TUNNEY RETIRES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 1

TUNNEY RETIRES

HEENEY BOUT HIS LAST

TO START IN NEW FIELDS

AN ELOQUENT FAREWELL

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 9.18 a.m. NEW YORE, Tuesday. GENE TUNNEY, heavy-weight champion boxer of the world, has definitely announced his retirement.

The Champion made the statement at a Incheon which he gave to Mr. Tex Rickard and Mr. William Muldoo'n, chairman of the New York State Boxing Commission. Tunney expressed gratitude for all that boxing had done for him, and said 1 "I have t° u Sht my last bout as a professional boxer,” explaining -that there was no contender at the present time to appear capable of attraction of real public interest. "If there were, I might delay my 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 is developed. That is too long to stand and wait.” Tunney paid high tribute to Tex Rickard, and then concluded: “The time has come when professional boxing can Offer me nothing further that I desire. I am putting it behind me. I am grateful for the benefits it has conferred; but with the feeling that I am still young enough, I make a new start in ether fields.” The New York State Boxing Commission will probably declare the title vacant. It could select a holder, and command him to fight another man, whom it considered a worthy opponent. What probably will be done, however, is that a few aspirants will be selected. At present, the likely ones would seem to be Heeney, Sharkey,

Loughran, Delaney, and Dempsey. The last-named may desire, in the circumstances, to return to the ring. Tunney’s retirement while still champion has a precedent in 1905, when Jeffries retired. The following is a list of the champions:— Year. Winner. Runner-up. Rds. 1897 —R. Fitzsimmons J. J. Corbett . 14 1899—J. Jeffries R. Fitzsimmons 11 1899—J. Jeffries T. Sharkey . . 25 1902 J. Jeffries R. Fitzsimmons 8 1903 J. Jeffries J. J. Corbett . . 10 1904 ,T. Jeffries J. Munro ... 2 1905 Jeffries retired. M. Hart beat J. Root in 12 rounds. 1906 T. Burns M. Hart .... 20 1907 — T. Burns J. O’Brien ... 20 1907 —T. Burns W. Squires . . 1 1907 T. Burns “Gunner” Moil* 10 1908— T. Burns J. Palmer . . 4 1908—T. Burns J. Roche ... 1 1908—T. Burns W. Squires . . 8 190 S—T. Burns W. Lang ... 6 1908—T. Burns W. Squires . . 13 1908— J. Johnson T. Burns ... 14 1909 J. Johnson S. Ketchell ... 12 1910— J. Johnson J. Jeffries • . 15 1912—J. Johnson .X. Flynn ... 9 1914 J. Johnson F. Moran ... 20 1915 J. Willard J. Johnson . . 26 1919 J. Dempsey J. Willard ... 4 1920 J. Dempsey W. Miske ... 10 1920 J. Dempsey W. Brennan . .12 1921 J. Dempsey G. Carpentier . 4 1923—J. Dempsey T. Gibbons . . . 15 1923—J. Dempsey Luis Firpo ... 2 1926 Gene Tunney J. Dempsey . . 10 1927 Gene Tunney J. Dempsey . . 10 1928 Gene Tunney Tom Heeney . . 11