NEVER POPULAR

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 23

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GENE TUNNEY RETIRES HIS ENGAGEMENT Miss Mary' Josephine Lauder, whose grandfather was partner of Andrew Carnegie, and who is heiress to steel millions, is to marry Gene Tunney, retired heavyweight champion of the world, writes "The Post's" New York correspondent. The story of tlio champion's romance has few parallels in fiction. In 1922, when Tuuney whs just beginning to get his foot on the ladder of fistic fame, he met Miss Lauder, then aged 16. They both admit it was a ease of love almost at first sight. Tunney, to quote those who interpret him to the American public, took stock of himself. Son of Irish immigrants, a marine in the navy, with nothing but v- com-mon-school education. To marry wealth and refinement, ho must acquire- both. It is now stilted that Tuuney's fondness \for Shakespeare, which has inado himself intensely unpopular with boxing followers, was inspired by Miss Lauder. He lived to see the day when ho addressed the English Literature* Class at Harvard on Shakespeare, and to amass .1 million and a half of dollars. When Tunney fought Dempscy, ho added to his message on tho radio: "My felicitations to my 'friends in Greenwich, Connecticut.'' Everyone imagined, as ho was born and reared Micro, that thcro was nothing significant in tho message, but his fiancee was born and reared thcro also, and tho message was intended for her. ■It was repeated when he beat Dempscy again a year later. Tunney's engagement would not have been announced now but for the fact that it was disclosed by a servant that had been dismissed from the Lauder home. Tunney was never popular ,in the ring, where the crowd likes its heroes raw or "neat." Dcmpsoy, who can only speak vernacular English, got a cheer that equalled in volume- that accorded both Tunney and Heeuey when he went into the ring just prior to tho recent fight. Tho Press even interviewed Dempscy on fondness for Shakespeare. The crowd greeted Tunney with cries of "tea-fighter" at tho Stadium, and not more than 40,000 turned up to sco him defeat Hccney. A year before that Dempscy drew 150,000, three-fourths of whom would have liked to see the "Msmassa. mauler" bat^ tcr tho student into defeat. As Tunney's popularity waned m prize-fighting ranks, it grew m eastern society, and ho was a guest at homes at Long Island, B:ir Harbour, Lake Forrest, and-the exclusive Mew--port. Some of tho most prominent linns in Wall Street, hearing he intends to take up a business career, have offered him positions. Tunney makes no vci-rct now that he never did like the i'lrize-riii"; for him it was but a means to nu pjhl. .Tho g""'"- V rv*» rt; t;i! U'i" I'd on him by attacking his moral character, in order to prevent his marriage. But he will be soon forgotten. And that is his desire.' Tuuney spent two hours, between boats, in Canada, a year ago. Ho was passing through Victoria, B.C. Of those two hours, an hour and a halt was spent in tho Library and Archives of Parliament, whose librarian described him afterwards as "a prince among students. " New Zealand Control. Morgan, the New Zealand amateur, won the welter championship at the Olympic Games, writes "Solar Plexus of" the Sydney "Referee." Uus speaks highly of the methods m .New Zealand hi developing their amateurs, who are allowed to box the preliminary contests. And yet, ai-curdiiiß to I.ho highest authorities in tlio world, tho Xew Zealiiuders do not evidently lose their amateur status in doing so. Here, a bow who appeared on a professional i programme would bo declared a professional. When will/the body controlling amateur boxing in this country wake up and follow tho lead of tho various associations across tho Tasmiui Se;i '! Impressive Spars. Both E. Morgan and A. Cleverley created a great impression in their training in England. A Wellington man who saw them in action at tho "King" states:—"Ted. Morgan outclassed Ernie Bice, the English lightweight professional champion, in every department. Cleverley had a great variety of