Tunney-Heeney Fight Due To Commence About 2 p.m. Friday, Neva Zealand Time

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6670, 25 July 1928, Page 7

Tunney-Heeney Fight Due To Commence About 2 p.m. Friday, Neva Zealand Time

THURSDAY, 9 p.m., NEW YORK TIME Both Boxers Complete Their Preparations >• A United Press cablegram from New York states that the TunneyHeeney fight is scheduled to begin at the New York Stadium at 9 p.m. on Thursday. . Preliminary palaver, introduction, and so on, however, will probably account for the best part of half an hour. The gong will therefore probably go at abput 9.30 p.m. on Thursday. We are well ahead of New York on time, and 9.30 p.m. on Thursday, therefore, is 2 p.m. on Priday here. Descriptions broadcasted froip the ringside will reach New Zealand practically Instantaneously, but probably little more than the bare result will be sent to New Zealand by cable. If the fight lasts the full 15 rounds —three minutes each and a minute between rounds—it will .be over by 3 p.m. (New Zealand time). Mr. A. T. Markmah, New Zealand manager of the Pacific Cable Board, stated at Wellington yesterday that arrangements had been made to get the final news on the wires with an absolute minimum of delay, and immediately word reached New Zealand it would be spread through the usual telegraphic channels.

CHALLENGER PASTER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright., ■ Received Tuesday, 8.45 p.m. ■' NEW YOrtH, 'July 23. A Fairhavcn report states that Hcency sparred for the last time. Heexhibited - increased speed and aggression. He boxed two rounds' with a negro welterweight whom he imported for the purposed of testing his footwork, and results were’satisfactory. Leo Flynn, former Dempsey manager, assailed Heeney for ineffective defence. He declared the challenger is' constantly open to a heart blow; whereas Tom Gibbons stated that Heeney’s attach and defence. was cortalii to spell ruin for tho champion;,: 1.. .• v , A Speculator ■ message states that Tunney omitted training..Ho reiterated he would fly to New York.' A Ballanca piano is already engaged. Ho discussed the possibility .of a knock-out. He implied it was improbable but would be vigorously attempted. It is believed the champion will concentrate in the early rounds Voh Heeney’s head and eyes after hii fashion in the Dempsey bout at Chicago. WATCHERS SAY HEENEY; *’ NEWSPAPERS SAT TUNNEY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. GISBORNE, Last Night. “Everyone connected with Tom’s camp says that ho will win, but the .majority of the newspapers still say that Tunney will retain the title. Tun, neyis the favourite in the betting, but it is difficult to find backers for him,” says Jack Heeney in another interest ing letter to Mr. A. F. Sise, Medford Massj., which was. forwarded on Sun. day for transmission by wireless to Mx Ivan O’Meara. V

‘‘Torn started training with a great deal of superfluous' flesh, weighing about 15st 101 b, in ring giar. As the result of hard steady training, how* ever, he has got down io I4st 7id, and expects to make J4st 41b for the great night. ‘ ' ' ' “The weather has been far too hot for training in the afternoons, so he has regulated his inside work to start at 8.30 p.m. Tom found that in an afternoon's work he was losing as much as 81b, only to put it. on again during the day./ 1 / / “Yesterday ho sparred . eighteen rounds with throe ..specially-selected partners. One was. a good mixer, another a straightout boxer, and the third a first-class boxer-fighter. The third fought Battling. Lcvinsky last week, and was victorious against that hard bend.

“Tom's work was watched by a largo audience. Amongst the many boxers present were Mickey Walker, middleweight champion of the world, and Jack de Maye. The latter arrived

yesterday afternoon, and made a gxcat fuss of Tom. Tho two have been firm friends since Tom beat him about twelve months ago in one of his first fights in America. “Tom is very'popular with everyone, and creates a good impression wherever ho goes. “Ho is almost idolised by the kiddies, and goes out of his way to give them a good hearing. He is vety keen on taking a trip home, and. often says how good it will be to see good old Gisborne and the old folks again, but it-is a case of making money, while the sua shines. - - ; ;V. v: “We have hot really discussed future plans yet, as I don’t think Tom can really consider the question until after the. fight. In the meantime we are all having a really wonderful time here, and making a number of good friends. • Without Worries, “With only four days to go before the fates decide whether Tom will reach the height of v his life’s ambition, everyone in the camp is getting intensely excited, everyone, thht is, except Tom, who is not affected by anything. " :eV “He keeps on training in :a goodnatured way. never ■ worrying ' about anything, apparently quite confident in his ability to win. “We did attempt to impress upon him what a big thing it would be to win, but he says that it is just another fight, and that is really just how he takes it. > ,

“There is certainly nothing about him to indicate that this time ho is training for the world's championship. . Betting Ho Indication. “I don't think the betting odds are any indication/ because Tom has never been •;good exhibition man, 'and has never gone into the ring a favourite. “'Tom has six sparring partners, one coming and one going daily. Yesterday's new man was a light-heavy-weight named Baldock, . who is very fhst - and sparred very well. “Wo are continually meeting New Zealanders here, who call at the camp and make themselves known. Tom is kept busy all day meeting the visitors, but "does not mind, and treats them all alike, The result Is. that anyone who walks into the place gains a good impression'of Tom's personality. Each new-visitor means a new friend for ‘ ‘ Honest -Tom,' ’ as tho newspapers and everyone else call him. “Opr camp is a beautiful place. It belongs to perhaps the dog fancier in this country. He has 140 pointers and setters. It is' said that they are the finest dogs in the world. They say that the dogs kick up a terrible row' at night. All except the four Heofieys hear them, and this seems to annoy the others more than the dogs do, “Tom and the others again send their kindest remembrances to all, and Tom repeats that it will not be for tho want of trying on his part if he disappoints his many old friends.’'-