TUNNEY'S TRIUMPH

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 177, 28 July 1928, Page 9

TUNNEY'S TRIUMPH

HIS BEST FIGHT. Heeney Wins The Crowd By His Courage. "A WORTHY FOEMAN." (Australian and N.Z. Tress Association.) NEW YORK, July 27. It was a new Gene Tunnev who defeated Tom Heeney on a technical knock-out in the lltli round, and one who had developed that "killing" instinct the critics had said he never possessed. The technical knock-out would undoubtedly have been an actual one if the referee had permitted the fight to continue. The plucky challenger was almost cut to pieces by the terrific mauling the champion gave him, but he put up as game a fight as has ever been seen in this country, and refused to give in until he was officially compelled to do so. Tunney was a very different man from the one who defeated Jack Denipsey on a decision, and was far more dangerous than he had ever previously pfoved himself. It was easily the greatest fight in Tunney's career, and his victory was scored over an opponent well worthy of his steel. When Tunney Took Charge. Although the champion held a wide lead on points he did not bring the fight to a head until the 10th round. Then he hooked and jabbed the challenger's body and rapped terrific blows to the head. He sent Tom to the floor just before the end of the 10th round, and it was evident that the New Zealander never would have risen in time had the bell not saved him. Heeney appeared to be unable to leave the canvas and when his seconds rushed out and dragged him to his corner it was only with the greatest difficult they could arouse liim sufficiently to continue. In the 11th round Tunney's seconds urged him to go in and finish Heeney immediately. The referee appeared to have almost decided not to let the bout enter the 11th round, but after consulting with the judges, he permitted the challenger to make one more effort. Curiously enough Heeney appeared to have fully revived, but after a very little more fighting it was obviously impossible for him to continue, and the referee took the only course open to him. Throughout the bout, and especially toward the end, the spectators applauded Heeney most generously for his courage.

THE TUNNEY POINT. Paralysis Of Heeney's Left Eye! * BLINDED BY A BLOW. (United Service.) NEW YORK, July 27. Both men made statements regarding the in jury to Heeney's eye, which handicapped the challenger in the last rounds of the contest. hi his dressing-room after the fight If eel lev said: ''Tuimey's thumb stuck in my eye as we squared off in the eighth round. I could see nothing with that eye from then on." In his dressing-room Tunney paid a tribute to Heeney's rugged gameness. "I made, him fight my fight for me.The referee should have stopped the contest in the eighth round when I paralysed Heeney's optic nerve with a hard right just above his eye." He indignantly denied that he poked his gloved thumb into the eye. Tunney added: "It was a hard, clean right that started him blinking." LOSS OF £31,000. HEENEY COMING HOME. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received I' 2 noon.) NEW YORK, July 27. Lex Rickard has officially announced that the Madison Square Garden Corporal ion lost 155,000 dollars ( £31,000) on the Tunney-Heeney bout. Tom Heeney states that he intends to proceed to New Zealand for a few weeks to visit his parents, and then to return to America to continue his ring career. DOMINION'S SYMPATHY. MESSAGE FROM MR. COATES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The following cablegram was sent by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, this afternoon to Tom Heeney:—"We are all very sorry success did not come your way. However, you have the satisfaction of having put up a splendid fight against the champion. Kia ora." RECORD DEMAND FOR "STAR." The intensity of the interest in the J Tunney-Heeney contest was shown by the exceptionally keen demand for the "Auckland Star." Editions of the paper were published in rapid succession, giving the round-by-round description of the fighting, and, later, a review of it, and all were eagerly snapped up, with the result that the sales of the "Star," yesterday broke all previous records.