BOXING.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 21 (Supplement)

BOXING.

HEENEY’S HURDLES. A ROUGH ROAD AHEAD. SYMPATHY OF THE MASSES. (By “Left Lead.”) A howl of some description comes after every big money boxing contest, and the Heeney-Sharkey affair has left the usual aftermath of argument. The decision caused all the dissension this time, and from what we have heard on this side (says the Sydney Sportsman), the New Zealander was certainly unlucky not to be called winner. ' But he seems to have the sympathy of the masses with him and that—to a certain extent —is better than the gaining of a decision that goes by unnoticed.

He figures in the role of injured party; a position that gives him greater drawing power than the man who wins all along the line, but whom people consider is getting breaks from the promoters. Tom, of New Zealand, is getting anything but that. The lofty niche in which he is installed in the world heavy-weight class, he gained by sheer ability. At the outset of his American campaign, he was the victim of a couple of hard to understand decisions with Paolino. Those who paid for the contest thought he defeated the Spaniard on each occasion and did uot forget to let the people controlling the business know. Thein sympathy

on those occasions it was that pushed Heeney into the spotlight. ’Then his couple of meritorious wins over Maloney and Risko gave them something to rave about, and now the Sharkey bout has them pulling for him more than ever. He is still well in the heavy-weight elimination tournament, but must win two more contests to get a bout with Tunney.

Sharkey, Risbo, and Delaney are the other men in the running, and Heeney’s next opponent will be the last mentioned of the trio. Tom whipped Risko comfortably at Detroit, and should always do so. Johnny is not a wonder fighter. He is a tough bouning rubber ball type who never seems to mind punishment and keeps on going. Sharkey and Tom would make another great contest no doubt, but from between the lines of their last encounter it looks as though Heeney would Qutgame and out-slug Jack in a return.

The Next Contest.

Delaney, however, is quite another type. In getting him lor his next shot Heeney is certainly not having anything easy served up. This gentleman, whose correct name is Ovila Ghapdclaine, and who was born at St Francis, Canada, is quite a different style of opponent. He is a harder man to make a showing with than anyone the New Zealander has yet faced on the other side. Delaney won the light-heavyweight championship from Paul Berlenbach. He is a fine right-handed hitter, and outstanding in his record are two knock-outs of the late “Tiger" Flowers. Lately, he has stepped into the heavyweight division and has enjoyed quick victories over a couple of setups. He stopped Bud Gorman in two rounds and Sully Monthgomery in one. His last big bout was with Paolino, which he won on a foul in something like 12 rounds.

He is rather an evasive type of miller and plays all the time to land his sharp shooting right hand. That he will land on Heeney, it is certain, and he is hi tier enough to test the New Zealander’s toughness through and through.

Heeney’s trouble will be to reach him. Berlenbach was a slugging type of fighter like Tom, and though lie once outpointed Delaney, the FrcnchCanadian completely bamboozled him with science in their title match of 1926.

Heeney will have to make all the fighting in this coming match, and his chances of winning will depend upon his strength and weight. He will have an edge on Delaney in these directions, but from a boxing standpoint will be behind soratch.

Should he win, a shot at Tunney seems certain for him. Either Sharkey or Risko look easier for him than the ox-light-heavyweight champion, and once over Delaney, lie should plough on to the title match.

Dempsey, it, seems, has dropped out of the running for a while. He was asked lo meet Tunney for the third time in June, but has refused and is sticking out for the bout in September.

Boxing writers and critics in America have taken up the task of ranking the fighters for 19027 in advance of the

THE ORDER OF MERIT.

annual selections made by Tex Rickard and established as something of a standard by the Madison Square Garden promoter.

Summing up the results of a poll among newspaper experts, the New York Sun discloses that Gene Tunney, king of the heavy weights .tops the leaders of ail other classes in total votes. Out of a possible maximum of 610 Tunney received 008 voles. The Sun notes that one critic placed Jack Dempsey at the top of the heavyweight list, presumably on the theory that the “long count" at Chicago cost the ex-champion a victory. Another places the “dark menace,” George Godfrey, first. Others in the “first 10” of the Sun’s title holder, ranks next to Tunney in total votes, polling GOl, as compared with 4G5 for Joe Glick, who lost on a foul to Morgan in a recent title bout after out-pointing the champion up to the fourteentli round.

heavy-weight ranking: Jack Dempsey, 513 votes; Jack Sharkey, 463, George Godfrey, 376; Tom Heeney, 318; Johnny Risko, 301; Jack Delaney, 247; Paolino Uzcudun, 145; Knute Hansen, 62; and Chuck Wiggins, 36. The first three Tunney, Dempsey, and Sharkey—are in the same order they occupied in the newspaper’s 1926 poll.

Ted Morgan, junior light-weight Other recognised champions lead their divisions with ihc following total votes: Mickey Walker, middle-weight, 591; Tommy Loughnan, light-heavy-weight, 576; Sammy Mandell, lightweight, 566; Joe Dundee, welterweight, 563; only 13 more than his nearest rival, Ace Hudkins; Bud Taylor, bantam weight, 534. The feather-weight and fly-weight divisions, which have no undisputed champions, remain tangled in the Sun’s balloting.