AMERICANS EXPECT HEENEY TO WIN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 May 1928, Page 7

AMERICANS EXPECT HEENEY TO WIN.

STATEMENT BY STADIUM MANAGER

. . . AUCKLAND, Last Night. Opinion generally right through the United States is that Tom Heeney will A heat Gene Tunney said no less an. authority than Mr B. Lean, manager of the Melbourne Stadium, who is a through

passenger by the steamer Aorangi. Mr Lean said it was simply a case of Heeney being a stronger, a more aggressive, and a harder fighter than the champion. He was a man who could assimilate any amount of punishment whereas Tunney cannot stand much punishment and relies on his sj»ced and cleverness to keep out of trouble. A good deal of discussion was going on in the United tSutes at the present time, he said, in regard to the Tunney style of making free use.of the whole ring. That style of lighting was unpopular in the States and there was a move in the direction of framing regulations which would have the effect of making Tunney stand up and fightIf these regulations were framed the odds were that Heeney would win. Sportsmen of note, who have seen both Tunney and Heeney fight, told Mr Lean that Tunney will never hurt Heeney, whereas the latter will crowd in and punch and punch and take all that is going. The Americans have been greatly impressed by Tom Heeney’s aggressiveness, strength and courage, and generally, said Mr Lean, they expect to hail a new world’s champion before the present year is out. “New Zealand at. the moment is being placed on the map by her boxers,” said Mr Lean. Heeney, Purdy and Leclcie were three whose names came readily to his mind. They were earning honours outside of their own country and thus advertising New Zealand. Referring to Billy Grime, a great Australian who went to America, Mr. Lean said „he was staying on for a couple of contests. He was £SOOO out of pocket but was now in the hands of Walter Miller, one of the greatest boxer managers in tho States, and he thinks he can make something out of Grime. Ho has hopes that he can bring him up to championship class.