WORLD ON TIPTOES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 8

WORLD ON TIPTOES

Eve of Battle Comes

NEW ZEALANDER S BID FOR CROWN

AT.T. the world is awaiting with breathless interest attempt of the New Zealander. Tom Keeney, to the heavy-weight crown from 'here -tmrte;- . Keeney is confident.

/U*ir ed TJL—By Telegraph—- ( c-s-d y_Z. Pr*« J iirfiifm-j (United Serrieej

NEW YORK, Wednesday. Tile people throughout the United the world's chain pic n heavy-w eight Heeney, for the title at the Yankee Stadium. New York, on Thursday evening. It is surpassing all topics of international significance. More than TOO newspaper correspondents are expected to be at the ring-side. The promoter. Mr. Tex Rickard, reports very heavy advance sales since the tickets were onered. The takings now total £120,000. The task of converting the baseball stadium has been completed, and it has accommodation for S5-CN» spectators, The railway companies announce excursions and many special trains have been chartered. Hotelkeepers say their bookings indicate heavy business. Theatre proprietors are presenting special programmes in an effort to attract some of the flood of money which is commencing to pour in. The odds are still slightly in favour of Tunney. but the betting will probably be even before the fight. Keeney will make the trip to New York from his training camp at Fairhaven, New Jersey, in a yacht which

has been placed at bis disposal. On r- •=> h ~ ta-dsy the New Zealander said be was never so confident of winning. FIGHTERS FIT TALK .ABOUT KNOCK-OUTS HEENErS -STIFFENER" {United Servicej NEW YORK, Wednesday. Tom Heaney reseed to-day after a light work-out- He will remain secluded until be is weighed in on Thursday afternoon. He expects to tip the scale sc lOSlb and to enter the ring at 2021 b. speaking to journalists, the New Zealander said: I was never so con-n-deni of winning any fight as I am of winning my bout for the championship with Tunney. If I am beaten I shall have no complaint to make and no alibi I will make my plans as the fight proceeds. I will move along in my natural style, but if I find it lis doing me no good I will change 1 it. “I understand Tun gey is going to . try to knock me out- If he is still there at the 12th round I will make short work of it for the rest of the distance and try to stiffen him.” Tunney awaits the opening bell in his best physical condition- According to his trainer and the critics he is fit for the greatest battle of his I career. The champion finished his training before 50 0 spectators with a light eight-round bout- He dealt his sparring partner several bruising rights to the chin, but was careful to take no unnecessary chances of hurting his hands, or with any of the wild swings of his opponent. Mr. Rickard says that if the receipts total £200,000 his margin above costs and taxes will be a little more than £20,000. The Federal and State taxes equal £50,000 on a £2*00,000 gate. Then there is the £105,000 guarantee to Tunney and the £20,000 guarantee to Heeney. The remainder is for printing, public! tv and similar expenses.