A POPULAR FIGURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20182, 26 June 1928, Page 9

A POPULAR FIGURE

( TOM HEENEY IN U.S.A. “ROCK FROM DOWN UNDER.’’ A neat little pen picture comas to hand from Tom Stevens, a Los Angeles writer. Heeney has won a good deal of popularity in the United States. It has come to him through his rugged honesty as a fighter and his sincerity as a man, without poise or affectation. He had been in the game to make money, but always to make it honestly, and never to take any kind of advantage of a rival, either in the ring or out of it. Torn Heeney, who has inherited the nickname of the "Rock of Down Under," and has been selected to meet Gene Tunney on July 2(5, is probably the most unique character in boxing (writes Mr Stevens). The big New Zealander harbours tho traditional New Zealand sincerity, and with that quality and honesty combined, he has made himself the most popular fighter in the East. He is strictly on the level, and no promoter or smooth-tongue artist could induce Thomas to fight any other way than to win. It is known by this time that when he came to New York he did not carry any money, and before he got a fight his assets were not so hot. Ho was befriended by Jess McMahon, of the St. Nicholas rink, who Tom now considers his best friend. He is of the plugger type, and tears In relentlessly. He possesses an abundance of courage, and is a crowd pleaser if ever there was one. He fears no man in the ring, and would just as soon fight Dempsey or Tunney. He harbours supremo confidence in himself, and believes that he will not have to exert himself to beat the heavyweight champion. He has fought continuously for the past year, and will enter the ring in perfect shape against Tunney, while old Shakespeare himself will have been out of the ring for over a year. Tunney realises that he will never be popular as Jong as he is at the head of his division. His ambition appealed to tho crowd. He is distinctly out of Imo, and while he feels as though he is trying to elevate the game by incessant study and affiliation with the "400," his tactics are unappreciated by the boys who place the money at the box office. And, after all is "said and done, they are the ones that must T)e pleased, and Air Janies J. better learn it sooner or later.