ONLY HIS STOUT HEART

NZ Truth, Issue 1214, 7 March 1929, Page 10

ONLY HIS STOUT HEART

In The Boxing Ring

That Is ' All Tunney Left To Heeney OUT OF ELIMiATION SERIES

(By Cable From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Rep. at the Ringside.) Tom Heeney was punched off the box seat of the world's contendership wagon at Boston when the city's strong boy, Jim Maloney, treated him to * everything but a visit to the planets.

WITHOUT a flght since, last July, and a trip to New Zealand m the interim, Heeney was m poor condition. Months of inactivity played havoc with muscle and (body. Only one round- did Heeney win. That was the second, a two-handed attack being followed up with three stiff left hooks. The fourth round was even and the remainder went to Maloney: The defeat definitely eliminates Heenev from the

current title tournament. The success reinstates and reliabilita tc s Maloney, whose victory was as surprising as was Heeney's defeat disappointing. Experts hold that Tom's ' one round knock-out of Jim twelve months ago must have been an accident arid- that Maloney should liave been Tunney's " opponent. "Plainly Tunney had taken everything from, him but his stout heart.

Maloney, by his superior boxing and generalship, staggered Tom repeatedly with rights to the jaw, and batterfid his face to pulp with stinging left jabs. A master on his feet, Maloney coolly took long chances and stood his ground when rallied. Briefly, -the transformation m Maloney was most complete. Heeney apparently, had a premonition of defeat. He was hopelessly

outclassed after the fourth, when the Bostonlan was convinced that his opponent was unable to hurt him. , Tom „ persisted m rushing tactics, and frequently Maloney was pushed on to the ropes with the rushes, but he either side-stepped or fought- his way clear with well-timed counter attacks. Heeney tried ducking and hobbing tactics to escape straight lefts, but he •was then met with short, right uppercuts, sending his

head shooting back m disconcerting fashion. Several times Heeney appeared to be on the verge of a knock-down, but he weathered the storm, obviously bewildered at the effectiveness of his erstwhile victim. In the later stages, though fighting back gamely, he seemed resigned to his fate. • The result of the bout will possibly cancel the date Heeney was to keep but if it

is held only a convincing and early triumph can achieve Heeney's reinstatement in »the heavyweight picture. Heeney, at 207%, was three and a half pounds heavier against Tunney, while Maloney, weight 199, was three pounds lighter than a year* ago. Sports writers. agree that Schmeling, Uzcudun and Sharkey are likely to have their hands full' m coping with the rejuvenated fishmonger.