Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-26

plane might not arrive.
For it was through the air that
Gene Tunney Of Greenwich Village.
first heavyweight champion ever
bred by the sidewalks Of New York.
chose to return to his native city for
his fifteen-round joust with Tom
Heeney, the gentle New Zealand
blacksmith. in the Yankee Stadium
tonight. It was a manner Of APP
proach from Spectator, N. u. be-
fitting a champion who has defied
every other tradition of the ring.
Tex Richard. the promoter, knew
just where 70 find the challenger.
The first heavyweight Great Britain
has produced since Ruby Robert
Fitzsimmons, the spindly shanked
Cornishman, slew giants with his
gloved hands. awaited the call to
battle on board the yacht OF a
friend. There was no flying for him
from Fair Haven. his training camp
on the Jersey coast.
Around the city. greatest of the
country's fight centers. there was
little excitement over the impending
struggle for the most priced Of
fistiana's rowns The match seem
ed to have crept upon the
citizens without their even realizing
what was happening.
So few were the wagers recorded
on the match itself that il was diff
cult TO determine the exact odds.
Bets Of 3 to / that Tunney would
retain his title were mentioned but
no one seemed TO have seer any
money change hands. Greater. by
far. was wagering on the size or the
gate and the probable amount OF
money Tex Richard seemed destined
to lose.
Persons close 20 Madison Square
Garden finances saw little hope that
the match would draw over S700. 600
worth Of customers into the stadium
tonight. AT the close Of business
yesterday the advance sale had pick
ed up considerably but not enough
to boost the treasury much above
100000. Richard. banking on a ire
mendous sale today continuing right
up to fight time. stood firm on his
prediction that the battle would
draw $1,000, 900.
With expenses running close 20
100000 including a guarantee OF
S525 900 TO Tunney and another OF
100000 TO Heeney. a gate Of 1900
600 inclusive OF taxes appeared
necessary 70 pull Richard out OF the
red" Out Of every dollar pushed
through the windows of his box Of
fees. the promoter must turn over
TO the federal government IS cents
in taxes, the state government five
cents. and the Yankee Stadium ten
cents for rental. All taxes are in
Guided in the ticket prices.
Influenced. probably, by the stolid-
ity Of his usually avid customers,
Richard today called for assistance
from Jack Dempsey, the never-failinE
box office lure and the man who
drew the first-and possibly the last
million dollar gates. Although it
was probably just the final blast OF
the ballyhoo. the former champion,
twice whipped by Tunney. decided TO
apply for 81 seconds license before
the New York State Athletic Com
mission today 50 he might coach
HeoEey on TO victory tonight.
The main bout is scheduled to 20
on at s D M. Texas time. but may
be advanced a few minutes If there
is threat Of rain.
Most Of the arathy shown the
contest II attributed BY critics 20
the fact that Tunney's performance
on paper appears TO outclass the de-
termined but muscle-bound New
Zcalander. Heeney. they believe. IL
made for the slashinG left hand
Of the champion and the jolting
right crosses for which the Amaze
appears TO have no defense but his
chin.
Only once during his American in
vasion has Heeney. the plodder, dis
played n knockout punch. That was
the night he disposed OF the brittle
chinned Irishman from Boston, jim
Maloney. in n seconds Of the first
round. In ten and fifteen round bat
ties with Jack Sharkey, Jack De-
cudun, he failed 10 score a single
knockout and none OF his opponents
ever were in distress. In all these
matches. just as in this, Tom was
the underdog in the betting. He has
never gone into an American ring
a f~avorite.
Tom will be at a distinct disadvan-
tage in height and reach to add 20
the difficulties Of a defense that
N's~ NHAtAAF VI bAAEEAiS Atd4AAN
forward. head and body unprotected
but with both arms swinging.
Against a fighter az that type. Tun-
ney. a perfect sharpshooter and the
finest counter puncher the heavy
weight division ever has seen. n in
his element. IN addition the champ
ion a cast aside his boxing o,ca-
sionally 70 punch with a freedom he
felt in two bouts with Jack
Dempsey. A missed shot AGAINST
the challenger is hardly likely 20
cause the champion fourteen sec
onds Of trouble on the floor as III
did IN Genes Chicago battle with
the former titleholder.
Both champion and CHALLENGER will
-rnort 10 the fray IN rs perfect con-
dition as the human physique can
attain. Neither has suffered anv
sort Of injury in training.