TOM HEENEY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 16 November 1927, Page 3

TOM HEENEY

MAY MEET GENE TUNNEY.

CHAMPION’S OPINION,

New York, Oct. 19.

Gene Tunney sends word from the Maine Woods that he wants to defend his heavyweight title twice next year. One of his opponents, he expects, will be none other than Jack Dempsey, back for a third try after two failures.

The champion iffiinks his other opponent may be Tom Heeney, the New Zealander, who is considered bv Gene the best of the crop of heavyweights who are about to take part in the eliminating contests, with a view to choice of a challenger to meet the champion, Tunney said he hoped to defend his title on 4th July and again in September. He insists that the contest in future will go fifteen rounds, unless there is a decision earlier. Jlad the last gone to fifteen, he says, he would have disposed of Dempsey. In view of the tremendous following Dempsev has still, it ,is suggested that the first contest may be with the ex-champion, and the 'second with Heeney, who everyone anticipates will come through the eliminating teats. Rickards’ remark that he might stage one of the championships in London lends colour to the view that the Tunney-Heeney contest may be the one scheduled to take place in London, so that the heart of the Empire may have an opportunity of witnessing the New Zealander in action against the American for the world’s title.

"I draw the colour line,’’ said the champion, when asked as to the possibility of a meeting with Godfrey, the negro heavyweight. “I have never met a negro boxer, and never shall,’’ he observed.