Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-17
Nav Play Short for G Tmney First 7m Has Make Weight
GENE SPENT SEVEN
YEARS BUILDING UP
Champion Faced in Heeney
With Problems Differing
From Dempsey.
BY WALTER TRUMBULL.

This coming battle with Tom Heeney
Is the first for which Gene Tunney
ever has had to make weight. Nine
years ago, when Gene made up his
mind to follow the ring as a profess
sion, he was a youngster weighing about
ITO pounds, with only fair boxing skill
and bad hands. He often has told me
the story, which for determination.
singleness of purpose and unfaltering
courage has few equals.
II made up my mind" he said, "that
IL I took up boxing as a business /
would be the best man in it. That
meant that I must some day beat
Dempsey. To accomplish this 1t was
evident that I needed certain assets
I didn't possess. I started deliberately
to acquire them.
II was too light had neither the
necessary punch nor boxing skill, and
had bad hands Those were serious
handicaps, but decided that l could
overcome them. 1t took me seven
years.
Constant, Patient Work.
Those were years of constant work
and patient effort. I went into the
woods and swung an ak to strengthen
my hands. ] worked out some exercises
devoted to the same purpose and I
Keep them up to this day. My hands
no longer trouble me.
I studied the matter of diet and
talked with everyone could who knew
anything about the subject. read
books on the qualities and values of
food. ate not always the things /
liked, but the things I was convinced
were best Tor me. I learned some
thing Of diet for myself.
Il boxed with men from whom ]
could learn something, turning down
sometimes more profitable matches
which would have taught me nothing.
/ studied Dempsey's style and tempera-
ment until I was sure I knew how to
beat him. Every time went into a
gymnasium I practiced the blows I
knew would be most effective. Every
time put on the gloves with another
man was perfecting defense for use
against the fighter from whose head I
meant some day to knock the crown.
1T wasn't always easy. was a
normal youngster who liked amuse-
ment, but knew that to become cham
pion must want that more than any,
thing else and sacrifice everything else
to 1t.
Slow, Hard Work.
~ lived in the open air as much as
possible and slowly drew nearer my
goal. 1t was slow, hard work. I en-
larged the muscles / needed a quarter
OF an inch, put on weight a quarter of
pound at time. by infinite effort
One thing was in my favor: / was to
put everything to the test. Many
thought that I was strangely confident
and calm, but there was nothing
strange about it. was ready and
knew was ready"
So this Heeney battle will differ from
the Dempsey bouts In many WAYS.
Tunney weighed over 200 pounds In
Florida last Winter. He didn't have
to put on weight. He has had to take
studied as thoroughly. With q larger,
more powerful frame he naturally will
be able 70 carry more poundage, but
the question Is Just how far he should
reduce. He now weighs--or did on
Sunday-l90is pounds and he looks At.
MoreoF1rys al the time he had q battle
with Dempsey til view ne was perfect
ing defense against q left hook. That
was Jacks most devastating punch
1t was because he was watching that
left so closely that Dempsey hit him In
the throat with that right at Phila-
deiphia and hit him on the chin with
a right in Chicago.
Heeneyss best punch is considered to
be q right. That means that instead
Of circlfhg away from left. Gene NAV
have to circle away from a right. For
the first time in three years he is meet
ing an opponent with brand new
style.
Doesn't Underestimate Foe.
But again he is supremacy confident
II don't underestimate Heeney,'' he SAYS
Il know he probably Is stronger and
faster than Dempsey, but believe that
am physically stronger than Heeney
and that my powers Of resistance are
fully as great. Dempsey. In my opinion.
was the greatest hitter of modern times.
He hit me, and he hurt me, but It seems
to me that am so much stronger than
I was then that those same punches
might not bother me now.
And ] feel that am hitting harder
than I ever did in my life. always
have been a slow starter and Nave in
variably finished strong. II this bout
goes Is rounds I will not be the more
tired Of the two at the end. But perhaps
1t won't so Is rounds"
There was twinkle in Genes blue
eyes as he said that-and why shouldn't
he be eonfidente AS he swung his pow
erful body from the rubbing table he
stood something over feet tall-an6
every inch Of 1t looked the champion.
copyrisht. isas. by North American News