Philly Boxing History

MAY 03, 1971

CYCLONE HALTS THE KITTEN - STREAKS TO 19 STRAIGHT

On this day in 1971, streaking middleweight prospect Eugene "Cyclone" Hart took on Stanley "Kitten" Hayward, the biggest name in his then-blossoming career and came away with a giant victory. It didn't take long for heavy-handed Hart to find his mark. After about 20 seconds, he blasted Hayward with the first of his devastating Philly left hooks, and for all intents and purposes, the match was over. Kitten went down hard, got up, struggled to stay in there, but was swarmed by the young wrecking machine from North Philadelphia.

Referee Zack Clayton had no choice but to stop it. The time was one minute of the first round. With the win, Hart ran his winning streak and KO streak to 19, and burst onto the middleweight scene. Hayward appeared to be at the end of a long road, with this his worst-ever showing. But Kitten would fight on for six more years - with plenty of off time spread throughout that stretch. His final slate would read 32-12-4 with 18 KOs. 

Cyclone Hart's KO streak would be snapped in his very next fight, after being extended to the 10-round limit against Don Fullmer. His unbeaten string would run for four more fights until a KO loss to Nate Collins would end it. Cyclone ended his career with a 30-9-1 record, with 1 NC and 28 KOs. 

  1971 - Bennie Briscoe KO5 Carlos Marks at the Philadelphia Arena

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