TOM HEENEY'S PLANS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16233, 6 January 1927, Page 8

TOM HEENEY'S PLANS

U.S. TOUR PROPOSED

DISAPPOINTED IN BRITAIN

The Gisborne boxer, Tom Heeney, is feeling the chilling effect of the English climate, and plans a tour in the United

States, which lie will undertake if Scott

the present holder of the British Empire heavyweight championship, continues to ignore his challenges. Heeney has repeatedly attempted to get a tight with Scotty hut though the latter has announced that he admires the New Zealander, and hopes to see him get to the top of the. tree, the, Londoner seems un-

prepared to sacrifice- himself as a stepmg stone for iiis tough rival. A ieiv months ago Tom Heenev stepped into a- breach occasioned by the withdrawal of Joe JSeckett, and fighting

for the Empire heavyweight title, gave Phil Scott the fight of his life. He had a few days previously fought. Berry, another of the British front-rankers, and presumably was not in the best of condition when he stepped into the ring against Scott; nevertheless, the press criticisms gave him great credit, and told Scott that he had had the escape of his life. Since that date, Heeney has fought Bartley Madden, at Dublin, and Jack Stanley, at the National Sporting Club, London, winning both on points. There was nothing spectacular about the last match with Stanley, for . although Heeney punched his opponent all over the ring, he could not knock him out. Tho Maori .Rugby team, the New Zealand Prime Minister, and Mr. F. W. Nolan, president, of the Gisborne Boxing Association, wwe among those who witnessed the latter fight, by the way. Now Heeney finds it impossible to talk Scott into meeting him on reasonable terms. In a recent letter to his relatives in Gisborne, he states that they are still unmatched. An offer has been made to them to fight for a purse of £I2OO, but as Scott will not fight unless Heeney accepts a maximum of £2OO for himself, leaving the balance of £IOOO for Scott, the New Zealand figures that there is little chance of their meeting. "There is nothing doing, for my* part," Tom writes, adding "Mr.\ Mortimer, my backer, has promised to go to America with me, so I expect to be there before Christmas."