New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-04
gene TUNNEY NOT
A GREAT FIGHTER
Work Against Tom Heeney
Doesn't Deserve SuperladvS
BY HENRY L. FARRELL
NEA SarViee Cnorfs Writerl


Gene Tunney. as reward for his
act in stopping honest and harmless
Tom Heeney in the eleventh round
of their recent meeting for the
worlds heavyweight championship,
is being hailed now in some sec
tons of the press as the greatest OF
all heavyweight champions.
He is, according to his suddenly
enthusiastic glory spreaders, q
faster man than Jim Corbett and a
better boxer: better defensive
fighter than Jack Johnson and a
more damaging hitter than either
Jim Jeffries or Jack Dempsey.
There can be no doubt that no
champion ever looked better in
winning a fight than Tunney did in
pounding weaponless opponent un-
I'll he couldn't stand any longer, ana
it is quite certain that if Heeney
hadn't been equipped with terrific
endurance that Tunney might have
won that fight as quickly as Demp-
sey turned in some of his victories.
But merely on what he showed in
binding Heeney and in stopping a
man who had a physical handicap
that made it impossible for him to
reach him We can't see Tunney as
a super-champion or even as great
champion. And 1t is purely upon
the basis of what he did to Heeney
that he is being dressed in new gar
ments as the king of all the heavy
weight kings.
Was No Hand Picked Opponent
Tunney insists that he didn't pick
Heeney as his opponent but he has
a convenient way of forgetting
things he says and does. Perhaps
he cared not the slightest whether
Tex Richard picked Heeney. or
Risko. or Sharkey, or Delaney. But
it is quite certain that Tunney didn't
object to Heeney.
John Mortimer, part owner OF
Heeney, told the writer that Heeney
positively was forced to accept terms
requiring him to pay over his purse
and his share of the movies if he
defeated Tunney. There is nothing
off shade in such terms II they
really were forced upon the chel-
lenger because all the champions
want such safeguard to their titles
in these days. And it may even
indicate that Tunney thought
Heeney would be very difficult
man.
But he didn't train like he thought
that way and he didn't fight Heeney
that way. He started leading right
hand punches in the first round and
as Benny Leonard said after the
fight: 1T would have been suicide
against any man who knew any
thing whatever about fghting"
Tunney knew that he would be Il
complete command before he started
the fight. He was correct in his an
ticipation Of his opponents lack OF
threat. Heeney's arms were SO
short that he could not escape the
long left hand that smashed his face
and when Heeney did get close.
Tunney gracefully and speedily
glided away. (See the pictures.)
Heeney Obcyed Genes Warnings
The champion knew that Heeney
had no chance to reach him with a
right hand to the jaw and when
Heeney did succeed In doing it with
a jolting punch In the first round
the champion complained that his
opponent had hit him on the break.
Heeney said he wouldn't do it again
and was overcautions In being clean
through the second and third
rounds.
Heeney said that Dempsey had
told him to bear down with all his
weight on Tunney's forearm near
the elbow when Tunney held him
and then when he did it for the
first time Tunney said to him-"see
here, you fight clean, Heeney" And
Heeney replied-"Okay."
Tunney started Heeney going witt
a punch to the eye that a number
of experts said was a gouge witt
his thumb and If the punch was de-