The Washington times., 1928-08-17

Tom Heeney, gamest Of foemen,
rushed from his corner in a last de.
spairing effort to win contest that
mad been lost beyond recall for fully
four rounds. Less than minute
before he had lain quivering under
the lower rope at the side of the
ring, apparently unconscious and
finished for the evening. Heroic
work in the minute rest had
brought him to the point where he
could answer the bell for the
eleventh round.
More than anything else in
that match / wanted to score n
knockout, to prove definitely
that 1 could punch as well as
box. 1t could hardly be looked
upon as selfish desire on my
part. For months 1 had known
this match was to be my last
engagement in the ring.
I wanted to leave deeply imbedded
on the profession that gave me
wealth, health and a multitude of
fine friends and associations, the
impression OF power and ability
that / felt in me. In leaving The
ring / wished to do so with the
memory fresh in my mind and tGe
minds of boxing enthusiasts OF the
greatest exhibition OF my career.
Before me. struggling against
odds that would have kept any
esner man rooted to his chair wnsn
the bell sounded to open the fina;
round. was an opponent who lad
won my respect and admiration. j
knew that his strength was gone;
that he barely knew where he was.
knew that instinct alone and the
fighting heart of a great athlete
carried him up from his chair and
into the center of the ring.
Unfortunately there is no such
thing as pity within the four walls
of rope after the bell has sounded
to open a round. The battle then
belongs to the spectators. They
have paid to see two athletes meet
in contest that is not terminated
until one or the other Is unable to
continue or until the referee raises
one hand at the close in token Of
victory. Two boxers are carrying
out q, contract without regard for
personal feeling or inclination.
LIVELY l. ulEBCIEu at the
challenger in that final round car.
Heeney out. Under the storm of
blows his strength seeping away so
quickly that ] could feel him falling
in my arms at times, Heeney rap
idly approached state of COLLAPSE.
Time and again smashed punches
accurately to vital spots. but he
would not go down Blows that
might have knocked him out missed,
too, because of my anxiety to end
the contest with one punch.
Few of the spectators at the
match realize that Heeney never
landed n blow in the eleventh
round. After his first wild dash
from the corner, when the
punches he did throw wild or
banged harmlessly against my
guard. he saved his stamina the
better to resist punishment.
He felt like a human punching
bag in front of me. / was sick
of the task when Ed Forbes finally
stepped between us AMI called a
halt. / was glad it was over.
There have been thoughts in
some minds, perhaps. that Heeney
could have continued. Only eight
seconds We're left in the round.
Even though Tom had fallen the
bell again would have saved him
from A knockout. To continue such
hopeless match. to allow a man
tn risk permanent injury because
he does not know when he il beaten
would have been cruel and inhuman.
Forbes did the proper thing.
When the referee stopped the CON
test my first thought was of
Heeney's condition. ! threw one arm
around his shoulders and started
TO help him across the ring to his
corner. His seconds rushed across
to take him away.
Dimly realizing what had hap.
pened, Heeney turned his blood
smeared face to me and gave me
one of the greatest thrills / have
ever experienced in ten years OF
boxing.
God bless you, Gene" he said
You're a great champion" Then
| he stumbled away.
As he turned / thanked him, told
him what courageous fight
| thought he had made and wishet
| him all the luck in the world In
| the future. A few words over the
| radio and left the ring for the
last time, never to enter II again
Concluded Tomorrow
tcepyraght, 1923, by King Features
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