Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-26
Gotham Apaheh Big Money Looms 7unneyS Con Hangs in
EASY FOR TUNNEY,
LOUGHRAN THINKS
Lightheavy Champ Believes
Gene viii Badly Cut Up
Challenger.
BY TOMMY LouGHRAN.


Copyright, 1928. By the North American
Newspaper Alliance.
Gene Tunney will retain his heavy
weight title tonight in the 15-round
bout at the Yankee Stadium, New York.
He will not only defeat Tom Heeney.
but the likelihood Is that he will cut
Tom up so badly the fight will be
stopped before the finish.
This bout Is bringing together great
boxer, sharp. clean-hitting, brainy
ring general, and sturdy, aggressive
fellow, who is able to take a lot Of pun
ishment without whiting, but who can't
hand out very much Of 1t himself.
Tunney Is q great defensive boxer. He
Is hard to hit from either long or short
range. No doubt Heeney will push the
fight from the start TO finish, but his
arms are too short for him to do any
damage at a distance, and don't con-
slider him good infghter.
Tom will keep crowding. Tunney
doesn't like any too well to be crowded.
And he ought to know how to tie
Heeney UP II the going gets too rough
inside or along the ropes.
How They Compare.
Let's compare the two men in every
detail, and see II you don't think am
justified in my prediction.
Defensively, Tunney Is the best heavy
weight in many years. Besides his skill
In this direction he has good legs and Is
fast going either way.
Heeney Is not really defensive man
at all. He's always going In, and gives
good target to shoot at. As the say
L.. a. 49, ,nf~o Hnr toff q
though he blocks right cross better,
he can be hit with one.
Heeneys best defensive asset Is his
ability to take punishment without any
apparent harm. He can absorb
frightful lacing and still come on IS
strong as ever II he didn't have this
ability he'd never have pushed his way
UP into the first rank Of heavyweights.
Defensively. then. every one must
admit Gene Is so far ahead OF Tom
that there isn't any comparison at all.
Tunney is strictly counter fighter. and
his best punch Is right 10 the heart.
He gets lot OF driving power back Of
the blow, as he steps In and throws his
shoulders behind Il. think he's o
harder hitter than Heeney.
Heeney's Arms Short.
Toms arms are short and I believe
he Is o bit muscle-bound. He has o fair
left hook and pretty good counter.
Against his other opponents he landed
regularly. but there seemed o lack OF
sting behind his blows. He could land.
but It took q good many punches to
hurt. One exception was Jim Maloney.
Tom stopped him In few seconds. but
then MalCney had been knocked over
so frequently that he proved q pretty
weak customer.
The New Zealander Is good deal
faster than he looks. but not as fast
as Tunney, II he could hit the way
Dempsey could. then you'd have to
give Tom chance. He might crowd
Tunny along the ropes and plaster him
Wit, With one ", Ike JACK dld n Cnlcago.
out It he's not rs good extensively as
the champion. And It Is on the offen-
sive he has his only chance.
Heeney. with his huge, blacksuith's
shoulders and arms, Is o very power
ful man. but don't think he Is bit
stronger than Gene. Few people realize
how strong Ttinney Is. Tom won't be
able to toss him around to any extent
In ruggedness and stamina the cham
pion doesn't play second fiddle either
His great comeback powers were shown
ut Chicago. Dempsey hit him seven
punches before Gene went to the door
but when Tunney came up again he
travelled so fast the Mauler couldn't
catch him.
There's no question about Heeneys
ruggedness. Sharkey hit him with one
terrific right handler In the first round
Of their fighk and Il didn't feaze hinr
Jim Maloney propped Heeney up with
o lash under the heart that wou's
have bothered any one. but Tom cam
right back and knocked him out
Tunney Has Inspiration.
Take this matter Of mental condition
every one Is talking about. They say
Tunney hasn't the same inspiration he
had when he was working toward the
championship. That's bunk. I ought
to know something about It. 60 into
fights In defense OF my light heavy
weight title with Just as much spirit as
did when was fighting my way to
the top Gene Tlnney Is proud. 1t
means rs much to him TO hold the title
as it did to win Il.
Heeney isn't fiery. This Is Just an
other fight for him. He isn't spurred
as Tunney was when he was ready to
nervous. Tom Is placid Is O lake. I
don't think that's the proper frame Of
mind. You don't reach the top unless
you're steamed up.
Tunney IS very confident don't
think there's any doubt he holds Heeney
cheapiy. From the way he's been con-.
centrating on his right hand. believe
he is going In there to score knockout.
He wants TO convince people he's hit
won't play waiting role. as he did,
with Dempsey. but WIN 60 In to out
You might think that switching STYLES
at the last moment, 50 TO speak. might
be to Tunney.s disadvantage. This fel-
low Is too smart to let IL hurt him. n
he finds the going isn't. so good. he'll
switch instantly to his old style. He's q
smarter ring man than Heeney VIII ever
dream OF being.
No Youth ". Age Stun.
IT isn't question Of youth against
age. Heeney Is Just as old as Tinney.
perhaps older. Both matured SLOWLY.
and they ought to be close 10 the peak
still physically. No one could take bets
ter care Of himself than Gene. He
probably has taken better and more in-
telligent care Of himself than Tom has.
sion can you come to. Gene Is far bet
ter defensively. He's o cleaner
straighter. harder hitter. He's fully as
strong as Heeney, almost as rugged and
Is much the smarter boxer. He has no
In age or confidence.
There's Just rs much incentive on his
side IS ON the challengers
TO my way Of thinking there's noth-
He's good bet 10 cut the New zea-
lander so completely into ribbons that
the referee viii stop the fight.
] don't believe there's any sort Of
chance that Gene Tunney won't still
be the heavyweight champion OF the
world after tonight
There b only one point In Heeney&
favor, and that Is that Gene has had
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