Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-16
GENE MUST GUARD
AGAINST STALENESS
Champion Believes He koWts
Boxing Better Than Ever
Before in His Life.
BY WALTER TRgMBULEs

SPECULATOR, N. Y. july IS.t~"I
honestly feel that / am boxing better
than I ever boxed in my life" said
Gene Tunney. II know that am In
great physical condition"
The heavyweight champion was sit
ting on the edge of his rubbing table,
while his trainer, Lou Fink, worked over
the muscles in those big shoulders and
that powerful back. Tunney looked in
great condition; ready for the ring. I
should say that from now on his only
toruble will be to avoid going over the
edge-drawing himself out too fine.
His stomach is fat, his muscles are
long and smooth under a clear, tanned
skin, and his eyes are bright. Here is
trained athlete, ready to do his stuff.
After his long lay-off, it would not be
surprising to see his timing faulty, but
his left hand is shooting to the mark
with the speed and force of a striking
Python. You must remember that
Harold Mays Is fast man and eX-
tremely hard to hit, and that both he
and Billy Vidabeck have been Tunney's
regular sparring partners so long that
they know all his habits in the ring and
his tricks of hitting. Nevertheless Tun-
ney was hitting them, and he once
landed on Mays SO sharpley that Mays
knees Sagged
Never X. O.'s Sparmates.
Gene never tries to knock out his
sparring partners. If he happens to
hurt one of them he either steps away
or steps in and pushes his opponent
around until ne RECEIVERS. These boys
are Tunney's friends. He spoke Of
them in terms of highest praise; Z.
1T always makes me angry to hear
boxers as class attacked" said the
champion. Take Mays and Vidabeck
No man in any business on earth ever
got more loyalty, more earnest co-opera-
ton, more faithful service from any as
sistants than get from these boys.
They always put my welfare first and
are eager to help in every manner they
can. II one Of thsm gets cut eye or
lip, he never Is the one who. worries
about 1t. am the one who has to make
them lay of until the cut is healed
The devotion which Tunney inspires
in those about him and in his close
friends always has been rennarkable. In
this little village Of Spectator almost
1000 persons came in from the sur-
rounding country yesterday to watch
him punch the bag and box. And all Of
| them were for him clear across the
board. They regard Gene up here as q
native son and don't believe II would
De healthy for any one to say, anything
to his detriment.
II don't always give the spectator
much of q show" said Gene. For
| two reasons. First, I am not out in that
ring to give q show. am training for
championship bout. which Is likely TO
be hard battle; do not for moment
underestimate Heeney He Is q strong,
tough fellow and should give me plainly
Of trouble.
Never a Fast Starter.
Secondly, ! never was a fast starter.
It always, from my earliest appearances
in the ring, has taken me several rounds
to get warmed up and under fun head
| way. Now ! only box three rounds with
Mays and three with Vidabeck and 1t
, takes longer than that to make much
apparent impEesSsGp On two boxers as
game and, Last ae Hose boys. and es-
well 80. - -,
Boxing is great game" continued
the champion 1T holds more dramatic
moments, more periods Of suspense.
than any other sport. It is in itseH q
splendid exercise and fine manly
sport do not believe that it has be-
gun to reach its peak New inventions,
such as television,, win enable Infinitely
more persons to see a bout than see It
now. That means not only added IN
terest IN big matches. but much more
interest in the sport itself"
Billy Gibson. Lou Fink and Jimmy
Bronson all believe that Tunney Is. boxs
ing wen. although Bronson Aeiie1e4
that Gene will have to be careful not
to overwork. AS q matter Of fact the
champion weighed exactly 19ei3 pounds
yesterday. He set the balances himself
and I read the scales. Physically and
mentally. Tunney is in shape.
Copyright. 1928. by North American News
paper Alliance.