GENE TUNNEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3825, 31 July 1928, Page 1

GENE TUNNEY.

■CAREER OP WORLD’S CHAMPION BOXER.

Oene Tunney was born in the Greenwich village section of New York, and on May 25 last celebrated his thirtieth birthday. Tunney was christened James Joseph, but one of his sisters nick-named him Gene, a name which has stuck to him right through life. When at the age of fourteen Tunney, graduated from St. Veronica’s with high honours, his parents.sent him to the La Salle Academy. At school Tunney was always athletically inclined, and besides being a fine baseball player he became a Marathon runner of some repute. Tunney’s first job was that of a stenographer at twelve dollars a week, but his great ambition was to become either a lawyer or a priest. It was during his association with the Marines on active service that Tunney found his true worth as a boxer. Gene startled the world when he won the American light heavy-weight title in 1922 from Battling Levinsky, but four months later Harry Greb relieved him of the championship in a rough and tumble fight in the old Madison Square Garden. This was the first and only fight Tunney has ever lost.

Previous to 1924 Tunney, because of his weight, was not regarded as a potential king of the heavyweights, but after he had built himself up to 1901 b. or more he increased his prestige by knocking out Carpentier, Gibbons, and Madden. His knock-out of Carpentier established him among the heavyweights elect, his knockout of Giblions caused him to become a marked man, and he burnished his record by flattening Madden, another of those hardy perennials who never before had been wafted into dreamland. Johnny Risko and Dan O’Dowd were two more who crossed Tunney’s path before he whipped Dempsey, and won the title. The following is his complete record :

1919. —Bob Pierce, k. 0., 2 rounds; Bob Martin, decision, 4 rounds; “K. 0.” Sullivan, decision, 10 rounds; Ted Jamieson, decision, 10 rounds; Dan O’Dowd, no decision,, 8 rounds. 1920. —iWhitey Allen, k. 0., 2 rounds; Jim Monohon, k. 0., 1 round; A 1 Roberts, k. 0., 3 rounds; Ed. Kinky, k. 0., 5 rounds; Sullivan, k. 0., 1 round; Jeff Madden, k. 0., 2 rounds; Ole Anderson, k. 0., 3 rounds; Sgt. Ray Smith, k. 0., 2 rounds; Paul Sampson, no decision, 6 rounds and 10 rounds.

1921. —Young Ambrose, k.o. 1 round; Soldier Jones, k. 0., 7 rounds; Jack Burke, k. 0., 2 rounds; Wolf Larsen, k. 0., 7 rounds; Eddie O’Hara, k. 0., 6 rounds; Martin Burke, decision, 10 rounds; Eddie Joseph, decision, 12 rounds; Herbert Crossley, decision, 7 rounds. 1922. —Jack Clifford, k. 0., 6 rounds; Jack Burke, k. 0., 9 rounds; Ray Thompson, k. 0., 3 rounds; Jack Hanlon, k. 0., 1 round; Charley Hanlon, k. 0., 1 round; Charley Weinert, k. 0., 4 rounds; Whitey Wenzel, k. 0., 5 rounds; Battling Levin r sky, decision, 12 rounds (won American light-heavy-weight championship) ; Fay Keiser, decision, 10 rounds; Chuck Wiggins, decision, 10 rounds; Fay Keiser, no decision, 10 rounds; Charley Wfeinert, no decision, 10 rounds; Tommy Loughran, no decision, 8 rounds; Harry Greb, lost decision, 15 rounds (lost championship)/ 1923—Jack Clifford, k. 0., 8 rounds; Chuck Wiggins, decision, 12 rounds; Han'y Greb, decision, 15 rounds (regained championship); Dan O’Dowd, decision, 12 rounds; Harry Greb, decision, 15 rounds; Jimmy Delaney, no decision, 10 rounds; Jack Renault, no contest, 4 rounds.

1924. —Harry Foley, no decision, 10 rounds; Ray Thompson, k. 0., 2 rounds; Martin Burke, decision, 15 rounds; Jimmy Delaney, no decision, 10 rounds; Emino Spalla, k. 0., 7 rounds; George Carpentier, k.o. 15 rounds; Joe Lohuiau, k. 0., 8 rounds; Harry Greb, no decision, 10 rounds; Harry Foley, k. 0., 1 round; Buddy McHale, k. 0., 2 rounds; Jeff Smith, no decision, 15 rounds. 1925. —Tom Gibbons, k. 0., 12 roun,ds; Bartley Madden, k. 0.,; 3 rounds; Jack Herman, k. 0., 2 rounds; Dan O’Dowd, k. 0., 2 rounds; Harry Greb, no decision, 10 rounds; Johnny Risko, decision, 12 rounds. 1926. Jack Dempsey, decision, 10 rounds . 1927. Jack Dempsey, decision, 10 rounds . 1928. —Tom Heeney, t.k.0., 11 rounds. ■Summary.—(Contests, (i 5; won by k. 0., 32; won t.k.0., 1; won decision, 17; no deoision, 12; no contest, 1; lost on points, 1.

