THREE DAYS TO GO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16705, 24 July 1928, Page 7

THREE DAYS TO GO

HEENEY'S TITLE BOUT RADIO NEWS PROM CAMP JACK'S INTERESTING COMMENT "JUST ANOTHER FIGHT," SAYS TOM "Everyone connected with Tom's camp says he can win, but the majority of the newspapers still say Tunney will retain the title. The odds are three to one in favor of Tunney, but I don't know anyone who has been able to get even two to one, although there a.rc plenty of takers." "Tom is very popular with everyone and creates a good impression wherever he goes. He is idolised by the kiddies, and goes out of his way to give them a good hearing. . . Each new visitor means a new friend for 'Honest Tom' as everyone calls him."

These are extracts from a letter written on Sunday by Jack Heeney to Mr. A. F. Sise, the well-known radio enthusiast, of Medford, Mass., and transmitted by him to Mr. Ivan O'Meara last evening. Upon being advised that extracts from his previous letter had been communicated to Gisborne, Jack again wrote to Mr. Sise, his long and interesting comment on Tom's training and life in the camp at Fair'haVeii beiiig as follows:—-• "Tom started off his training with a great "-'deal of superfluous fat, weighing approximately'232lb. in his ring gear. As a result of hard and steady traiaing, however, he has got down to 2031 b., and expects to make 2001 b. 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 training he was losing as much as 81b. • in weight, and putting it on.again during the day. SIX SPARRING PARTNERS "Yesterday he sparred six rounds with each of three specially-selected sparring partners, one being a good mixer, one a straight-out boxer, and the other being a first-class mixture of both. The last-mentioned fought Battling Levinsky last week, and was victorious against that hard head. "Tom's work wa3 watched by a large audience. Amongst the many fight fans were Mickey Walker and Jack De Mave. De Mave only arrived yesterday afternoon, and he made a great fuss of Tom, the two having been great friends since Tom beat him about 12 months ago, in one of his first fights in America. "Tom is very keen on taking a trip home, and often says how good it will be to see good old Gisborne and the old folk again, but it is a case of making money while the sun shines. We have "not really discussed future plans yet, as I don't think Tom can really consider the question seriously until after the fight. In the meantime we are all having a really wonderful time here, and are making a great number of good friends. "With only four more days to go before the fates decide whether or not Tom will reach the height of his life's ambition, everyone in the camp is getting intensely excited —everyone, that is, except Tom, who is not affected by anything. He keeps on trailing in his good-natured way, never worrying i about anything, and apparently quite ' confident of his ability to win., We did attempt to impress upon him what a big thing it would mean to him, but he says it's just another tight, and that really is just how he takes it. There is certainly nothing about him to indicate that this time he is trahv ing to fight for the world's championship. THREE TO ONE ON TUNNEY "Eyeryone here says Tom can win, but the "majority of' the newspapers still say Tunney will retain his title. ' There is apparently a good deal of betting on the contest.. The odds are three to one in favor of Tunney, according to'the press, but I don't know anyone who has been able to get even two to one —and there are a good few willing to take it. I don't think the betting odds are any indication, because Tom has never been a good exhibition man, and has never gone into the ring as favorite. "A little more about the trainingTom has six sparring partners, one coming and, one going every day. Yes- . terday's new man was a light heavyweight, named Braddoek, who is very fast and sparred very well. • "We are continually meeting New Zealanders here who call at the camp and make themselves known. Tom is kept busy all day meeting visitors, but he doesn't mind, and treats them all alike. The result is that everyone who walks into the place gains a good impression of Tom's personality, and each new visitor means a new friend for 'Honest Tom,' as the newspapers and everyone else call him. "Our camp is a lovely place, and belongs to perhaps the biggest dogfancier in this country. He has 140 pointers and setters around, and'it is said that he has the finest dogs in the world. They say tjhe dogs kick up a terrible row at night. Everyone except the four Heeneys hears them, and the latter point seems to annoy the others more than the dogs do. "Tom and the others again send their kind remembrances ■ to all in Gisborne, and Tom repeats that it will not be for want of trying on his part if he disappoints his many old friends." Jack Heeney's letter also contained private messages for his wife and parents, these indicating that the Gisborne boys were greatly enjoying their American visit, and disclosing a quiet confidence in Tom's ability to wrest the title from Tunney. DEMPSEY WATCHES TOM EX-CHAMPION IMPRESSED "ONLY SUPERMAN CAN BEAT HIM." (Wireless Broadcast.) NEW YORK, July 22. Jack Dempsey has been casting his eye over "Honest" Tom Heeney, the New Zealand aspirant for the crown which Dempsey himself wore until it was wrested from him by the present holder, "Gentleman" Gene Tunney. According to Dempsey, the champion will have to fight for his life on Thursday next if he is to prevent the rugged man from down under annexing the title. , "It will take a superman to beat hiim" said ex-champlon Jack, after watching in admiration Heeney s work-out, and others of the audience concurred in this expert opinion.— New York Times—2AC.

