New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-07-26
TUNNEY FEELING
FIT TO Fight NOW
Product OF First TO Fight" Sure
He Can Take Champ

New York, July 26 up - The
marines told 1t to Gene Tunney
something like seven years ago,
when he was the champion of them
all as boxer in France, and he
hasn't forgotten. The hope and
confidence Of his "buddies," express
ed back in 1919, that he would some
day reach the pinnacle of the fight
ing heap is now the biggest of all
incentives to the man picked by Tex
Rickard to battle Jack Dempsey for
the heavyweight championship o.
the world at Chicago in September.
The spirit of the A. E. F., is still
strong in Tunney of the marines. 1t
stood out boldly as the background
of the story of his career, his ex-
periences and his ambitions, as he
described them for the Associated
Press in an interview that kept him
in the ring for an hour.
Learned With Marines
1t was with the marines that Tun-
lney first learned to fight, with i'm
plements of war as well as with the
four ounce gloves. At heart he is
still campaigner, and. soldier
like he is disciplining himself for
Ianother battle.
you know I always fight my
battles out beforehand" said Tun-
ney, Il mean by that l plan and live
through them by myself, figuring out
my opponents and my own attack
and defense. That's the reason I
like the quiet and solitude of the
woods for my training. Then when
it comes time to step through the
ropes I haven't any worries or
doubts-but if I had I could Danish
them quickly by the thought of how
little harm any opponents punches
can do as compared with a spray of
|machine-gun bullets. l can take the
punches"
Dempsey? He's the champion,
of course, but except for the atmos-
phere and the knowledge that this is
my biggest chance SO far, it won't
seem a great deal different from any
other important fights. / have al
ways been confident that some day
l would be the champion and !
wouldn't be telling the truth if
didn't admit feeling confident now"
Not Brayado
Tunney's manner is not one of
bravado as he talks. In fact he does
it in a detached, impersonal way.
For the challenger is a student and
philosopher of life as we'll as of the
prize ring-an unusual combination
of capabilities. With an attractive
personality that sets him apart as a
type among boxers.
/. There is little to suggest the glad
iator in this mild-mannered, quiet
spoken, blue-eyed individual as haI
talks of golf, tennis and books
Wells, Emerson and Omar Khay-
yam are among his favorite authors
but it is only necessary to note
his powerful knit frame, the rugged
set of his jaw and his easy grace of
movement to become convinced that
there is nothing lacking in his ply
steal equipment for the ring.
Has Few Scars
Seven years of action in the ring |
have left few marks upon Tunney's
His smile shows a |
white and even row of teeth, his |
nose is straight-naturally and not
by any synthetic process-and his
ears bear no resemblance to the
type so typical of veter-
ans of the roped arena.
An easy-going disposition tops off
characteristics of ag-
some of his critics have
called it-but he can become arous-
ed il need be, fact he proved when
he interview touched on the topic
If shifting the battle-ground of his
expected match with Dempsey from
New York to Chicago.
Much as Tunney has been eager
o get a chance to meet Dempsey
anywhere it is a keen disappoint-
nent to him that the biggest fight
n his career will not take place in
New \ OTk. MT nv SiuS ShNf |
,ing move, either. the charging that
3ickard was prevented from arrang-
ng TO stage the contest here be-
,ause Of political motives inspiring
he opposition of James A. Farley,
chairman of the state athletic COM
mission. Farley led the fight against
permitting Tunnoy to box Dempsey
insisting that Harry Wills be
,iven first crack at the title.
"rhere is neither fairness nor JUS
ice to that" Tunney holds. New
York is my home and the home of
most of my friends and followers.
was born and raised in Greenwich
Village. In every other place I've
yer heard of the home town pro-
Iuct gets at least an even break, yet
Chairman Farley contends I can't
ox the champion here.
Has Good Record
I've fought and beaten most of
he leading heavyweights in the
'ast few years. knocking out Glib
ons, who stayed the limit with
Dempsey. and Madden, Who lasted
fteen rounds with Wills. Remem-
er, also, that Wills refused Rick
rd's offer for a match with me last
all. If that doesn't put me in the
ogical contender class 1 don't know
ow to get there"
Thus Tunney states his case but
e is not letting this interfere with