Eugene Hart
Encyclopedia
Eugene "Cyclone" Hart was a terrific punching American
middleweight
boxer
who fought from 1969 to 1982. Hart never fought for the title and could not get a victory against the upper echelon fighters he faced. His best showing against a top notch fighter was when he fought "Bad" Bennie Briscoe
to a 10 round draw on November 18, 1975. Unfortunately he was stopped in one round by Briscoe in their rematch on April 6, 1976. Another big win for Hart was the 10 round decision he earned over former Olympic
champion Sugar Ray Seales
on August 15, 1975.
Hart faced three future champions in his career. He suffered a 9 round TKO loss at the hands of future middleweight champion Marvin Hagler
on September 14, 1976. Future light heavyweight
champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
knocked Hart out in the fourth round on August 26, 1974, and future middleweight king Vito Antuofermo
KOed Hart in the fifth round of their March 11, 1977 match. The Antuofermo fight was typical of Hart's inability to get by championship caliber fighters. Hart came out throwing powerful left hooks to the head and body of Antuofermo. Some of Hart's left hooks actually lifted Antuofermo off the ground. When Antuofermo didn't wilt under the furious attack, Hart lost confidence and the tide of battle turned. Appearing completely spent, Hart became defenseless and was knocked out.
Although Hart was trained by legendary boxing figure Cus D'Amato
, he never realized his great potential. Nevertheless, in 2003 Hart was named to the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought from 1969 to 1982. Hart never fought for the title and could not get a victory against the upper echelon fighters he faced. His best showing against a top notch fighter was when he fought "Bad" Bennie Briscoe
Bennie Briscoe
"Bad" Bennie Briscoe was the quintessential Philadelphia boxer."Bad" Bennie fought from 1962 to 1982, and retired with a career record of 66 wins 24 losses and 5 draws. Briscoe was a top-rated Middleweight contender during the 1970s, unsuccessfully challenging for the World Title on three...
to a 10 round draw on November 18, 1975. Unfortunately he was stopped in one round by Briscoe in their rematch on April 6, 1976. Another big win for Hart was the 10 round decision he earned over former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion Sugar Ray Seales
Sugar Ray Seales
"Sugar" Ray Seales, was the only American boxer to win a gold medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics.-Personal:...
on August 15, 1975.
Hart faced three future champions in his career. He suffered a 9 round TKO loss at the hands of future middleweight champion Marvin Hagler
Marvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler , is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. Hagler holds the distinction of having the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%...
on September 14, 1976. Future light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad is a retired American boxer.- Amateur career :Boxing under his birth name, Eddie Gregory, Muhammad won two New York Golden Gloves Championships. Gregory won both the 1971 and the 1972 New York Golden Gloves 147 lb Open Championships...
knocked Hart out in the fourth round on August 26, 1974, and future middleweight king Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo is an Italian-American actor who is also a former world Middleweight boxing champion.-Background:Antuofermo was born in Italy, in the town of Palo del Colle, which is located about 15 km inland from the city of Bari. but his family moved to the United States when he was 17...
KOed Hart in the fifth round of their March 11, 1977 match. The Antuofermo fight was typical of Hart's inability to get by championship caliber fighters. Hart came out throwing powerful left hooks to the head and body of Antuofermo. Some of Hart's left hooks actually lifted Antuofermo off the ground. When Antuofermo didn't wilt under the furious attack, Hart lost confidence and the tide of battle turned. Appearing completely spent, Hart became defenseless and was knocked out.
Although Hart was trained by legendary boxing figure Cus D'Amato
Cus D'Amato
Constantine "Cus" D'Amato was an American boxing manager and trainer who handled the careers of Floyd Patterson, José Torres, Vinnie Ferguson, and Mike Tyson. Several successful boxing trainers, including Teddy Atlas, Kevin Rooney, and Joe Fariello, were tutored by D'Amato...
, he never realized his great potential. Nevertheless, in 2003 Hart was named to the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.