sparring partners, including Jack Bloomfield, Gypsy Daniels, English cruiserweight champion, Lcn Harvey, and Tom Moore. Mr. Duffy, tho official trainer and second at "The Ring," said that Cleverley was the greatest amateur boxer in England. Carroll Returns Home. Jack Carroll, the welterweight champion of. Australia, has returned home. In New Zealand he was beaten in his first contest with Harry Casey, but turned the tables at their next meeting. He also outpointed Charlie Purely, who was far from his best. Tommy Pairhall. . There seems to be little likelihood of Tommy Fairhall making another trip to New Zealand. Ho recently defeated Harry Mason, the Englishman, and with tho prospect of Billy Grime returniug and further American importations, Fairhall will be a busy man in.Sydney. In a letter to a friend in Wellington Fairhall stated that his prospects in Sydney were bettor than they would be in the Dominion. Casey v. Purdy. Additional attractions have been added to the contest between Harry Casey and Charlie Purdy at Palmers ton North next Wednesday night. New Zealand's recent contended for the world's championship, Tom Heeney, has signified his intention of being present on the night of the fight. It .shows the character of Heeney that he does not forget the Manawatu Association, which treated him so well before lie left New Zealand. Heeney is certain of a great ovation from the Mauawatu fancy, and he will be asked to present tho prizes to the successful competitors in the amateur preliminaries. Casey and Purdy should provide a fast bout. Casey has left no stono unturned in getting into condition. Purdy on the other hand is now in rare fettle, a much different man from the untrained boxer defeated by Jack Carroll a month ago. The preliminaries arc also first class. P. J. Stone, New Zealand welter-weight amateur champion, meets B. O'Kcefe, of Palmerslon North, in the. star bout. The Game in Sydney. Wliilp recent boxing contests at. Rushcutter's Bay, no mutter how attractive they looked beforehand, have failed to attract even moderate crowds, promoters in other parts of Sydney think that, with, competent handling,

(he glove game can bo made to pay bigger dividends than'any other indoor sport, states an Australian exchange. With this idea in view, Pat M'Hugh is floating his successful Leichhardt Stadium into a £40,000 company, and intends to erect a new arena, eapablo of comfortably seating 4000 patrons, on tho site u,ow occupied by tho present structure; Building operations will bo commenced beforo the end of the month, and it is expected to be ready for tho promotion of contests early next year. It is proposed to build the brick walls of the new stadium outsido the one now used, and the present weekly shows will not bo interfered with until just beforo tho change over takes place. It has also been slated that Jack Munro is floating a boxing company with a capital of £140,000 to control international contests at tho Mascot coursing grounds. Muuro should know what boxing is all about, and' intends to stage only important contests once a month This will make three big boxing arenas in Sydney, and it is rumoured that the Wcntworth Speedway, Glebe, which successfully opened as a speedway last Saturday night, may hold boxing contests at intervals, so, with four fight cluljs in operation, it looks as if Syd new will bo well catered for in regard to tho glove game. Grime Returning. Word is being awaited in Australia from Billy Grime as to the date of his departure from New York for Australia, and immediately the Stadium directors know just about what time he will, reach Sydney arrangements will be made to arrange contests for him. Although Grime has apparently not been too successful in America, he really won almost all his eoutcsts there. In fact, lloncyboy Finnegan seems to have been the only boxer to have beaten him without question. Tho wins over Grimo accorded to Doc. Snell, Bobby Garcit, Bobby Mays, aud Stcvo Smith, received a bad reception in the American newspapers, and the samo journals said ho easily won, the no-decision contest with Harry