The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-26
DEMPSEY WILL
| SECOND HEENEY
IN RING TODAY
Tex Rickard Calls Upon Great.
est Gate Attraction as
Interest Lags
GENE WILL FLY AGAIN
Fight Gate of $1,2OO,OOO Is
Needed to Pull Promoter
Out of Red
GENE WILL FLY AGAIN
BY EDWARD J. NEH.

\-NSsO~IdtCO lcSS SpOItS NINctJ
New York, July 26.-(AP)---
Lazily and with little outward show
Of interest, New York turned today
to the first heavyweight champion
ship match within it's boundaries in
five years.
In Madison Square Garden an anx-
ious promoter, already perturbed at
the possibility of financial loss,
shivered at the thought that an air
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 15-round joust with Tom
Heeney. the gentle New Zealand
blacksmith. in the Yankee stadium
tonight. It was a manner Of ap-
proach from Speculator, N. y. be-
fitting champion who has deiied
every other tradition of the ring.
Tex Rickard, the promoter, knew
just where he could find the chal-
lenger. The finest heavyweight
Great Britain has produced since
Ruby Robert Fitzsimmons awaited
the call to battle on board the yacht
of a friend. There was no flying
for him from Fair Haven, his train
ing camp on the Jersey coast.
Excitement Nil
Around the city, greatest Of the
country's fight centers. there was
little excitement over the impending
struggle for the most prized of
fistiana's crowns.
So few were the wagers recorded
on the match itself that it was diff
ficult determining the exact odds.
Bets Of 3 to l that Tunney would
retain his title were mentioned but
no one seemed to have seen any
money change hands.
Persons close to Madison Square
Garden finances saw little hope that
the match would draw over $7OO,O 900
worth of customers into the stadium
tonight.
What with expenses running close
to 100000 including a guarantee of
$525, 900 to Tunney and another of
100000 to Heeney, gate of
$1,200,000 inclusive of taxes ap-
peared necessary to pull Kickard out
of the "red." Out of every dollar
pushed through the windows of his
box offices. the promoter must turn
over to the federal government 25
cents in taxes, the state government
five cents, and the Yankee stadium
10 cents for rental.
Dempsey to Second
Influenced, probably, by the stolid-
ity of his usually avid customers
Rickard today called for assistance
from Jack Dempsey, the nevcr-fall-
ing box office lure and the man VINO
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 a seconds license before
the New York state athletic commits
sion today so that he might coach
Heeney on to victory tonight.
Clear, cool weather was forecast
for the day and night with no hint
Of rain that has spoiled dozens OF
outdoor shows this summer in the
northeast breezes forecast. The
main bout is scheduled to go OH at
10 p. m. eastern daylight time.
Tom will be at a distinct disad-
vantage in height and reach to add
to the difficulties Of q defense that
consists chiefly Of plugging steadily
forward. head and body unprotected,
but with both arms swinging.
Against a fighter of that type, Tun-
ney, perfect sharpshooter and the
finest counter puncher the heavy
weight division ever has seen, is III
his element.