Imperial Valley press., 1928-07-31
TUNNEY DECLARES
HE HAS FOUGHT
HIS LAST BATTLE
Makes Announcement at
Luncheon Given For
Sport NOtab,es.
ny United Press Leased Wire

NEW YORK;, July 31.-Gcne
Tunney announced today that he
had decided to retire from the prize
ring.
The heavyweight champion said
Richard, promoter, William Muldoon
Of the state athletic commission and
correspondents who covered his
training camp at Spectacular, n. Y,
that he fought his last fight last
Thursday night when he scored a
technical knockout over Tom Hee-
ney.
Tunney's retirement had been
rumored ever since the Heeney
fight. 1t waited only the champion s
official confirmation. That was
withheld pending disposition of
Tunney's contract with Rickard
which required that he fight again
this year.
81 have fought my last bout as
n professional boxer" Tunney said.
at naturally is with certain re-
gret that | announce by permanent
retirement from the boxing ring.
my debt TO the game. 1t has treat
ed me well. TO it | owe such fame
and fortune as possess and it has
given me something less ephemeral
than fame-many real warm friend
ships which hope and expect to
keep through all the years to
come.
81 always shall take live and
active interest in boxing. There is
no finer physical exercise or more
engrossing science. 1t is a game
which, properly conducted, teaches
and develops such qualities as STAN
ina, confidence, patience, self-dc-
nial, body fitness, mental alertness
and courage.
~ have a great affection for box
ing and one of my chief desires has
been to leave the game better than
found it. | have tried to be not
only champion but sportsman.
To Make New Start
But the time has come when
professional boxing can offer me
nothing further that | desire. | am
putting it behind me, grateful for
the benefits conferred but with the
feeling that | am still young enough
to make "A new start in other fields.
"There is no contender at the
present time to appear capable or
attracting real public interest. If
there was | might delay my retire
ment long enough to face him in the
ring. But it looks as if it might be
two or three years before a danger
Gus opponent is developed. That is
too long to stand and wait.
"If | had fought again it would
have been for Tex Rickard. | re-
gard him as the foremost boxing
promoter of all time. Realizing that
another champion will follow me
can think of no more capable hands
than Rickard y in which to leave
the selection of such a man, espe-
cially as he will necessarily be guid.
ed by the advice and assistance OF
another man to whom | owe more
than | can express.
"Thcre could be no more fitting
time than this to pay tribute to the
untarnishcd honor, the wise counsel,
the generous friendship and the
lions heart of that grand old man
of sports William Muldoon.
"IUnder these circumstances II is
nv desire to place i'll the hands OF
Tex Rickard, belt or other suitable
emblem of supremacy to be award
ed TO that boxer who, through II Sc
rics of elimination bouts or victories
over the most formidable opponents,
that can be obtained shall prove
himself worthy of it.
- have no thought of trying TO
nominate my successor. To the we
tor belongs the spoils. merely
step aside and say;
May the best man win.