HEENEY LOSES BIG FIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 July 1928, Page 9

HEENEY LOSES BIG FIGHT

Retires in Elevemtli Sound TUNNEY OUTBOXES CHALLENGER New Zealander Lands Telling Blows Tom Heeney’s bid for the world’s heavyweight boxing championship terminated in New York shortly after two o’clock this afternoon (New Zealand time), when his seconds threw in the towel in the eleventh round, the decision going to the title-holder, Gene Tunney on a “technical knock-out.’’ _ . ■ A description of the fight was received in New Zealand by wireless, Morse messages being sent out at the conclusion of each round. These were picked up by the New Zealand Broadcasting Company at Wellington, decoded and re-broadcast throughout New Zealand. The Press Association also telegraphed the description to newspapers. The messages show that Heeney began strongly, sending home particularly telling blows, which shook the champion, in the third, fourth, and ninth rounds. Tunney’s superior science began to assert itself after the fourth round, but Heeney, though outpointed, remained strong until the ninth round, though he had been previously dropped in the fifth. During the latter stages the ring-side announcer stated that “something was wrong with Heeney,” and he expressed the opinion that “it was not caused by a blow.” RADIO DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEST.

(By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 27.

The following details of the fight were obtained by re-broade'ast: —

SEVENTH ROUND—Tunney landed a hard right to the heart,. Heeney returned a hard right to the body. This was followed by a succession of rights by both boxer's. T unne Y is side-step-ping Heeney. Heeney leaves marks on the champion’s face with a hard left.

FIRST ROUND—Good. SECOND ROUND—Good. Fight full of interest. Tunney is slowing. Heeney landed blow which slowed him up. THIRD ROUND.- —Tunney landed hard right to Heeney’s head. Heeney landed a hard left to Tunney’s body, which shook the champion badly. Tunney was nearly dropped by hard right to face. Heeney is now landing left to body. FOURTH ROUND. —Heeney drove a hard right to the face and staggered Tunney. Tunney landed a hard left. Hcenev is not 'good on infighting. Heeney landed Tunney against the ropes. Heeney is the aggressor and is going very strong. FIFTH ROUND —Tunney lands three hard lefts to Heeney’s face. Heeney shot in a hard left. Heeney wont down t:o a heavy 'blow, blit is up again and landed Tunney a hard left to the shoulder.

EIGHTH ROUND.—Heeney has a hard jaw. Heeney’s left eye is closed. Something is wrong with him. It is not from a blow. Tunney opened shronglv and hit Heeney twice, hard on the face. The ehallanger’s eye suffered as a consequence and at the end it was blackened. NINTH ROUND. —Heeney lands a hard right - to the body and staggers Tunnev. Heeney’s body does not look well. At the end of the round he is groggy. Tunney is still leading on points. TENTH ROUND—Both fighters landed hard rights and lefts, Tunney outboxing Heeney. Tunney now lands three effective blows. Tunney is pounding Hcenev on the body. Heeney apparently ’is knocked out, but recovered very quickly.

SIXTH ROUND —'Boxers exchanging hard lefts and fights. Heeney is a hard man. So far the fight is Tunney’s on points. Heeney is after his opponent all the time.. Tunney, however, has the advantage of ’greater reach.

In the eleventh round Heeney’s seconds threw in the towel and the fight ended, Tunney winning on a technical knock-out.

THREE TO ONE ODDS.

LISTENING=IN THRILLS.

PLENTY OF SUPPORT FOR HEENEY. DEMPSEY NOT CHALLENGER’S SECOND. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) —United Service). Received 1.35 p.m. to-day. NEW YORK, July 26. Reports' from Yankee Stadium state that Jack Dempsey’s presence at the ringside eliminates the possibility of his acting as Heeney’s second, which suggests that Tex Rickard’® statement was merely made to assist ticket sales. The ringside odds were three to one on Tunney, with a surprising amount of Heeney money in sight. Bernard and John Mortimer, Heeney’s English managers, bet 11,500 dollars on the challenger at these odds.

