BOXING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10563, 17 April 1928, Page 7

BOXING.

“.PUNCHING TO WEALTH.” TOM MEENEY NEWER HAD - counterpart. ODDS AG AINST BEG IXNERS MAKING FORTUNE. “Punching to Wealth” is the title of an interesting article on famous boxers, contributed to the “Weekly Dispatch,” by Mr Trevor C. Wignall. He describes the odds against a beginner making a fortune as at least two hundred to one, while there is the further circumstance Ibat there is no known instance of a novice gaining- a championship or anything approaching it. Of Jack Dempsey it is related that lie was once so poor that lie was reduced to sneaking food from the free-lunch counters of San Francisco saloons. The night he received nearly £200,000 for losing to Gene Tunney lie said that there Iw been many occasions when he liaci fought like an animal for the eouivalent of a few shillings. When Dempsey was fighting four-rounders in California towns, only it year or so before he became the champion, his usual reward averaged £lO. What was more—and ho stressed this—those battles were in many cases infinitely harder than the high-er-paid ones that came later. When Deniosey was slamming iris way to the heights the road he was compelled to travel was among the most heart-breaking over encountered bj a bum an being.

THE TRIALS OF TUNNEY. There is a disposition to think that Tunney has missed the trials and the tribulations that beset nine pugilists out of ten. Mr Wignall says that is not a correct belief. He was for seven years a pedestrian oil what has been called the Cauliflower Highway: making a living, it is true, but not a sufficiently good one to ensure a comfortable old age There were nights when he slept on a bench in a nark, and plenty of days when his belt had to he tightened. How mam- people know that about a year before he defeated Dempsey he was ordered out of a Philadelphia ring because the referee came to the conclusion that he was either not. trying or that his skill was not high enough for him to he permitted to remain? Yet that is rhe fact. When Tunney next returned it was to do something that has since placed him among the millionaires of his country.

THE ROMANCE 0!' HEENEY. “There i.s romance i" that; hut easily the Jiio.st romantic figure in tiie lighting of to-day i.s the New Zealander. Toni Ileeney. So far a> I can tell (proceeds the writer) he has never had a. counterpart. “When a pugilist; nears the age of thirty without reaching a higher position than that of a deputy or a ‘trial horsed it may usually be taken for granted that lie is a failure. That, to put it quill* frankly, was how Heuiiev was regarded in England twelve months ago. He was so short-aimed, so lacking in a punch, and so dilieient in personality ana pugilistic attractiveness that promoters in Condon (who now are falling over each oilier in eil'orls to get him to sign his name to a contract) only .smiled when he asked them for an engagement. To-day, both as a lighter ami a drawing card, lie ranks with Tunney ond Dempsey. ‘‘lleeney, in a phrase, is the classic example of a boxer finding worldwide fame at the very time when his age aud accomplishments prompted everyone to believe that his insignificant day was over and he wos not fit to appear in a preliminary bout. His earnings to-day arc* those of a gi-eht lawyer or a film star. When he left London, not much more than a. year ago, he could hardly buy himself a packet of cigarettes. His case is, of course, exceptional, but it explains'wliy it is that even the boxer who is knocked put still retains in his heart the hope that springs eternal. “f. have never yet met a fight: r who didn’t see a. gleam of brightness in the worst of the hidings that was sent his way. He: thinks of: Fitzsimmons and Jimmy Wilde, who were laughed • to scorn wlmn they first fought before big crowd*. Jim Corbett, who by everyone who knew him. was told at the erfset of bis career to go back to the bank where lie was a clerk. Jim Jeffries, who was given a job as a cleaner of a gymnasium when he first applied for the Jowly post of a sparring partner. Keeney, who was actually on Ins way home to New Zealand to seek work when lie achieved the apparently impossible. “1 have been watching boxing long enough now to realise that the. man who seems to be a mi non? peg in a round hole may in reality lie a human gold mine in the making. ‘‘lf Tunney lasts another three or four years—as he probably will—myhoiild be worth at least a couple of million pounds. ENGLAND'S YOUNG HOPES. ‘‘This possibility makes all the more interesting the fact that there are in England to-day two young men who may rise to the same eminence as Tunney. One is Ten Harvey, who was born at Plymouth, and the other Donald. Shortlaud, who comes front Sheffield. The latter, at 17 years of age, is already a ! nilfledged heavyweight and it is likely that bv the time he reaches manhood he will be, even bigger and stronger than the gigantic jeiFrics.” Mr Wignall has by no means given up hope of seeing the day when an English tighter will rule the heavy-weight roost. “.But (thinking only of the wonderful rewards— rewards no other profession offers) wouldn’t I like to be in his shoes I’‘ lie ejaculated in conclusion. Apropos of Heeney, it is intOresling to note, by the way, that Mr F. J. Peers (who was in New Zealand a* “Miss Domino's” manager) writes from Canada: “New Zealand could do with a live publicity agent in Canada, for the people and the Press know very little about it. They always refer to your, very promising Tom Heeney as an Australian.” TWO FIGHTS THIS YEAH, 4 TENNEYS 110 PE. , NEW YOK.lv. April 4. Gene Tunney lias announced: “I hope to ligliti Uvv'<i (Jus y<i«u\ Also I have provisionally accepted the Spanish King's invitation to box at the Barcelona Exposii.ion in April next. ypar.” , _ . .. ■■ NOTES AND NEWS. On Fr/ruy in Sydney, Purdy, who won the Australasian lightweight title a .week or so back, will engage Tomnm FairbaU. Whini the pair last mot the. Australian gel Ihc verdici, Ini I. Purdy'has improved a fob dor-

ing tiie past six months, and is confident of turning the tables on his experienced opponent. I’he triumph of Tommy Griffiths (C-tago) over the Australian ieatherweignt champion, Norman Gillespie, will rob the - pending title match I'ctv.eeu Gillespie and l.ockie of a great deal of interest. Gillespie dues not appear to he in the same class with the New Zealand top-nutchers.