also tried to swing an agreement, where upon, if Cyclone
did not knock-out Denny, that the judges would score the bout even (A Draw),
providing that Denny kept it close.

Well, Cyclone Hart went out fast, and hurt and floored Moyer in the 1st Round, and
tried for the knockout, but couldn't put Denny away.

Moyer, used his tricky skills to hold off Cyclone in Round 2. But Hart came back with some
bone-crushing left hooks in the next 2-Rounds, hurting Moyer and bloodying his nose.

In Round 5, Cyclone got a bit winded, and Moyer pecked-and-pawed, and things started
to get a little rough, as the bout swung in Moyers favor.

In Round 6, Cyclone looked a bit gassed, and Moyer started to barrel into Hart. A few
close exchanges followed, then with Moyer trying to clinch, Cyclone fired a wild left hook
which missed and then he fell into Moyer driving the both of them into the ropes, where
they both slid through the lower rope, and flipped out of the ring, with Moyer landing on
top of Cyclone Hart.

Denny Moyer was grabbing his lower leg, claiming an injured ankle. While, Cyclone Hart
just laid there, looking completely out.

Amid the confusion, I believe the Referee Hank Cisco (?), called 'Time'. After about
'2' minutes, it was apparent that both fighters were hurt and/or stunned, and could not
or would not return to the ring.

Eventually, Cyclone Hart got back into the ring, but Denny Moyer said he was unable to continue,
due to the injured ankle.

After a discussion with the Boxing Commission Observer, the bout was ruled a 'No Contest'.

Both fighters accepted the ruling. Denny Moyer got his 'double-fee fight purse' and Cyclone
Hart escaped without a loss.

The Scorecards, later released, had Cyclone Hart ahead on all cards.