THE BIG FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 7

THE BIG FIGHT.

Dempsey Declares Heeney's

Prospects Good.

" MORE THAN EVEN CHANCE."

I (Australian and N.Z. I'ress Association.* NEW YORK, July 23. The ex-champion heavy-weight boxer, .Tack Denipsev, is enthusiastic about Tom Heetiey, the New Zealander, who is to fight Gene Tiinney fV>r the world's championship on Thursday evening at the Yankee Stadium, New York. He ' says: "It will take a superman to heat Heenev. He is strong and rugged and apparently possesses a lot of stamina. Therefore he has more than an even chance of winning. - ' Heeney gave the best exhibition of his training period at Fairhaven yesterday in four furi- , —j. ously fought rounds with his sparring partner, Braddock. Tunney insists that he will fly to New York from Speculator in a land 'plane in spite of the vigorous protests of Mr. Tex Rickard, promoter of the contest, who is exhausting every means of dissuading the. champion from risking his life. Mr. Rickard argties that there is Ino adequate place for a take-off at | Speculator.

TUNNEY FAVOURITE. American Odds Three To One On The Champion. JACK HEENEY'S MESSAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBOKXK, this day. "Everyone here says Tom can win, but the majority of the newspapers favour Tunney. The odds are three to one on the champion, but it is hard to pet money on at two to one," says Jack Heenev in a further letter to six American radio amateurs, which was transmitted to Mr. Ivan O'Meara last night. "Tom has reduced his weight from 2221b to 2031b. and expects to get down to 2001b for the fight. On Saturday Tom sparred six rounds each with three specially selected partners, one a good 'mixer,' another a straight-out boxer, and the third a mixture of both who beat 'Battling' Levinsky the previous week. Tom has six sparring partners, one coming and another going daily. '■'With only four days before the fight, everyone is getting intensely excited, except Tom, to whom the contest is merely another fight. He is very popular with everyone, and creates a fine impression on the many visitors daily. He is anxious to make a trip home, but is not in a position to consider the matter until after the fight. We are continually meeting New Zealanders, who call at the camp, make themselves' known and cOnvev best wishes."