AWAITING THE RESULT,

WIRELESS MAN'S AUDIENCE. “Tunney is out—oh! outboxing Heeney,” was a remark of 2YA’s announcer this afternoon, which gave incentive to, but promptly stifled, exclamations of applause among the numerous groiips round wireless receiving sets as details of the tenth round of Heeney’s fight for the championship were being called. Throughout the morning the- New Zealander’s chances of lifting the heavy-weight crown had provided the principal topic of common talk, and when the broadcast reports' commenced receiving sets in various portions of the town attracted clusters of enthusiasts, who listened in keen suspense as the story of the big battle in New York was outlined. Details of the early rounds, in which, despite the advantages in reach, height and boxing skill of the champion, the sturdy New Zealander seemed to he- holding his own, gave rise to hones that he 'would last the gruelling struggle through the scheduled 15 rounds, with the possibility always obtaining in such an encounter that a, well-timed blow, might terminate the encounter-in his favour. But with the points mounting against him hopes began to wane when the eighth and ninth rounds told of the severe battering he was receiving at the hands of the champion. At three o’clock the announcer’s request for cheers- for Heeney received enthusiastic response from the listening groups The cheering had hardly died down, however, when following a further announcement that Heeney was taking additional punishment the v-oice on .the ai gave the final message: “Tunney wins in the eleventh round. Heeney’s seconds have thrown in the towel.” While his hid was unsuccessful, Heeney has it to his .credit that he kept liis colours high for so long against the greatest fighter . of the day, and the impression given his widely scattered supporter’s was one of pride' in his gallant struggle against odds.

Dempsey’s wife .accompanied him to the ringside. The ex-champion received an enthusiastic reception.

THE FIGHTERS’ PROPORTIONS

Received 12.45 p.m. to-day. 'MONTREAL, July 26. ■Other details of the fighters are as follow, particulars concerning Heeney being mentioned first in each case: Age, 29, 30; height, sft. lOJin.; reach, 72in. and 76Jin.; wrist, Bin. and B£in.; ’ore arm, 13in. and 13-Jin.; biceps, 151 in. and 14in.; chest, normal 43in. and tlin. expanded 47in. and 44in.; waist, 34in ’ and 34tin.; neck, 17in. and 171 In.;‘ankle, 9Jin. and 9in.

“HELLO! TOM, OLD BOY.” TUNNEY >S GREETING TO 'CHALLENGER. Received 12.15 p.m. t'o-day. VANCOUVER. July 26. At the official weighing Tunney registered 1921bs and Heeney 20311b5. This is the most Tunney has' ever weighed. He encountered Heeney just as he was emerging from the dressing room. “Hello! Tom, old boy,” he said cheerily'and they laughed and nodded to each other. ''

Hori was listening in ; the announcer called for three cheers for Heeney, and at the call of three' up went rousing cheers for the New Zealander.' “,Py cony. I wonder if Tom hear that?” A few second later the towel went in from Heeney’s corner: “Oh, cripes, that no good.”

RICKARD FACES HEAVY DEFICIT HIS REPORT REGARDING DEMPSEY. Received 12.45 p.m. to-day. NEW YORK, July 26. It now appears that Tex Rickard’s statement that Dempsey would second Heeney may have been simply another of the promoter’s trade tricks to help the seat sales. It is known that Rickard for the first time faces a heavy deficit on the championship bout, due to the large guarantees to the fighters, coupled with the costs of altering the stadium and incidental expenses, also to State and other taxes, and he needs a huge’ last minute sale in order to break anywhere near even, which he is. unlikely to get. This is the first time in nine vears that that powerful drawing card Dempsey has been absent from the contest, and it has undoubtedly had a financial effect. The fart remains that Dempsey has not yet applied for a second’s license, despite Rickard’s assurance.