BOXING.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1928, Page 1

BOXING.

HEENEY CONFIDENT. Australian Press Assn.—United Service NEW YORK, July 7. “It makes me laugh to read these American sporting articles calling Tunney a six to one shot for the coining match, for I feel the fighter, to keep in trim, must keep on lighting. That's what I’ve been doing for the past year, and that’s what Tunney has not been doing. Why, Risko and Paoliuo offered tougher problems for me than Tunney. He’s a superb boxer, 'but not a stayer, and he’s not a hard hitter. I am certain that I can turn the tables,” said Heeney to-night after one of nis best hoxing days. The New Zealander will scale 191 pounds on entering the ring, eight or ten pounds heavier than Tunney, and the challenger believes this will in really he in his favour. There is no doubt that Torn is supremely eonlideut of his own chances of winning, and he is in perfect condition. Both men will enter the ring in the absolute pink, and both are superior, cleanliving fellows, who will provide a real show.

TRAINING EASED UP NEW YORK, July 7. Heeney is approaching his keen fighting edge so rapidly that his trainers have eased tip on his boxing programme and are giving him occasional relief from the daily grind of camp routine. For tlie past two days they have cut his boxing from six to four rounds, and on hot mornings he shortens up on read work. Tunney has a badly bruised and swollen loft car, and as a result ho wears headgear when training. During hot weather Tunney may alternate road work and boxing every other day. THE COMING FIGHT. (Received this day at 3 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 9. A message from Fairliaven, New Jersey, states Dempsey is due to arrive there on 20th July and will give advice to Heeney and probably spar with him during the last days of training. Heeney has intensified his training. He did five miles roadwork, and engaged in two rounds each with three heavyweights, each of whom employs a different, typo of boxing. Heeney is attracting large audiences. Tt is reported tickets totalling 20,060 dollars were sold in and near Fairliaven in the past two days.

LEOKTE DEFEATS HUGHES. DUNEDIN, July 7. On Saturday evening, Johnny Leekie (Bst 13'lbs) feather weight champion of New Zealand, defeated Archie Hughes (Bst 131bs) feather weight champion of New South Wales, in a 15 round contest for a purse of £2OO, that went the full distance. Loekie attacked from the outset and was aggressive throughout, winning by a comfortable margin of points and delighting a big crowd with his open forceful display. TPngpies (opened weakly and was knocked down in tho third round, hut proved himself one of the toughest defensive boxers the New Zealand champion has ever encountered. He took a great deal of punishment without showing any sign of distress, and finished strongly, thus maintaining his Australian reputation as a strong and lasting lighter. His ducking a,nil smothering was a feature of tho contest. and Leckie found him very difficult to hit, hut he showed little real initiative, and on several occasions was warned for holding. In the preliminaries, N. Tylert heat iG. Hart, and C. Duckley heat T. W. Webber. McAllister beats socks MELBOURNE, July 8. Billy McAllister(B 4) Australia, heat Kid Socks (8 4) of England on points in fifteen rounds for the bantam Weight championship of the British Empire. McAllister was down for eight in the twelfth but had a comfortable margin at the end.