Tunney’s Succeses.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 249, 20 August 1928, Page 6

Tunney’s Succeses.

AS CHAMPION BOXii... The announced retirement of Gene Tunney, heavy-weight champion of the world, is somewhat unexpected, but, coming from this most unusual champion it is not altogether surprising. Assuming that Tunney has definitely made up his mind —and when it comes to a last appearance many boxers aro like favourites of the footlights —the big question that arises is that of his successor. Does Tunney’s retirement mean that Toni Heeney, of New Zealand, will be given a sec nd and a much better chance of acquiring the world’s championship? Tunney states that there is nobody in sight who is likely to prove worthy of his steel and that he is not prepared to linger fightless in his state of solitary glory. This statement rings true, coming from Tunney, for there has never been a boxer before who recognised so clearly and set so much importance on the necessity for going into the ring in perfect physical condition.

It was said before he met UecnCj that the champion had not had a fight - for 12 months, and could not keep top form because of that, but Tunney completely disproved that. But he knows that the human body is like a machine, wears like a machine, and , without sufficient work to keep it in proper running order, depreciates like a machine. Sa, rather than hang on, growing older and slower, until some young challenger arises to smash him, Tunney is quitting with his record unblemished. He has had 62 fights, 14 being no-decision bouts, has won 64, one was declared no contest, and he has lost one. WHAT IS THE POSITION? What will be the position now that Tunney has stopped out? The retirement "of Jeffries in 1904 gives a line on the possible procedure of finding the next champion. The year after Jeffries retired he refereed a bout between Marvin Hart and Jack Boot, which Hart won in the twelfth round, and he presented his title to Hart. This is the only instance of a heavyweight title being won under Marquis of Queonsberry rules without the vanquishing of the holder, but early m the 19th. century, when the championship of England was virtually the championship of the. world, Tom Cribb presented his title to Tom Spring. Boxing commissions have been established since those days, and the control of boxing is much different from what it was when Jeffries retired. It is likely ■*that Tunney will have very little say in the finding of his successor, although it would be difficult to find a more satisfactory manner of settling the question than that adopted by Jeffries. If the Boxing Commission of America takes a firm stand in the interests of the sport of boxing, as opposed to the interests of the promoters, the retirement of Tunney will give it a chance of re-establishing the sport on a sporting instead of a purely commercial basis. None of the heavy-weights in America at present are worth, or have received anything like the big purses handed out to Dempsey and Tunney. Here is a chance to limit the purses, and to insist on a logical challenger being given a bout, for whoever gets the title now will have plenty of challengers with a fair chance, of depriving him of it, and a (shrewd holder is very likely to want to make as much money as possible out of his position before risking it. Tunney’s retirement will mean a flop in the standard of heavy-weight boxing, but it will mean also keener competition, which will build up the standard again. HEENEY’S CHANCES What are Heeney’s chances of securing the title in the elimination contests the New Zealander beat Jim Maloney, Jack De Mavec, Johnny Risko, Bud Gorman, Jack Delaney, drew with Paolini Uzcudun and Jack Sharkey, and lost to Uzcudun. Heeney was given the right to take a tilt at Tunney, and taking a line of this fact, and his record in America, it appears that the three men most entitled to consideration in the staging of a championship fight aro Heeney, Sharkey, and Uzcudun —New Zealander, Lithuanian and Spaniard. Uzcudun is in Spain at present, but intends, to return, and probably will now hustle back. His record, however, is not as good as that of the other two, and probably the fairest way of settling the question would be by staging a bout between Heeney and Sharkey. Uzcudun should be given a chance of meeting the winner, who is likely to have any number of challenges on hand. Johnny Risko, who was the substitute for the Tunney-Heeney bout, evidently will have a good claim. It is apparent that the next heavy-

weight champion of the world will have to be a real dyed-in-the-wool fighting champion, but with Tunney out of the way Tom Heeney’s chances of winning

the title have become decidedly rosy, unless Tunney has taken the fighting ddge off the New Zealander. If Heeney can step into the ring and do battle with the dour, indomitable courage that he has shown since ho went to America, he has a royal chance of finding a place on the dizzy pinnacle of his profession. Probably Sharkey will be the biggest obstacle in his way, but if the New Zealand is given another championship, and it is very likely that he will be, it looks as if ho will bring home the bacon, is the opinion of a writer in the Christchurch Sun.