Dempsey Now Thinks Tom Heeney Has Big Chances

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 9

Dempsey Now Thinks Tom Heeney Has Big Chances

What, could please New Zealanders more than for Tom Heeney, their greatest pride in the sporting world at the present time, to gain that fistic crown of the world? But it must be admitted that although Jack Dempsey, the ex-world’s champion, holds high hopes for Heeney, the majority of American experts are of the opinion

that Tunney will retain his title, and in saying this, it lias to be remembered that they have given the New Zealander a particularly good hearing since he arrived in America. They do, however, indicate (hat. Heeney’s rugged strength must prove an important factor against the champion who has not had a fight for nearly a year.

“It strikes me as a mistake for any- * one to regard Tom Heeney as an easy mark for Gene Tunney. It will take a super-man to beat Heeney. He is strong and rugged and apparently possesses a lot of stamina; therefore he has more than an even chance of winning,” said Jack Dempsey, after he had had a lively round with the New Zealander. “1 am sure that it will he a real fight all the way. “OC course, it is true that Heeney i has not shown a killing punch—but j who has, among the heavy-weights of j the last six or seven years? He has j shown more aggressiveness, more lionhearted courage than many of the others and he has shown that he can take a pounding and not stop and yell at the Humane Society. “When Heeney came to the States l did not think he had any real greatness up his sleeve, but now I have changed my mind.” IN THE PUBLIC EVE According to cable messages from I New York it is now quite conclusive j that Heeney has taken the place of j Dempsey in the public eye, and that ! his style of fighting has grasped the imagination and captivated the fans, just as Dempsey did in the past. Even Rickard, who early in the elimination series never gave Heeney a ten-cent chance of rising to the top, recently said: “Heeney is a greatly improved fighter. He is not a polished boxer by any means, although his latest bouts with snappy sparring partners have made him much quicker; but, oil my! he does give the spectators their money's worth in blows with jets of steam behind them.” Heeney in many ways resembles Dempsey, and, just as the ex-cliampion did, has forced his way to the front by shder fighting rather than boxing ability, and, being a good-natured fellow, with few frills and no inclination to read Kipling and study the classics, his immense popularity has been somewhat easy to obtain. Win or lose in to-night’s big battle, Heeney has succeeded in making steppingstones of such famous fighters as Maloney, Risko, Sharkey, and Delaney, and has gained the distinction of being the first fighter of othep than American nationality, with the exception of Carpentier, who has battled for world | supremacy in the ring since Fitz-j simmons, another New Zealander, de- j feated Corbett. FIFTEEN ROUNDS SUIT HEENEY Few New Zealanders have seen Tom Heeney in action since his rapid rise among the American fighters, and the vast majority have had to content themselves with knowledge of Heeney’s improvement by the various Press reports, which liave in most cases been interviews with prominent American experts. But there is one thing that Maori landers do know, and that is that this rugged man from Gisborne has never been knocked out, and as the fight with Tunney is limited to 15 rounds, it is hard to believe that the champion can put him away within the specified time. That 15 rounds suits Heeney better than a lesser number lias been proved in bis recent lights. In bis bout with Risko be won tlie four last rounds decisively, while with Sharkey it was apparent at the close of the twelfth that the Bostonian would never see another round to its conclusion. In only one of Heeney’s contests has he grown tired before the conclusion, and that was when he fought Phil Scott 20 rounds in London, soon after his arrival in England. Since then he lias never been known to tire during a fight, and his American experience has taught him that while the battle must be fast and furious, it is over the last few rounds that the big effort is needed. Twelve rounds with Tunney will suit Heeney better than ten, and fifteen will suit him best of all.