DIED WITH BOOTS ON!

NZ Truth, Issue 1183, 2 August 1928, Page 10

DIED WITH BOOTS ON!

Tunney Was the Victor, But the Hero Was Heeney (By Cable. — Exclusive to "N.Z. Truth," from Paul CalHco, sporting editor, "New York Dally News." HEAVY-WEIGHT champion, Eugene Tunney, proved himself a master of all departments of the game when opposed to rugged Tom Heeney at New York on Thursday .last. He never gave the courageous, but rather lumbersome, challenger the slightest chance to lift the crown and retained the title without .difficulty. He administered a bloody boxing lesson throughout. He was a champion m action, and showed it by cool, unflurried battling. He landed a dozen blows to the challenger's one, although Tom, m wildly game desperation, started more punches than the king he futilely tried to dethrone. A technical knock-out m the eleventh was expected from the ninth session. From that time, the half-blinded, badly-battered, bleeding New Zealander courageously strove to reach his opponent, who was his absolute master m all save .determination. Tom failed to do so, but went down to defeat with his colors nailed to the mast. He was hopelessly outclassed m ring generalship, and only marvellous stamina and superb spirit kept him m the picture. Tunney's exhibition surpassed his efforts m both the Dempsey battles. His boxing was difficult to fault, but he displayed, a slight deficiency as a slugger. He had Heeney wide open, beaten and groggy, the last few rounds, but was unable to finish him before the referee, Eddie Forbes, mercifully interceded. His punches certainly seemed to lack the paralysing power of Dempsey's, but Tom's granite jaw must be taken into consideration. In every American battle, Heeney has proved himself one of the toughest men who ever stepped ' into the ring. ...•-• Sharkey caught him two smashing right-handers to the chin m the first round of their battle, but Tom merely laughed the blows off and waded m with both hands flailing. . Before the fight, bulletins also had it tha"t no heavy-weight m the world could, hit hard enough to knock out the rugged steam-roller from New Zealand. Tunney's feat of battering his man out m the eleventh must boost his- stock somewhat as a sensationalist. Heeney was floored during the last few seconds of the tenth, m which he was unable to land a scoring blow. AH through the fierce session he stopped flurries of vicious punches, which had him bleeding from both eyes, nose and one ear. The ruby carmined his face but did not dim his courage. He was being badly beaten, but there was no search for a soft board m Heeney's make-up. He knew as well as any other man m the stadium that it was a hopeless task— that he was helpless m the champion's hands — but he meant to die trying. . The bell saved the challenger at the end of the tenth and it was certain that the eleventh would be the last. Tom was helpless.. He floundered about the ring absorbing merciless punishment — only his magnificent spirit kept him on his tottering legs. His head was gory and battered. WHEN HEENEY COLLAPSED If ever a man was beaten, but unbowed, it was Tom Heeney. America will never forget the heart of the man from New Zealand and it is difficult to gauge whether a Heeney win would have- been received with more cheering than his wonderful stubbornness m defeat. That the Anzac remained on his feet until the closing seconds of the tenth astonished the clientele. It was a wond.erful effort by a Spartan warrior and only a man game to the core — and back again — would have taken what Tom Heeney took from Tunney m the closing stages of their battle. Round ten opened m a one-sided manner. Tunney sensed his opportunity, and suddenly unleashed a wild, whirlwind attack that swept all before it. He stabbed blood-bringing blows to Heeney's battered head, and drove wicked body punches home- when Tom tried vainly to curl protecting arms round, his reeling top-piece. ' „,,,.. -x The American champion's attack was unresisted. Tom, with all his spirit, all his fighting heart, all his marvellous stamina, could not cope, with the superior opposition. His non-retaliation spurred Tunney on to greater efforts and' at last Heeney succumbed to the inevitable. . _ He reeled before the attack and was unable to escape a crashing righthander to the jaw. He collapsed under it and fell flat on his back. At the bell, he was greatly distressed and frenzied seconds jumped, into the ring to drag him to his corner. He was gasping and bleeding badly and only frantic working m the corner sent him out again. But the terrible body punishment Tunney had subjected him to cut even Heeney's sturdy legs from under him. Early m the combat Gene discovered that body blows to the region of the heart hurt Heeney. He concentrated on the delivery of this rib-bending punishment. It was 'that which primed Heeney up for the final battering and he was so slowed up as a result of it that he could not escape anything Tunney directed at him. ■ Gene forced him all over the ring m the eleventh. He never gave Tom a split second of respite and Tom's desperate lashing failed to keep the champion at bay. In close, Tunney had all the better of matters. .He was absolutely relentless and staggered Tom with a left hook to the chin and followed it up with crashing blows to the body and head. Heeney was m a frightful condition, he was oozing blood, almost blind, and hadn't the strength to cling to Tunney when they slipped into close quarters. He was game to the last, however, and rallied momentarily, landing a left to the body and a right to the head, but the punches hadn't an ounce of sting behind them. Tunney moved out to finish his man and rained wallops from all angles on Heeney. Tom, after reeling about the ring m a blind, dazed manner, fell into the ropes. Then the referee halted the massacre. Heeney was up again before the official rendered his decision, but was helpless, and no more able to defend himself against the superior craft of the champion than a new-born babe. Tom failed to handle Tunney where most critics expected him to predominate — at close quarters. Tunney fairly tied the New Zealander m knots. Tom was unable to do the slightest damage during the clinches. The challenger was always willing, but widely outclassed by the best performance of Eugene Tunney's career. The attendance was surprisingly disappointing and it is estimated that only forty-five thousand attended the battle. The approximate calculation of the. promoter's foss is three hundred, thousand dollars.