BOXING.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1928, Page 2

BOXING.

HEENEY IN ENGLAND. THAI NEK ON CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT. (United Press Association.—By Electric Te 1 eg r a p h. —Copyright.) LONDON, April 12. I (eel certain that I will not disgrace New Zealand,” said Tom Heeney, when summing up his prospects of his world’s title match against Gene Tunney. Heeney plays a tribute to Tunney’s sportsmanship in selecting him. a foreigner, from the three aspirants for the world’s title match. Heeney says Tunney is one hundred per cent a better lighter than the American newspapers think.” Heeney’s manager, Mr Bernard Mortimer, is still making efforts to arrange for the match being staged in London, but he holds out no prospect of success, owing to the shortage of money and to the doubts as to whether a match here would do more than pay 'lmiuey’s L'HiO.OOO. this leaving little for lleenev.

Mr Mortimer said that lleenev was not appreciated when he left England, where his in dill' erent form was due to poor health. The main thing that Heeney had learned in America, he said, was the value of the most constant and strictest training. -Mr .Mortimer added :“ it has been my lifelong ambition to manage a British contestant for the world’s heavyweight title. The American newspapers recognise that Heeney is big, strong, and courageous, hut they do not realise what Kugby football has done folios speed in footwork. If Delaney and Sharkey had held on in England the same as they did against Heeney in America, they would have been disqualified twenty times, lleenev looks still more a footballer than he does a pugilist. lie is unscarrcd. His face shows no trace of his heavy years of lighting. Tom Heeney and Mr Mortimer will sail for America on Wednesday next. Heeney came to England by air from Paris. He feel asleep on the plane, and he passed through three thunderstorms, hut he did not awaken till reaching Croyden.