Blittmari. Points deeisious over Pico Ramies and Stewart M'Lcan respectively were won by Grime in Los Angeles, and draws with Harry Gordon, Bobby Nelson, and Bobby Garcia, constitute the remainder of tho contests ho had in the United States, and according to many American experts ho should be returning with only one loss out of his twelve starts. It is highly probable that tho one-timo triple champion of Australia will meet Johnny Leckio, states the "Molbounio Globe," in his first fight on returning to Sydney. Leckie defeated Norman Gillespie, Norman Radford, Tommy Barber, and all of tho featherweights that have recently gone across tho Tasman to meet him, so he should prove a fitting rival for Grimo. Negotiations have been opened with Leckie in regard to an Australian trip. Speech on Boxing. With tho obvious intention of giving Gene. Tunney, the retired heavyweight champion, a good send off on his intel; loctual career, Harry Preston, famous in tho world of sport and Bohemia, gave an amazing party, comprising the arts and sciences, in a London West End hotel, states'a '.'Sydney Sun" cable. Tunney was unabashed, and scored onff of the biggest hits of his life by captivating the sceptical audience in a brilliant impromptu speech upon tho psychology of boxing. "Boxing," said Tuuney, "is simply an ability to _ coordinate mind and muscle at a critical moment. England is tho cradlo of modern boxing, and the home of sportsmanship." Referring to the niueli-spoken-about necessity of a boxer pos-' sessing the killer instinct in order towin, Tunney said: "The desire to kill is manifest ouly when an opponent is helpless against the ropes. A boxer who lias such an instinct on such an occasion, is merely brutal, and can find no joy. in boxing, when one has gained the' physical and intellectual superior-, itv." An Expert's Ranking. Eildie Borden, who publishes a monthly ranking list in "The King," places the boxers for August in the following order: — Heavyweights.—Johnny Risko, Jack Sharkey, Tom Heeney, .George God-, frey, Knutc Hanson, Paulino Uzcudun, Phil Scott, Young Stribling, Otto Yon Porat, Pierre Charles. Light-heavyweights. —Tommy Loughrun, Armand Emanuel, Leo, Lomski, Jimmy Slattery, Pete Latzo, Charley Belanger, Lew Scozza, George Manley, Tiger Payne, Maxey Kosoiibloom. Middieweights.—Micky Walker, Ace Hudkius, Kenc De Vos,'K. O. Phil Kaplan, George Courtney, Dave Shade, Fraukic Schoell, Jack M'Vey, Tommy Milligiiii, Joe Anderson. Welterweights.—Joe Dundee, Sammy Bakei-, Tommy Freeman, Jackie Fields, Al Mello, Nick Testo, Young Corbott, Young Jack Thompson, Jack Hood, Andy Divodi. Junior Welterweights.—Mushy Callahan, Baby Joe Gajis, Ruby Goldstein, Jackie Brady, Freddy Mueller, Harry Wallach, Sammy Vogcl, Murray Elkins, Tommy Herman, Tommy Kid Murphy. Lightweights. — Sammy Mandoll, Jimmy M'Ckrmin,Lope Tenorio, Stanislaw Loayza, Billy Petrolic, Jack Kid' Berg, Manuel Quintero, Bruce Flowers, Tommy Grogan, King Tut. Junior Lightweights.—Tod Morgan, Honeyboy Finnegan, Ray Miller, Johnny Jadick, Joe Glide, Mike Dundee, Cannonball' Eddie Martin, Leo Kid Roy, Bammy Fuller. Featherweights.—Tony Canzouen, Harry Blittman, Joey Sangor, Eddie Shea, Pete Nebo, Santiago Borilla, Benny Bass, Bud Taylor, Andre Routis, Vie. Folcy, Sammy Dorfman. Bantamweights.—Bushy Graham, Kid Francis, Archie Bell, Al Brown, Fidel La Barba, Teddy Baldock, Young Nationalista, Joe Sealfaro, Benny Schwartz, Joey Ross. Flyweights. —Izzy Schwartz, Franlue Genaro, Steve Roceo, Midget Wolgast, Johnny Hill, Newsboy Brown, Johnny M'Coy, Willie Davies, Pete Sanstol, Emilc' Pladner. Bert Brown in America. A Now Zealandcr who left those shores without any flourish or blare of trumpets is making great progress ill America. His name is Bert Brown, the ex-featherweight champion of New Zealand, who was fighting in the Dominion for £50 purses. . His most recent achievement is his defeat of the Canadian Vie Foley, who is given tenth place in the latest featherweight ranking iv America. Brown is making a much better showing than did Billy Grime; who is not meeting second and third raters.