HEENEY’S GAMENESS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 July 1928, Page 11

HEENEY’S GAMENESS

PRAISED BV TUNNEV. COURAGEOUS OPPONENT. AMERICAN PRESS TRIBUTES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBORNE, July 30. The following extracts of comments of American newspapers broadcast by wireless endorse the previous tributes to Heeney s gameness. Tunney praises lieeney’s gameness, too. “Heeney is a tough, game fighter,” said the champion. “I have never nought a gamer man. I pounded enough rights under his heart to drop an ox, ana yet he came back for more. He never stopped tearing in, and took everything handed to him. If pluck alone could have done it, Heeney would -oe lighting yet.” Another extract says: “Heeney was somewhat shy, and! as a result Gene is still king ot ‘fist kings.’ It was a great fight until the eighth round, when something happened to Heeney’s left eye. From tnat moment Gene opened up with his guns and blasted Heeney ’ s championship - dreams. ‘ ‘The fight was a grueller ironi the beginning to a dramatic ending. Everyone,. man or woman, who sat around the ringside hopeful of seeing a savage battle realised his hopes. Tunney had no set-up in Heeney’. For seven rounds the New Zealander made a fight of it, and a great one. MADE GENE STEF LIVELY.

“Heeney forced Gene to step lively. He iorced the champion to uncover all his science. In all these tests Tunney came through like only a real champion could, and even if nothing had happened to Tom’s eye there are many who feel certain that Tunney would have won. Tunney seemed always to be holding something in reserve.” “Heeney’s eye went bad almost as things started in the eighth round,” reads another report. “It meant the beginning of Tom’s end.. Tunney ripped into Heeney and drove him around the ring with punches furthered with liis entire body. “The ninth round was somewhat the same, though Heeney fought back with rare courage. Only the bell saved him, yet everyone got a thriller at the gameness and wonderful courage of Heeney. He took all Tunney handed out through nearly three minutes of lighting and would not go down.” RICKARD’S* LOSSES. Another wireless message saysi Tex Rickard is inclined to believe- this report of Tunney’s retirement, and slays Dempsey may be forced to come back. Tunney feels that the two million dolors lie has earned is enough for life. He has a keen distaste for boxing. Regarding the losses on the- fight, Rickard partly blames Tunney. The promoter .says he yielded to the oba-m----pion on the date fo-r the fight. He also jlaims tlnvt -radio ruined the dhow.