CHAMPION RETIRING.

Shannon News, 3 August 1928, Page 4

CHAMPION RETIRING.

TUNNEY CLOSES GREAT CAREER AT 30. A WELL-EDUCATED, CLEANLIVING FIGHTER. NEW YORK, July 31. Gene Tunney has announced his retirement from the ring. ■ln a statement to-day, Tunney said, •'I have fought my last bout as a professional boxer." REASON GIVEt7fOR RETIREMENT NO SUITABLE OPPONENT IN . SIGHT. NEW YOKE, July 31.' Tunney made his statement at a •luncheon which he gave to Tex Richard, promoter of the fight with Heeney, and William Mnldoou, chairman of the New York State Boxing Commission. ' The champion expressed- gratitude for all that boxing had .done for him, and said, "I have fought-my last bout as a professional boxer./' He explained, "There is no contender at tlie present time in sight,; capable of attracting real public interest. If there were, I'might delay niy : retirement long enough to face him in the ring, but it looks" as if it might, be two or three years before a dangerous opponent develops. That is too. long to stand and wait."

, Tunney paid a high tribute to Richard. He then concluded, "The time ha s come when professional boxing can offer me nothing further that I desire. lam putting it behind me. lam grate ful for the benefits conferred,, but with the feeling'that I am still young enough fro make a new. start in other fields."

THE 'KNOCKS AND THE PRIZES. The, decision which Tunney has taken leaves him in a position which must be envied by. all big fighters. Prior to the bout with . Tom Heeney, the plucky New Zealanders,. last week. Inbad twice defeated Jack Dempsey, the man who made nearly half a million pounds from his ring contests. For the match' last Friday, Tunney 's share of the" proceeds was reckoned at £105,000, while Heeney was guaranteed £20,000. Gene Tunney was born on May 25* 1898, in Greenwich Village, Now York, his real name being James Joseph Tunney. He himself explains that he came, bv the name Ger.e through the fact that a baby brother could not pronounce Jim, and the name has stuck. At the age of 14 Tunney graduated lrom St. Veronica's with high honours, and was sent to La Salle Academy. He was always athletically inclined, and besides being a fine baseball plaver he was no ,meari Marathon runner'. His first job was as a stenographer, but his ambition then was to become a lawyer or to take holy orders. It was during his association with the American marines on active service during the war that he found his true worth as a boxer, and soon after his return from the war he commenced tj skittle his opponents over. In 1922 he won the American light heavy-weight title, when he beat Battling Levinsky over 12 rounds, but a little later that wonderful fighter the Irish-German, the late Harry Greb, who a few months afterwards also won the world's middle weight championship, relieved him of the title in a fierce and willing mixup. Thi 3 was the first and. only contest- that Tunney ever lost. Up till 1924 Gene was not regarded very seriously as a heavy-weight contender, but he surprised most ringsiders when he knocked out the massive Tom Gibbons, who had gone 15 rounds with Jack Dempsey. He had twice reversed the decision over Harry Greb.. and also gave Georges Carpentier a terrific pounding, winning by a technical knock-out in the 14th round. Against Gibbons Tunney showed marked improvement in footwork, great gain in sheer physical strength, and a perfected use of the left hand as a means of attack. Thus, he forth as a menace on the heavy-weight horizon, and on September 23, 1926, three years of inactivity found the former fighting machine, Jack Dempsey, unable to, cope with the forcefulness and skill of the challenger, the title passing into the keeping of the ex-marine. The return battle with Dempsey last year is but recent history, and, though Dempsey scored a knock, down, which was the subject of much dispute, the opinion of many reliable judges is, :that had. the count begun from the time Tunney was floored, he would have still been up. at nine. As it was, he got the decision on points after ten rounds of bard fighting. He is one of the - brainiest boxers ever to win the championship, and also one of the handsomest. Besides, he is a clean-living, straight fellow, well worthy of emulation .by pugilists who seek to follow in his footsteps. TUNNEY'S RECORD. 1919. Won: Bob Martin, 4 rounds; "k. 0." Sullivan, 10 rounds; and Ted Jamieson (10 rounds), all in Paris. Knocked: Bob Pierce, 2 rounds. No decision: Don O'Dowd, 8 rounds. 1920. Knocked: Jim Mouohan, 1 round, Whitey Allen, -2; Al. Roberts, 8; Ed. Kinley, 5; "k. 0." Sullivan, 1; Jeff. Madden, .2; Ole Anderson, 3; Sergeaut Ray Smith, 2. No decision: Paul SampsOn," 10 rounds; Leo Houck, 6; Leo Houck, 10. 1921. Knocked: Young Ambrose, 1 round; Soldier Jones, .s; Jack Burke, 2; Wolfe Larsen, 7; Eddie O'Hara, 6. Won: Martin Burke, 10 rounds; Eddie Josephs, 12 rounds; Herbert Crossley, 7. 1922. Knocked: Jack Clifford, 6 rounds; Whitey Wenzel, 4; Jack Burke, 9; Jack Hanlon, 1; Charlie Weinert, 4. Won: Battling Levinsky, 12 rounds; Fay Keiser, 12; Chuck Wiggins, 10. No decision: Fay Keiser, 10 rounds;

Cliprlie Weinert, 12; Tomhiy Lough ran. 8. Lost: Harrv Greb, 15 rounds. •1923. Knocked: Jack Clifford, 8 rounds. Won: Chuck Wiggins, 12; Harry Greb, 15; Dan O'Dowd, 12; Harry Greb, 15. - No decision: Jim Delaney, 10. No contest: Jack Renault, 4. 1924. Knocked: Ray Thompson, 2 ■rqmruu; Erminio Spalla, 7; Georges Carpentier, 15 (technical); Joe Lohma'u, 8; Harry Foley, 1; Buddy Mellale, 2. Won: Martin Burke, 15. No decision: Harry Foley, 10 rounds; Jimmy Delaney, 10; Harry Greb, ,10; Jeff. Smith, 15. 1925. Knocked: Tom Gibbons, 12 rounds; Italian Jack Herman, 2; Bartley Madden 3. " ■ No decision: Harry Greb, 10 rounds; Johnny Kisko, 10. 1926. ■•• Won: Jack Dempsey, 10 rounds. 1927. Won: Jack Dempsey, 10 rounds. 1928. Won: Tom Ileeney, 11 rounds.