New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-07-27
TUNNEY ELATED
over KNOCKOUT
Proves Undisputd Right to
Hold Heavyweight Throne

Gene Tunney has been king of the
heavyweights for the last two years,
today. for the FIRST time. his right
to the heavyweight throne was I'M
disputed.
Tunney has been considered by
many persons as unworthy Of the
crown glorfled by the smuggling John
L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey and other
famous punchers. But his combina-
ton of science and power. which re-
suited in his technical knock out OF
Tom Heeney last night at the Yam
kee Stadium finally won the allegi-
ance OF the boxing world.
Heartened by the first knockout
in his championship career. Tunney
was happy to announce II intend TO
remain in the fight business" He
admitted, however, that he was in
for another long idle spell because
there was no promising opponent in
sight, now that the New Zealander
was out of the way.
After the battered Heeney had
been removed from the ring and po-
| lice had fought thousands of Tun-
neys admirers to get him passage
to his dressing room. the champion
| refused to make any comment on
his victory until he had been assur-
ed that his late challenger would
suffer no permanent effects from
his defeat. Only then did Tunney
say: II am very Sratifled to have
won"
The victory, Tunney said. was due
solely to the battle plan he mapped
out almost three months ago when
he went to Spectator to train.
II made Heeney fight my fight for
me-" Tunney said. Il almost knock
ed him down In the first round but
when saw what tough fellow he
was. l decided to center my attack
on his body and let him defeat him
self, He was too strong to knock
out with one punch. 1t took a good
many hard rights to his body before
he Weakened
Tunney said his greatest aid was
Heeney's habit OF rushing him while
he had the strength to do so. Such
Tactics. the champion believes, add
ed more force ito his blows, every
one of which weakened the chal'
lenger.
The champions only complaint
was levelled against Referee EDDIE
Forbes.
II thought the referee shoul5
have stopped the fight in the eighth
round when I paralyzed Heeney':
optic nerve with hard right hook.
Tunney said. THE blow landed JUS
above his eye and that was wha'
made him blink"
Tunney Indignantly denied the
charges. made by one Of Heeney,
handlers, that he had struck his
thumb IN TOMS eye.
II fought last nights contest
score of times at Spectator, against
the punching bags and sparrinf
partners" he said. Every move
made against Heeney, ] perfected ir
my practice bouts with Harold May!
} and Billy Vidabeck.
II knew Heeney was a rugged
fighter and that the only way to de
feat him was to wear him down Will
, body punches until l had sappe'
his strength and slowed him down
II was never In danger. Heene.
, was nothing like Jack Dempsey. H
, had no punch that ! was afraid o
and from the first round on wa
, confident that he would never &
) the full distance, once l starte
chopping away at his head with m
left and pounding his body with m
. right"
0 The champion, when he left tn
ring, bore few battle scars. Their
. was a small bruise on his chest an
. several scratches on hts back. Thes
: latter marks were probably mad
/: when Tunney brushed against tn
ropes, and not by Heeney's fists. II
had two of these rope marks whe
he entered the ring.
L His face was as unblemished 9
Q when he took off from Speculate
y yesterday morning but his right ca
0 which was injured during training
0 had been aggravated by several har
VI Heeney blows.
n Lou Fink. Tunney's traine
0 promptly bathed this organ to r.
0 duce the swelling and thus eimina'
" the danger of 'cauliflower." a POI
q sible ring scar which causes II
0 champion to shudder at the though
II IT was noticed that Tunney eye
y Jack Dempsey closely when the la
E ter was introduced to the only fla
0 sized crowd, which received hi
Q cordially. After the battle. TUNE
q was asked to give his views on u
o Manassa Mauler's ''comebac(
chances.
! Jack looked much too fat ar
o soft" Tunney said. He has put
q lot Of weight and l think v
would have a hard time getting hi
back into any kind of shape.
don't think he will ever fight again
d. Tunney plans to go to the cou
try where he will spend few da
with hts mother, three sisters al
g his brother. Early next week
:. will visit friends at Greenwic
y. Conn, and he will probably rena
:. in that vicinity until August
r when he will sail for Europe a
companied by Thornton Wilder, I
author.
GASCOS BEAT POLICE