THE TWO CAMPS MONASTERY AND CABARET Wireless Broadcast.) LONDON, July 23. Trevor Wignall, sent from London to New York to report the HeeneyTunney match for the Daily Mail, cables that there is a great contrast in the two training camps. The difference between the two is something like the difference between a monastery garden a cabaret. In Tunney's camp work is proceeding quietly and calmly, whilst from Heeney's there is the sound of laughter and music all the day. .There is lots of fun. Not that Heeney is participating in this; he is taking his training quite seriously, but the training is totally different from that of Tunney. TUNNEY'S LATEST PLAN WILL FLY TO NEW YORK (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.i lAutthakaa and N.Z. Press Associaiior.. NEW YORK, July 22. A report from Fairhaven states that Dempsey is enthusiastic over Heeney. He declared: "It will take a superman to beat him. He is strong and rugged, and apparently possesses a lot of stamina, and for these reasons he has a better than ever chance of winning." Heeney gave the best exhibition of his training period to-day in a furious four rounds with his sparring partner Braddoek. A message from Speculator states that Tunney insists he will fly to New York by land plane, despite the vigorous protests of Tex Rickard, who is exhausting every means of dissuading the champion from risking his life. He argues there is no adequate place for a take-oft' at Speculator.

BEST SHOWING YET TUNNEY ALSO ADMIRED (Wireless Broadcast.) SPECULATOR (N.Y.), July 22. Over L"00 persons, including a number of women with babies in their arms, stood out in the dripping rain to-day while Tunney went through his regular work-out, and gave the best, exhibition that the oldest supporters of the champion have seen during his training operations. —New York Times —2AC. BROADCAST ARRANGEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT BY 2YA It was announced from the Wellington broadcast station 2YA last evening that the station would be on the air from noon on Friday to broadcast details of the big fight. The fight, it was stated, Avas timed for 0 p.m., Thursday, New York time, but preliminaries would occupy the first half hour, and it would probably he 9.H0 p.m. before the big bout commenced. The result could be expected by 3 p.m., New Zealand time. It was announced that Air. A. T. Martin, New Zealand manager of the Pacific Cable, had arranged for the first result to be cabled through with a minimum of delay. When 2YA opens'at midday, it will give musical items, until fight news arrives. Everything possible will be done, the announcer said, to rebroadcast a ringside description, but success would depend on conditions at this end, especially the "howlers," and he appealed to owners of sets to desist from oscillation. Those having short-wave sets might not find the reception all they could wish, and they were advised to drop their shortwave sets and rely on the standard sets, otherwise they would only be creating interference. New York was to send out on two or three shortwave lengths, and 2YA would work on the best of these and follow it through. Short-wave, amateurs would be inclined to chop and change if they could not get good reception on any one wave length, and by doing so they would spoil things for everyone else.