TOM HEENEY. CHALLENGER’S ROMANTIC CAREER, Tom Heeney was born 30 years ago in the town of Gisborne, New Zealand, of Irish parents. Upon leaving school, Tom, after being employed for a few days as blacksmith’s striker, became apprenticed to Mr. E. Martin, plumber, of Gisborne, with whom he served his time. At Home Air. Heeney used to keep a set of boxing gloves, and it was his custom to give the boys of his own and neighbouring families a round of boxing in the evening. They used an old shed, and it was there Tom had his first boxing lessons. Jack Heeney, one of Tom’s oldest brothers, was very keen on boxing, and eventually became New Zealand middle-weight champion. 'Tom’s only lessons from Jack. Toin remained an amateur ;boxer until after the war working continually at his trade. He was very keen to join up with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, with which his older brother, Frank, served, being- killed in action, and on his nineteenth birthday, he enlisted. He was in training in England when the Armistice was signed. Meantime, he had made his mark at Rugby football, as well as boxing, and he had also earned a Royal Humane Society’s medal for saving a young woman from drowning in the surf at Gisborne. He represented Poverty Bay against the Springboks in 1921. It was in 1921, at the age of 23 years, that he took up professional boxing, and that year he defeated the New Zealand heavy-weight champion, Albert Pooley. The same year he fought a draw with the Australian champion, Colin Bell. This encouraged him to try Australia, where he won eight bouts, but lost twice on points to Colin Bell. After returning to New Zealand and regaining his title, forfeited by absence, he set out for England. There he had varying STiccess, and later proceeded to South Africa, where he fought five bouts and won four, losing the fifth on a foul. Again in England, he failed to get a bout with the champion, and decided to try his luck in the United States. It was a lucky decision, for he arrived when Tex Rickard was trying out contenders for the world championship, and his fighting spii’it and ability to take hard knocks, as shown in a bout with Paolino Uzcudun, won him the favour of the American public. Thence Heeney’s progress to the position of challenger was steady if not spectacular. Tom’s record is as follows: — 1921. —Beat Bill Madden (N.Z.), 9 (K. 0.); beat George Modricli (N.Z.), 15; beat Albert Pooley (N.Z.), 15; beat Jack Cole (N.Z.), 15; drew with Colin Bell (Aus.), 15. 1922. —'Beat Max Gornik (Aus.), 15 (K. 0.); lost to Colin Bell (Aus.), 20; beat J. Flett (Aus.), 15; lost to Colin Bell (Aus.), 20; beat J. Leahy (Aus.), 20. 1923. Beat Tom Bathe (Aus.), 14 (K. 0.); beat C. Taylor (Aus.), 20; drew with Ern. Waddy (Aus.), 20. 1924. —Beat J. Squires (S.A.), 20; beat B. Miller (S.A.), 4; beat J. Squires (S.A.), 19 (T.K.0.); beat Nic Morace (S.A.), 4 (K. 0.); beat Blackie Miller (foul); lost to Blackie Miller, 5 (disq.). 1925. —Beat C. Complin (Aus), 9 (K.O:); beat C. Whitaker (N.Z.), .15 (K. 0.); beat J. Flett (Aus.), 8 (K. 0.); beat B. McCleary (N.Z.), 14 (K. 0.); lost to J. Sullivan (N.Z.), 15 (disq.); beat J. Sullivan (N.Z.), 9 (K. 0.); beat Ern Young (N.Z.), 4 (K. 0.). 1926. —Lost to Phil Seott (U.K.), 20; beat Trooper Young (U.K.), C> (K. 0.); lost to G. Cook (U.K.), 15; beat Charlie Smith (U.K.), 45 (K. 0.); beat Tom Berry (U.K.), 15; lost to Phil Scott (U.K.), 20; beat Jack Stanley, 15; beat Bartley Madden, 20. 1927. —Beat C. Anderson (U.S.A.), 5 (K. 0.); lost to Paulino Uzcudun (U.S.A.), 20; beat Jack de Mave (U.'S.A.), 10; beat Bud Gorman (U.S.A.), 3 (foul); drew with Paulino Uzcudun, i. 5; beat Jim Maloney (U.S.A.), 1 (K. 0.). 1928. —Beat Johnny Risko, 10; drew with Jack Sharkey, 10; beat Jack Delaney, 15; lost to Gene Tunney, 11 (T.K.0.).

Summary: Fought'4s bouts, lost 9, drew 4, won 16 by K. 0., and 17 on points.