TOM HEENEY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1928, Page 2

TOM HEENEY

LEAYING FOR AMERICA

WORLD’S BOXING TITLE

Auckland, oct. ir

Tom Tierney and his wife arrived from Gisborne, via Rotorua and \Yaitom.o Caves, last evening, and will be at the Hotel Caf'gei'i until they sail for America,' via .Vancouver. by the Niagara on Wednesday next. „Arrangements have 'been made lev Ileeuey l<> appear at a carnival, oiLlier in an exhibition of sparring, or as a r-'deree. before lie sails, but the date and form of the tournament have not yet been fixed’; “f have only consented to appear on the programme because the proceeds are to be devoted to charity,” said lleeucv. Hoonov intends to go into training iwmediatelv on arrival in America. Ho understands that the first of the eUoiinatii!" contests to decide the sue-* oossor to Gene Tuimov is likolv to take nlace at an early date and that Uo will probably fight early in the New Year. Contenders for the lienvv-ivo.'c-bf title include Kharkov. Paulino Uzcudnm. Hansen. Loughrn'n. KtribUmr, JHsko, a.nd the Eucrl'bhninn. yu,n Qf-ott. Tle-o’-ov expects that he wi'l enter the tournament when it is in its semi-final stages, and considers that eith«r Kharkov or Paulino will he his first opponent. Tt has been reported, however, t/mt both these fighters are on the injured li«t and he mnv h;p-o his first match earlier than lie anticipates.

“Of course, no one wants to fi"h+ at the beginning- of the tournament, acit not until near the final that the public interest becomes worth while and percentages of the takiue-s w* big.” said •jPopno-*’-. in • mentioning that the reported injuries to Kharkov and Thiol ino might he designed to Vnp ri them'op+' of the- fighting until a few of the other contenders had been eliminated. “! think. T have a fill afiftv chance of winning the title,” he sa i d.

“T certainly would.” replied Hcenpv, when asked whether be would advise any first-rate professional boxer in New Zealand to try his luck in America. “Over there, provided he makes good, a man can earn as much in a year as lie could in a lifetime in New Zealand,! But you’ve got to make good,!’ he said.'

Tn connexion with Johnnie T.ockio’s proposed visit to the Ktotos, Tleenov said that it was probable that he would do well as he a , knock-out punch, and /’(night n/tor the style that appealed to Americans. His record—l 7 wins 'out- of 18 fights—was good, hut he would meet hotter fighters than he had in-. New Zealand. He might get bouton, hut that was nothing to worry about, He-enev thought that T.eekie would be well ..advised to nut himself under, Charlie Hnrvev’s management. .“Quite apart from the fact that I would like to have another New Zealander in my camp, Har-

voy is as good a umii as heckio could iind anywhere to look after liis interos s. They rail Harvey ‘Honest CJiarlie, 5 and that’s a great compliment in Ilia Stales,” said Hooney.