Smashing Contest All the Way

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 1

Smashing Contest All the Way

Tunney Wins in Eleventh Round Hard Punching on Both Sides

Victory Won On Tech nical Knock-Out

Tunney retained the world’s championship, heating Tom Heeney, the New Zealand challenger in a tremendous hitting contest of eleven rounds. There was thrilling excitement at the Yankee Stadium. From the outset the contestants set a fierce pace and dealt blows like giants, each showing the marks of combat. The champion proved too strong for the challenger and got the triumphant decision. A radio message indicated that Tunney gained the verdict by a technical knock-out

(United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) Received 2 p.m. YANKEE STADIUM, Thursday. The official weights o£ the contestants were:— Heeney .. .. .. 14st 7Jib Tunney .. 13st 101 b This is the highest weight Tunney has ever scaled. Dempsey later crawled into the front row of the Press seats, and produced a pencil and pad to report the fight. Eddy Forbes, a local newspaperman, was officially announced as referee, with Tom Flynn and Charles Mathison, of New York, as judges, both being veterans. A battery of photographers stormed Inside the ropes just before the main bout to take pictures. Mr. Tex Rickard announced that 25,000 dollars had been taken at the gate after 9 o’clock at night. Heeney was the first to enter the ring, at 9.41 p.m., wearing a Maori shawl in black and white, which is the strangest garment ever worn in the ring here by a prize-fighter. Tunney walked through the crowd with his head bowed, but speaking to those whom he recognised. He entered the ring at 9.44 p.m. Tunney wore a blue robe trimmed with red. When both had entered the ring there were cheers lasting over two minutes. The crowd gave Heeney a bigger cheering than Tunney. FIRST ROUND Heeney took a hard right on the chin, and then landed a stiff right. The challenger rushed Tunney to a corner, and landed two blows to his body. Tunney opened up with both fists to Heeney’s head, but the New Zealander kept boring in. The champion shot a right to Heeney’s jaw, and the latter landed a right. They clinched, and stood toe to toe, trading blows to the head on equal terms. Tunney landed a left to the challenger’s body and a right to his jaw. Heeney hooked a left to Tunney’s jaw, and the champion retaliated with a left to the body, but took four punches to the head in return. Tunney jarred Heeney with a straight right to the jaw. Heeney landed both fists to Tunney’s head, making the champion dance away. They sparred in the middle of the ring at the bell. The round was even. SECOND ROUND They exchanged rights and clinched. Tunney went back to the ropes, and sent Heeney back on his heels with a left and a right to the head. Heeney kept moving forward, but he was taking many punches to the head. Tunney landed a stiff right to Heeney’s jaw, and a left to the head. Tunney landed a stiff right to the jaw, left to head, then right to the mouth, which opened with a slight cut the challenger’s lip. Tunney brought up a terrific left uppercut, but did not stop the game challenger, who returned blow for blow. It was Tunney’s round. THIRD ROUND Tunney landed a left and a right to the jaw, and then clinched. Heeney landed a right and a left, and Tunney put a hard right to his jaw. Heeney jarred Tunney with a right to the face, and the champion backed away. Tunney began to rely on a left to the jaw, and backed away from Heeney almost at a run. Heeney almost floored Tunney with a left to the jaw, and Tunney had to dance away. Heeney again reached Tunney with a right to the jaw, and Tunney drew blood from the challenger’s nose with a left jab. Heeney put a terrific left to Tunney’s body. They were punching each other about the head at the bell. It was Heeney’s round. FOURTH ROUND * Both started cautiously. Heeney landed a left and a right to the face, taking a left to the body in return. Tunney put a left jab to the chin, opening a small cut under the challenger’s chin. Heeney landed a punch to Tunney’s head, receiving a hard right to the jaw, which made him clinch. Tunney put a hard right to his body, and then a hard left. Heeney rushed the champion, making him back away. The challenger was bleeding from the nose and from the cut under his chin; but he was fighting viciously. Heeney drove Tunney to the ropes with a fliirry of bed'' and was fighting him hard at the bell. Heeney's face was covered with blood as he went to the corner. It was Tunney** round. MM — - "