BOXING.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1926, Page 4

BOXING.

FIGHT FOR 'WORLD'S TITLE. IN' PHILADELPHI A TO-DAY. DEMPSEY VERY FIT. 1 Writing of Jack Dempsey, who is < to meet. Gene Tunney in Philadelphia 1 this Thursday for the world’s heavy- j weight championship, an American critic expresses the opinion that the champion will ho in good condition to defend his title. Ho says Dempsey has never indulged to any extent in either drinking or smoking. Here and there ho i,as known brief training periods and given exhibitions against picked sparring mates which have helped _to prevent any complete rust. Now and then ho h'as slipped away to some gymnasium for a hard work-out. He has not let himself go completely soft, but he is by no means the sunburnt find wind-tanned Dempsey of Toledo, hard as a hydrant and as quick as a leopard. Dempsey prizes the title beyond measure. He had made certain training experiments and it is a pretty safe gamble that he had found himself m fair condition before ho suddenly returned under the spotlight, hurling challenges at everyone in sight. He had found out that his wind was still good and that his legs si ill had most of the old spring left. TOM HEENEY’S VICTORY. GREAT CONTEST AT DUBLIN. The 20-round bout between Tom Heeney, ox-New Zealand heavy-weight champion and Bartley Madden, which took place at Dublin on August Oth, and was won oil points by Heeney, is described by the “HeraldV’ London correspondent as one of the greatest heavy-weight contests ever decided in Ireland. The contest wlis held out-of-doors, and there was a. crowd of between 11,000 and 12.000 present. Madden’s record, which included a 20rounds bout with the great Harry Wills, gave him the advantage as far as experience went, hut Heeney had the more valuable assets of youth and strength on his side, the differences being six years in the ages. Madder, has fought every heavy-weight of note in. America, and prior to his memorable fight with Harry Wills., the negro, he had defeated many aspirants for championship honours. Doth men were lit and well, and both were confident of themselves. Apart from the financial value of flip contest to the winner, there was a bigger interest at stake, and this is the promised fight with Scott for Hie English title. Heeney expressed himself in • confident terms. “I am going to win all right,” ho said, “and when T meet Scott again I will heat him. too.” Madden was just as optimistic. “Scott has offered me an opportunity,” lie said, “which I am not going to lose sight of, and by Heeney I will beat , Scott.” AN UNDISPUTED VERDICT. ; 11- was a well-made match, and olio thing the contest proved conclusively • was that Madden, is one of the toughest boxers in. the history of the ring. The massive, symmetrically-built Heeney ex- ; pem!'’ ! all his. powers in scientifically , hooking, swinging, and driving the big | Irishman, hut Madden, like Oliver Twist, was always asking for mure. > The Irishman displayed ringrraft of a high order, lull, even this did not save him punishment. Several times he i made Heeney wince under the strength i of his swings, which contrasted strougi ly with the hooks ami jolts almost i mainly employed by the New Zeal indI or, whose right eye was damaged long ). before the end. The last round was a ; thrilling affair; the men were head-to-f head, hard at it, each waiting for the - other to cry enough, luit neither would - yield, ami they were still hard at it - on the ropes even alter the ringing 1 of the final gong, which they did not i iliear in the great final rally. MADDEN'S STAMINA.

Madden was the hero of the fight for his wonderful display of grit and stamina. To lleeiiev went Air Moss Deyong’s verdict, which no one could dispute. Mr .Mortimer, Keeney's manager, said that he had seen open-air tournaments in every part of the world, but this' one eclipsed all. One thing stood out by itself, ho said, and that was the lino sporting spirit, shown by the huge crowd. That same spirit, lie added, was carried into the big fight, and the first man to congratulate Heeney on his return io the dressing room was Madden. “Tom and Bartley are lunching together to-day. It’s just, like two big Irishmen,” he concluded ; “they soon forget and forgive.”