HEENEY'S CHANCES GOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 408, 17 July 1928, Page 1

HEENEY'S CHANCES GOOD

News From Training Quarters

FIRST TEN ROUNDS WILL TELL

Press Association GISBORNE, To-day. “IF the battle goes past the tenth round Heeney stands an I excellent chance of knocking Tunney out.” This is the considered opinion of Mr. Charles Harvey, Heeney’s manager, contained in the first expression of opinion that has come from what is referred to as “Heeney’s Board of Strategy.” First-hand information as to the progress of the New Zealander’s training operations has been received by Mr. Ivan O’Meara, from Mr. A. F. Sise, an American amateur, who also quotes from a letter he had received from Jack Heeney, who, with the other brothers, has joined Tom’s camp.

“With only 12 days before the big day when Tom will battle at Yankee Stadium, we are all getting a little excited,” wrote Jack to Sise on Saturday. “It makes no difference to Tom, however. He just goes on in the same old way. He has been taking things fairly easy, but to-day did bis work in the open for the first time. “He sparred three rounds with the huge giant, Half Smith, who stands 6ft sJin and weighs 2201 b. He also sparred three rounds with Paul Swedeski, doing what probably was the best workout since he started training. IN OUTDOOR RING “It has been a wonderful thing to my brothers and me to see the elaborate training arrangements, and we find it hard to realise just how different a boxer Tom is from when we last saw him. For to-night five huge electric lights of 1,000 watts each have been erected over an outdoor ring, and 100 people have gathered to applaud Tom’s efforts. The idea of working in the open was to get him used to the power lamps that will be

used on the night of the fight. Tom has been very pleased to have us with him, but of course he is completely wrapped up in his work. I asked him what he was going to do after the fight, but he only smiled and said: ‘lt will be time enough to think of that when the fight is over.’ ”

Further light on Tom’s training activities is revealed in the following dispatch from the Boston “Herald” of Sunday morning, which was also transmitted by Sise. “In the deepening gloom of night, with automobile headlights flooding the scene, Heeney went back to his training grind last night. After loafing for 24 hours. The challenger boxed in an outdoor ring under the glare of special lights in the presence of a small crowd from the neighbourhood. Heeney skipped, shadow-boxed and punched the bag In the interior of of an old barn where spectators began to assemble shortly after dusk. CHANGES IN STAFF “After the New Zealander had finished his bag-punching, a heavy robe was thrown over his glistening shoulders and he elbowed his way through the crowd Into a field where the outdoor ring was pitched. “Several changes will be made in the staff of sparlrng partners, starting to-morrow. Osk, until recently a middle-weight champion who once trained with Tunney, will join the crew. Harvey, Heeney’s manager, also plans to bring a fast light-weight into the camp to speed up Tom in the remaining few days of training. Jay Lawless, the Newark light-heavy-weight, will also join the sparring staff. Rosy Routol and Jack Dessimoz departed last night. “The first expression of opinion from one of Heeney’s ‘board of strategy’ concerning the New Zealander’s chances against Tunney came from Harvey last night on his arrival in camp after an absence of several days. If the battle goes past ten rounds, Harvey says Heeney stands an excellent chance of knocking Tunney Or t. Tunney has had only two fights in three years, both against the same man, and over ten rounds. All Tom’s fights in the last five years except those in this country have been over 15 or 20 rounds. “We know that Heeney can go the route and keep up his strength and speed but there is some doubt concerning what Tunney can do after stepping through ten rounds at a fast clip;” FIGHf WZ. ASK KDKA TO BROADCAST Press Association GISBORNE, Monday. The Atwater (Kent) radio service station, 2ZM, operated by R. J. Patty and P. Stevens, Gisborne, advises having received the following message from KDKA, Pittsburgh: “Tell all New Zealand and Australia we will be broadcasting the HeeneyTunney fight on 26.5 metres.” Station KHKA has also asked Patty and Stevens to keep in touch with Commander Byrd’s Antarctic flight. Details of the departure will be announced later. IF HEENEY WINS NEXT MATCH IN LONDON (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) Reed. Noon. NEW YORK, Monday. Mr. Tex Rickard states that if Heeney beats Tunney at the forthcoming bout, the next fight will be held in London. He believes Dempsey would come back in an attempt to re \ in the title from Heeney in London.