BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 32

BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

HEENEY BEATS DELANEY. NEW’ YORK, March 1. Tom Heeney beat Jack Delaney on pointe. Both fighters showed decided nervousness when they entered the ring for their 15-round bout. Delaney started missing from the start, while Heeney delivered effective hooks to the face. It was Heeney’s round. In round two Heeney kept closing in and aiming blow’s at the body. They mixed it and exchanged blows to the head. It was Delaney’s round. In round three the American staggered his opponent with left hooks to tile face, but Heeney then punished Delaney about the body, and the New Zealander drove the American against the ropes twice, where they tussled. It was Heeney’s round. In round four Heeney drove a left and a right to the jaw, and chased his oppoe.nt about the ring, scoring heavily at dose quarters, and nearly driving his opponent through the ropes. It was Heeney’s round. In round five the New Zealander bad the American on the ropes. Delaney hooked three lefts to the face, and Heeney sent a hard one to the body. They tussled about the ring, and Heeney dre’w blood from Delaney’s nose with a hard left hook. Delaney was holding on while Heeney drove him to the ropes. It was Heeney’s round.

In round six Delaney’s much-boasted left was unable to stop Heeney, who kept coming in and punishing the American severely. The New Zealander smiled at the American's hardest blows. It was Heeney’s round. In round seven Heeney again forced his opponent to the ropes with body’ blows. Delaney was fighting entirely on the defensive, and frequently falling into clinches, but the round ended evenly. In round eight Heeney suddenly drove two lefts and rights to the face, ’shaking the American, and making him hang on. He appeared distressed, but soon seemed to recover, landing lefts and rights to the fact, momentarily slowing up the New Zealander. The round was even. In round nine Heeney was warned for back handing and \ roughing Delaney at close quarters. They exchanged blows on even terms until near the bell, when Heeney drove rights to the body and a left hook to the face, having Delaney on the run. It was Heeney’s round. In round ten the New Zealander maintained a strong body attack, and landed a low blow, seemingly distressing Delaney. The referee warned Heeney. The American peppered his opponent with an avalanche of blows, and tire round was even. In round eleven Delaney jabbed six lefts to the face without return, Delaney winning the round by effective hitting a’t close quarters. In round twelve both seemed weary, but fought hard, Heeney attacking savagely, and Delaney jabbing him effectively. The round was even. In round thirteen, in a lively exchange, Delaney drove a right to the face, cutting the New Zealander’s nose. Delaney’s jabs were powerful, and he had a clear advantage at the bell. In round fourteen Heeney drove a low left to the body, and Delaney protested, but the fight continued. Delaney uppercut twice at close quarters, and was making Heeney . miss badly. It was Delaney’s round.

In the fifteenth round Delaney entered the ring determined to do his best, and there was spirited fighting at close quarters, but the New Zealander frequently drove the American to the ropes.

DETAILS BY WIRELESS. GISBORNE, March 2. Contrary to expectations the HeeneyDelaney fight took place in New York on Thursday night, and news of the clash came as a complete surprise, as a press cable message from New Y’ork on Thursday morning stated that the fight was set down for Friday. In view of that date being given Mr Ivan O’Meara, the wellknown wireless operator, communicated yesterday with the station adjacent to New York, and, in reply to a question, was informed that, according to a New York morning paper, which the operator consulted at Mr O’Meara’s request, the bout was scheduled for Friday night. Getting in touch with American stations this afternoon in order to make arrangements to get the result of the fight. Mr O’Meara was surprised to learn that the bout was then in progress. About 6 o’clock to-night Mr O’Meara got in touch with Station IASF, Massachusetts. The operator communicated with said he was not sufficiently conversant to supply details, and switched the request through to the office of the Boston Globe, whose sports writers were busily engaged writing a description of the'contest. They kindly ceased work for a few minutes to give Mr O’Meara-the following details, which are supplied per courtesy of the Boston Globe:— “ Heeney began his initial drive towards Tunney’s crown to-night when he outpointed Jack Delaney In a 15-round battle in Madison Square Garden. The decision was very popular with the large crowd. Both fighters were in' good condition, and the fight was very ouick and active. Heeney at time was warned by the referee for rough fighting and wrestling, but this was probably unintentional. He took the lead at first. He .was severely batte'red by jabs and but he ignored them, and gave Delaney better than he sent. From the eighth round Heeney slowed down, and Delaney

took the next five rounds, but in the thirteenth round Heeney livened up and was triumphant in the fourteenth and fifteenth rounds, making a wonderful finish. More than 18,000 spectators witnessed the fight, and naid 174,344d0l m admission money.” “A DISAPPOINTING SHOWING.” . NEW YORK, March 2. lhe disappointing showing of Heeney in yesterday’s fight with Delaney hag resulted in the announcement by Tex Rickard that be will not match tire New Zealander against Tunney. It is now rumoured that Dempsey may return for one more bout against the champion. March 3. Dempsey ha® definitely refused to get into condition before September, and perhaps not then, so the talk of a June engagement for Tunney is swinging back to Heeney. The latter has received just over £B-900 as his share of Thursday’s bout. GREAT PRAISE FOR HEENEY. t LONDON, March 3. Newspapers acclaim Heeney’s victory, and hail him a s a possible British world’s champion. One writer recalls that it is just 18 months since he saw him sitting in a small inn on the outskirts of London, broke and despondent. Talking about the future, he said that he had been offered a trip to America, but his luck was so bad that he was frightened to go. John Mortimer, of Southampton, who piloted Heeney to America, states that he does not believe Heeney will ever beat Tunney, but is likely to get a chance of trying. “ I hope so, if only to prove that Tie is one of the gamest men who ever stepped into a ring,” adds Mortimer. ” Australia and New Zealand should be proud of him."

Sporting Life says that when asked what the position would be if Dempsey reconsidered bis retirement. Mortimer replied: ” Then Dempsey and Heeney might fight in London, the winner to meet Tunney in New York in September. Mr Elvin, managing director of the Wembley Stadium, said that he had already been tentatively approached on the subject of staging a fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. The directors could not be the promoters, but would give the project very favourable consideration.