“TOUGH TOM”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12181, 4 July 1925, Page 17

“TOUGH TOM”

HEENEY POPULAR IN AFRICA BOXER, SWIMMER, FOOTBALLER. They like Tom Heeney in South Africa. The big New Zealander defeated Johnny .Squires, the heavyweight champion of South Africa, and (says the “Cape Times”) he is a clean performer inside the roped arena, and is a most pleasant personality outside it. Apart from being a boxer, Heeney is an athlete of distinction, having played as a “lock” forward lor Hawke’s Bay, against the 1921 Springbok team. The AH Black is also a swimmer of outstanding merit, and is the holder of the Royal Humane Society’s medal for life-saving. Heeney, genial in manner, nevertheless, looks every inch a fighter. Heeney’s last contest in England was against the redoubt-

able George Cook, the old opponent of Georges Carpentier. From all reports Heeney gave Cook the hardest battle of his career. While a few of the reports give Ctook the decision by a narrow margin, most of the British Press state that Heeney should at least have been given a draw. Uppercutting formed the main feature of the exchanges, and at intervals exchanged full-armed and fullblooded blows to the head. This bout gave Heeney the nickname of “Tough Tom.” and the New Zealander drew cheers for left shots to Cook’s f nce, although Cook got home with this method of attack fully as often, even if he missed with twice as many left leads as he let go. In the fifth round Cook landed a terrific left hook to the jaw, lifting Heeney right off h;s feet, the audience concluding that the end had come but, rising almost immediately. Heaney surprised both his opponent and

spectators by carrying the fight to his opponent and driving him across the ring. Both men got in sledge-hammer blows that would have knocked out the average heavy-weight hoxer now performing in Europe. Heaney considerably improved during the time Tom Gibbons was in England training for his fight against Jack Bloomfield. Hoeney then acted as Gibbons’s chief sparring partner. The redoubtable Gibbons maintains a high opinion of Heeney, and has asked the New Zealander to go over to America.