Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-26
DEMPSEY DRAFTE
TO SUPPLY COLOR
Heeney, the PIodder, Given
Little Chance of Victory in
Championship Bout.

By EDWARD J. NEIL.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

Associated fFeSS sports WRITER.
n yEw YORK, July IS P,--Lazily
N and with little outward show
VI of interest. New York turned
today to the first heavyweight
championship match within its
boundaries In five years.
In Madison Square Garden an anxious
promoter, already perturbed at the pos
sibility of a financial loss, Shivered at
the thought that an airplane might not
arrive.
For 1t was through the air that Gene
Tunney of Greenwich Village. first
heavyweight champion ever bred by the
sidewalks of New York, chose to return
to his native city for his lS-round joust
with Tom Heency the gentle New zea-
land blacksmith, in the Yankee Stadium
tonight. It was manner OF approach
from Spectator. N. Y, befitting q
champion who has defied every other
tradition of the ring.
Tex Rickard. the promoter, knew Just
where he could find the challenger. The
finest heavyweight Great Britain has
produced since Ruby Robert Fitzsim-
mons, the spindiy shanked CorniShman,
slew giants with his gloved hands,
awaited the call to battle on board the
YACHT Of friend. There was no flying
for him from Fair Haven, his training
camp on the Jersey coast.
Little Excitement I'm Gathering.
Around the city. greatest Of the coun-
frys fight centers, there was little ex-
element over the impending struggle
for the most priced of fistiana'S crowns.
The match seemed to have crept un-
Rwares upon the citizens without their
ever realizing what was happening.
SO few were the wagers recorded on
the match itself that it was difncuit
determining the exact odds. Bets OF 3
to 1 that Tunney would retain his title |
we're mentioned, but no one seemed to
have seen any money change hands. |
Greater by far was the wagering on the |
size of the gate and the probable
amount Of money Tex Rickard seemed
destined to lose.
Persons close to Madison Square
Garden finances saw little hope that the |
match would draw over 500, 900 worth
of customers into the stadium tonight. |
At the close of business yesterday the |
advance sale had picked up consider
ably, but not enough to boost the
treasury much above 100000. Rick
ard. banking on tremendous sale to- |
day continuing right UP to fight time,
stood firm on his prediction that the |
battle would draw 81 1000.
sI,2ee,eo0 Gate Needed.
What with expenses running close to
500 700. including = guarantee Of
$525 900 to Tumney and another $780, /
600 to Heeney, q gate Of 81 zoo. 900. In |
elusive Of taxes, appeared necessary to l
pun Rickard out Of the RED" Out OF
every dollar pushed through the win
doWs Of his box Offices the promoter
must turn over to the Federal Govern
ment Is cents In taxes. the State gov
eminent cents and the Yankee sta
dunn 10 cents for rental All taxes are
Included in the ticket prices.
Influenced probably BY the stolidity
ard today called for assistance from |
JACK DempseS t1e r1eycr-faiIing box
ufssce lure. and the man who drew |
the first--and possibly the last-mil- ,
iinn-doliar gates. Although 1t was prob
ably lust the final blast Of the bally- /
hoo. the former champion, twice whip i
ped By Tunuey. decided to apply for q i
seconds license befcre the New York
State Athletic Commission today, 50
that he might coach Heeney on TO VIC
tory tonight.
Clear. Cool Weather.
Clear. cool weather was forecast for
The day and night with no hint Of the
rain that has spoiled dozens Of outdoor
shows this Summer IN the Northeast /
breezes forecast The main bout II
scheduled to 20 On ct 10 pm. Eastern
daylight time.
Most Of the apathy shown the con-
test Is attributed BY critics to the fact |
that Tunney, In performance and on /
paper, appears to Outclass the deter
mined but mnsclt-bound New zealander.
Heeney, they believe. Is made" for the |
1s.RE -
the toIting right crosses, for which the |
Anzac appears to have no defense but |
his chin.
Only once during his American In |
vaxiOn has Heeney, the plOdder. dis |
played knockout punch That was |
the night he disposed Of the brittle |
chinned Ir1shman FROM Boston, Jim |
Maloney, In n seconds OF the hrst |
round In 10 and is round battles with |
Jack Ghzrkey, Jack Delaney, Johnny |
Risko and Pauline Uzcudun. he failed TO |
score single knockdown and none Of |
his opponents ever were I'm distress. In
al these matches. just as In this. Tom
was the underdog In the betting. He
has never gone into an American ring
o favorite.
Tom 70 be at Disadvantage.
Tom viii be at distinct disadvantage
Ia height and reach 70 add TO the difn-
culties Of q defense that consists chiefly |
OF plugging steadily forward, head and
body unprotected, but with both arms
swinging. Against q fighter Of that
type, Tunney, o perfect eklarpshooter |
and the finest counter puncher the
heavyweight division ever has seen, Is
IN his element. .
In addition the champion can cast
aside his boxing occasionally 70 punch
with q freedom he never felt In two
bouts with Jack Dempsey. A missed
shot against the challenge IL hardly
likely 70 cause the champion II seconds
Of trouble on the floor as IL did In
Genes Chicago battle with the former
fitlehoider
Both champion and challenger win
report 10 the fray IN as perfect condi-
ton as the human physique can attain.
Neither has suffered any sort Of injury
In training. They were ordered 10
weigh in at pm. at Madison Square