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Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1928, Page 2

The great event in the boxing world to he decided at New York to-day is in tho minds of many, not only in Now Zealand, but all round the world. The Now Zealand representative contesting for the world’s boxing championship to-day lias certainly—win or lose—put his country on the map. The All Blacks, Limerick, and other wellknown champions have done their part in making the country known in other parts of the globe, hut to Tom Hceiiey, win or lose, will he the greater credit in that respect. For boxing lias a wide interest and appeal. The war period seemed to bring boxing to the fore again. Prior to that it was a somewhat discredited art. But the war period gave an opportunity for contests, and as men were gathered from the four corners of the earth to do real battle, so they took a burning interest in local contests for company; battalion or brigade supremacy. Such contests brought both Tuiiney and Heeney into the limelight, and as exsold iors they may he expected to do credit to their training. Tunney, the present world champion, won his way to the front with, quite an easy grace in the fistic ring. In many respects lie is a mail out of the ordinary. In the history of the ring it has beenrather unusual to find a world champion a student and exponent of Shnkosneare. His accomplishment of course is all to his credit. His notable fight with Dempsey which gave him the laurel crown', put the real finish to his climb up the ladder of fame. Tunney is the type of man who may he expected to give a good account of himself to-morrow, and Heeney will require to be, a much hotter mini to beat him. Heeney has the reputation of being a punishing fighter, and ability to take punishment. Tunney has been more remarkable for his quick fighting, though not destructive- fighting. There will thus l>e a clash of tactics in the big contest, and it remains to lie seen whether the polished fighter or the hard hitter‘will win. It is rather unusual to find the challenger meeting with so much general support as is given to Heeney. The champion is usually the popular pick till his defeat is accomplished, hut on this occasion the trend of the criticism appears to lie in tho main favouring Heeney. It will lie a great victory for tile latter if lie accomplishes the task lie has set himself. The news* should he coining through over the air to-morrow afternoon if the conditions are favourable, and wireless services will be working at full prassure. New Zealanders naturally will be wishing their man every luck, while all true sportsmen will lie hoping that everything will ho fair and square and that tho bast man will win.