The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-01-11
Richard and British Promoter,
Mortimer, Think Time Win
Be Propitious in England
This Summer to stage
Heavyweight Scrap in Con.
junction With Olympic Fer.
vor /.
BY EDWARD J. NEIL

New YORK, Jan. 1l.-H1-The
possibility Of . fight with Gene
Tunney in London for the heavy.
weight championship daneled today
before Tom Heeney, burly hope oa
the British empire, in Tex Rick
ards i1ever.ending hunt for title
material.
Heeney, who left his plumbing
tools down under" in New Zea.
land to fight his way into . bout
with Jack Sharkey, would like moth
ing better than the match now
drifting about in the back Of the
promoters mind. First, Of course,
he must dispose Of the loquacious
god from Boston In . 12-round
match in Madison Square Garden
Friday night. Betting odds are
eight to five that he won't. but
none have been made within Toms
hearing.
"Blimey," said Heeney, in = cock
ney accent as he perched on the
edge Of rubbing table, training
grind over, and stroked his square,
bristling chin, at the prospect.
"Now I'll ave ter whip Sharkey
for fact"
Harvey Is Hustler
"Ginger goodness" said his
manager, Charley Harvey, 90 he
hustled busy about the gladiator.
Better box three more right
rounds, Tommy boy, so ~ to be
sure you've done everything posi-.
ble."
The blue-eyed, curly headed giant
appeared today to have more than
possibility Of facing a 'home'
crowd some time next summer in
the Wembley stadium just outside
Of London, and the hope came
straight from Tex Richard.
"All England needs to gain such
a match is courage and willingness
to cooperate" said Richard. With
him was Bernard Mortimer, Lon
don fight promoter, who assured
Richard that the site was available.
the Olympic season propitious, and
that financial backing would be
forthcoming as soon as he returned
to Great Britain.
Might Face Dempsey
There was also an indication that
Heeney need only make q stirring
showing against Sharkey to arouse
consideration Of a match abroad with
Jack Dempsey, who toured Europe
in triumphant fashion several years
ago. Mortimer, who unveiled Joe
Beckett, believes that Dempsey,
even without the title, would draw
as well in England as Tunney.
Heeney, 28 years old, stretched
out on his rubbing table-a stubby-
armed but brawny chunk Of bone
and muscle 1913 pounds in heft.
Fighting, he said, came down to
him through his dad, another huge
fellow, who still acts as engineer in
q brewery In Osborne, New Zea-
land, where Tom and four husky
brothers "grew up battling"
The chief worry of the father,
Tom said, was to keep t energetic
brood in footballs, cricket outfits,
and boxing gloves. while Mrs.
Heeney had busy time preparing
food in quantities sufficient to stuff
them. Satisfying an enormous APP
petite gained in those days is still
one Of his pleasantest pastimes,
Tom declared.
Learned Game Il. Army
Heeney's first experience with
trained fighters came during a 10
month enlistment in New Zealand
rifle brigade Of the war period.
After his discharge, Tom soon
"wore out" the amateur heavy
weights Of Cisborne-"there weren't
many IN a town Of 10000 he ex-
plained-andawas certified for pro.
fessional ranks by the island box
ing authorities. Only the best