TOM HEENEY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1929, Page 5

TOM HEENEY

FINDS FUTURE CHAMPION

VANCOUVER April 17

Tom Heency, the New Zealand heavyweight boxing championship prospect, who met and was outpointed by Gene Tunney, retired titieholder, slipped quietly into Montreal and surprised Canadian sporting circles. Heency was astonished that his presence in the Canadian metropolis had been discovered, for he had caefully laid plans to make a quiet visit- Unattended by the blare of trumpets. The reason for his appearance in Montreal was not to arrange a fistic engagement- for himself but t’o ' look after a French-Can ad ian fighter; Rosairo .Bouttut. And when ho had announced that ho was taking a personal interest in Bouttut, he made a rather, statement. • "That man will lie the heavyweight , champion of the world eventually,” said the man from Gisborne. "It may take two. ijearsj, but- /with the ri&ht handling nothing can stop him from being the champmn.”-; t . f, Bouttut, who "knocked out Archie Skinnor in just over two minutes at the Forum in just before TTooney made his statement, had planned to remain in Montreal and do his training there, as he expected to ho matched against Elzear Rioux in the near future, and Tom Heeney journeyed to Montreal with the idea of similarly remaining in Montreal .-for a time, and coaching Bouttut.. But.on account of the fact that there was 'illness in his family in New York .he was compelled to return. Heeney said as ho was in the Quebec city ho intended to stay there some time qnd look over the situation. Regarding his own plans, he said that lie had not decided on anything definite at tiro present time. He stated that he had been ill since his return to the United States and was really only recovering. Strangely enough, he suffers from anaemia, and ho is in the hands of a doctor even now. However, he says he' expects to be ready to enter the ring again by June, and it is quite likely that his first bout will be against Jim Maloney, the Boston big pugilist, who heat him the last time out.

lIEENEY WANTS ANOTHER CHANCE.

“I am certainly not satisfied with my showing on that occasion,” he said. “I want another clianoo to meet Maloney.”

The heavyweight challenger said lie had not been approached "by any Montreal promoter to show his wares in Canada but there might be an opportunity if the right proposition were put lip to hi hi he 'Said." Aityway for the present he was more concerned over getting back into shape, and in giving the benefit of his experience to young Bouttut.

Heeney proved a popular visitor to Montreal, as he was noted as a husky, good-natured and likeable chap, who was not such a giant in height but who carried himself around with a lingo pair of shoulders which attracted much attention. Though he spoke something of himself lie invariably got back to the topic of Bouttut. “He’s aibout the hardest hitter T ever knew,” he remarked. “I really believe if ho ever hit anyone as hard as lie could he wpuld kill him.”