New Britain herald., 1928-01-11
HOPES ID FIGHT
 GENE IN LONDON
1ta asaty Xolh uks Nothing bett6 1hla Bout With Cblnp

VI sef NAA4. II w. AS OQ60&S
 bility Of fight with Gene Tunney
 for the heavyweight championship
 Ill London---a part of his native
 lealm-dangled today before the
 ,'raggy coIntenance of Tom Heeney,
 Durly hope Of the British Empire in
 Tex Richards never ending hunt for
 title laa terial.
 The durable -Anzac, who left his
 plumbing tools down under" in New
 Zealand to fight his way into bout
 with Jack Shnrkey, would like noth-
 ins better than the match now drift
 ing about in tn. back of the pro-
 saeter's mind. First, of course, he
 l,ust dispose of the loquacious gob
 Madison Square Garden Friday
 night. Betting odds are to that
 le won't, but none have been made
 within Toms hearing.
 "Blimey." announced Heeney in a
 rollicking cockney accent as he
 prrched on the edge of a rubbing table, training grind over, and
 stroked his square, bristly chin at the prospect. "Now I'll 'av ter whip Sharkey for fact
 Ginger goodness" said his man. ager. Charley Harvey. :as he hustled about the gladiator" Better box three more light rounds, Tommy boy. 50 as to ne sure you've done everything possible"
 The blue-eyed urly-headed giant appeared today to have more than q possibility of facing ''home" crowd some time next summer in the Wembtey stadium just outside of London. And the hope came straight from Tex Rickard.
 "All England needs to gain such a match is courage and 8 willing ness to cooperatc," Tex said. With him was Bernard Mortimer, London fight promoter. who assured Rickard that the site was available. the Olympic propitious. and that finan- cial backing would be forthcoming Us soon as he returned to Great Britain.
 There was also an indication that Fl Heeney need only make stirring showing against Sharkcy to arouse of a match abroad | with Jack Dempsey, who toured Europe in triumphant fashion sev- eral years ago. Mortimer who un- yelled Joe Beckett, believes that ! IL, would draw as well in England as 1>enncy.
 Heeney. .s years old. stretched out on his rubbing tabled stubby -arm- ed but brawny chunk of bone and 19s pounds in heft. Fight ing, he said. came down to him trough his dad, another huge fel- low, who still acts as engineer in a brewery in Gisborne. New Zealand, where Tom and four husky brothers grew up battling."
 f The chief worry Of the father. Tom said was to Keep the energetic ,rood in footballs. cricket outfits, md boxing gloves. while Mrs. Heen- Y had busy time of it preparing cod in quantities sufficient to stuff them.
 Heeneys first experience with rained fighters came during a i5- nonth enlistment in New Zealand 'iile brigade of the war period. >fter his discharge. Tom soon "wore ', ut the amateur heavyweights of ;isborne-''There weren't many in town of l4,0o0," he explained nd was certified for professional anks by the island boxing authori. , les. Only the best amateurs are . flowed to turn professional in New ."aland <,
 several years of professional cam ! aignng brought Hceney the cham- 1, ionship of New Zealand. South lfrica, Australia and Ireland. A ear ago, Tom invaded America to : eat Jac D. Nave. Johnny Risko. and o .ui German: score q knockout over i'm Maloney and draw with Pauline zcudun after losing lO-round de- ' ision to the Spaniard. :. Kisko's left hook-"that curls v round your right hand no matter 2 aw you defend"-was the most owerfu1 weapon Tom said he faced .. aulino was the toughest oppon- nt. short sojourn on the floor in the ' rst Pauline fight has been due to ' too close association with British | Tom explained, something Ike the tea. toast, and marmalade nat now follows his daily workouts. ,r "Blimey,' he said with wide grin . 5 he squeezed through the door. i" but just imagine the blighters in :, vc dollar seats If London fog ' ropped down" l' Heeney says he is Irish and the e' attment would meet with no de- als w,s it not for his cockney ac- II mt.