“Never Fought a Gamer Man"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 419, 30 July 1928, Page 1

“Never Fought a Gamer Man"

Tunney Pays Tribute to Vanquished Heeney

NEWSPAPERS’ PRAISE Press Association. GISBORNE, To-day. The following extracts of comments in American newspapers broadcast by wireless and received by Mr. Ivan O’Meara, endorse their previous tributes to Heeney's gameness. “Tunney praises Heeney’s gameness.” “Tom Heeney is a tough, game fighter.” “I have never fought a gamer man.” “I pounded enough rights under his heart to drop an ox, and yet he came back for more.” “He never stopped tearing in and took everything I handed him.” “If pluck alone would have done it, Heeney would be fighting yet.” “Heeney was somewhat shy, and as a result Gene is still King of the Ring. It was a great fight until the eighth round, when something happened to Heeney’s left eye. From that moment Gene opened up with his guns and blasted Heeney’s championship dreams. “The fight was a grueller from the beginning to the dramatic ending. Everyone, man or woman, who sat around the ring-side, who was hopeful of seeing a savage battle, realised his hopes. Tunney had no set-up in Heeney for seven rounds. The New Zealander made a fight of it, and a great one. Heeney forced Gene to step lively. He forced the champion to uncover all his science in all these tests. Tunney came through like only a real champion could.

ALWAYS SOMETHING IN RESERVE - “Even if nothing had happened to Tom’s eye there are many who feel certain that Tunney would have won. Tunney seemed always to be holding something in reserve. Heeney’s eye went bad almost as things started in the eighth round. It meant the beginning of Tom’s end. Tunney ripped into Heeney and drove him around the ring with punches furthered with his entire body. “The ninth round was somewhat the same although Heeney fought back with rare courage. Only the bell saved him, -yet everyone got thrilled over his gameness and wonderful courage. Heeney took all Tunney handed out through nearly three minutes of fighting, and would not go down.” RICKARD BLAMES TUNNEY “Tex Rickard is inclined to believe the report of Tunney’s retirement. He says Dempsey may be forced back. Tunney feels the 2,000,000 dollars he has earned is enough for lift, and is all he wants. He has a keen distaste for boxing. “Regarding the loss on the fight, Rickard partly blames Tunney. The promoter says he yielded to the cham- ■ pion on the date for the fight. He also 1 claims that radio ruined the show.