The Washington times., 1928-08-08
BY Gene Tunney
tCopyrfeht. Iees. By King Features


syndicate. Inch
NEW YORK, Aug. 8.The
second punch that nearly
brought d sudden end to my
match with Tom Heeney
landed full on the challenger $
jaw m the 10th round q few
seconds before the bell rang.
The blow dropped Heeney along
side one edge of the ring and from
inside it looked as though only the
intervention Of newspapermen at the
Tingside kept Toms body from roll
ing down into the press row.
The blow was the elimination Of
three rounds of terrific punishment,
Following the seventh session when
the most sanguinary punch Of the
bout, right hook to the left eve.
almost blinded the challenger. For
"A moment In that round ! thought
the match was over. But the cour-
are Of the New Zealander, the
.sportsnnanship and bulldog grit Of
the man kept him charging forward
into punishment that was almost In
human.
The tenth. was Toms worst
round because he. could feel
what was happening to him.
In the eleventh believe nature
had exerted itself to some ex-
tent and Heeney hardly knew
what was happening to him.
But III the tenth every punch I
threw, and was trying then with
everything / had to end the match
with 81 Knockout, landed with ter.
rifsc force on Heeney's head or body.
Each time i tented the challenger
into rushing. he smashed head long
into III right hand either to the
head or the heart Right from the
start az the match my right hand,
fiudding first into Toms body from
1.-THE right side. then from the left
onto the region of the liver. had
klrafned him OF his strength and
stamina. L was preparing Heeney
for the final blow the coup de.
4 grace. The chance came in the
final moments Of the tenth.
Heeney was Keeling under the
punishment. He was backed up
against the ropes face torn and
sLleeding. his head webbing from
side to side A right and left, hook
ing upward almost knocked him
from the ring in my own corner.
Then. as he Strengthened up with
great effort. his chin was exposed
and leI him have my right,
sauareIy on the button, with every
thing + had behind It.
The blew caught Heeney flush
on the chin. He sagged. tODk
q step or two along the side Of
the ropes and collapsed. He
law first on his side. struggling
"a get IN. Then, as the punch
took full effect he rolled over
On his back and appeared about
~ sIide from the ring. /
thought ut that time Tom was
unconscious and the bout was
over.
The noise was terrific. It seemed
az though everyone of the 10000
nersons in the park was screaming.
in the midst of the pandemonium
the bell rang I had backed away.
waiting for the count, when Referee
}Trd Forbes. standing over Heeney.
waved both his arms over the
fallen warrior. 1T appeared that
he was ending the battling without
Z bofhering to start a count.
Luckily Forbes. who gave mas
terly exhibition Of refereefng. kept
his head in the excitement and
rnotioned Heeney's seconds to take
their man away. Whether he
heard the bell or not / do not
know Somehow found myself
seated in my chair while Toms
aeconds worked over him frantically
to prepare him for the next round.
watched as they poured water
over him. fed him stimuIants and
waved smelling salts under his nose
willis they massag ed the back of
,is head. Once he seemed to half
fan from his chair. He was ready
for action. however, when the bell
rang for the eleventh round.
Confined Tomorrow.)