The Washington times., 1929-04-03
FIRST BOUT
IN ]. 5. 4
BREAK
BY Jack Dempsey

A mere clHub mputuS dSV
Tom Heeney stood near the
peak Of pugilism rated As the
most dangerous opponent Of Q.
world champion and matched
to trade smashes with him.
And now the same Tom Heeney
comedies that his fistic star
has set.
The descent az Heeney has been
arift indeed. Yet his ascent was
equally remarkable. For BE came
ollt 81 the nowhere Of pugiIism, q
man who practically admitted to
himself that n was q failure, and
then. through misfortune that came
to another warrior, lifted himself
out of obscurity into fame and .
Heeney fought for several years
IN New Zealand and Australia, be-
coming the top.notcler In d land
where heavyweigl1ts were few and
class almost unknown
Seeking more worlds to. cOl.
queF, Ile left the AntipQdes and
went b England. hoping Tor
success and gold. Tom gained
little Of either.
DISCOURAGED with his European
invasion. Heeney decided to 80 hack
to his home under the Southern
Cross His first intent was to sail
back the way he came via the
Suex Canal. But Charlie Harvey.
who has specialized In bringing
foreign fighters to these shores, n.
flueneed Tom to make his return
jaunt via New York and San Fran
cisco. The idea Of seeing the u. 8.
A. Appealed to Heeney. So Tom
dropped into New York mainly with
the idea of taking few lopks ut
the scenery before showing off for
Fthe Pacific Coast and the boat for
New Zealand.
Soon after Toms arrival match
arranged for Madison Square Gar
den was about to fall through BE-
cause the man who was to face
Charlie Anderson, the giant negro.
suffered illness or injury and couldn't
go through with it Hearing that
the Garden was franticalIy searching
for q substitute Charlie said to Tom:
How about IT? win you fight An
dersOn2 1t means q little cash to
help pay the expenses cf your trip. Z
sure. replied Tom.
Heeney IxnOd dxed out Anderson
in eight rounds, and the folks i'm
mediateIy began to take notice OK
him because Anderson was nO-
bOdy's pnsllOver. And Tom sud.
denly decided % postpone going
hDnne.
Pao1ino was clamoring for action
just then. Tex Rickard saw the
chance to make little money out Of
one of those international battles 2
So Heeney and Paolino were tossed
into the same ring. The wagering
was about to on Paolino to win
land the Basque did. But the fight
Ms close and, instead OF losing pres
tigs IN defeat. Heeney actually
emerged from Il covered with glory.
Heeney's pathway thereafter was
q direct and d.cluttered lane to
the heights He whipped Jack De-
Nave gained victory over Bud
German, knocked out Jim MaIoney,
fought 3 draw with Paolino, won
rom Johnny Risko and Jack De
lazey and held Jack Sharxey to q
draw.
Heeney was then elected to
trade punches with Gene TIM.
ney, getting $10O, 900 win, lose,
Or draw. and the worlds cham.
pi0nshlp II he could master the
lad from Greenwich Village.
Heeney wasn't equal 10 the
Job, but there was plenty 81
eash comfort for him III defeat.
The man who 1t upon these
shores IN 1926 merely as sipht.
seer ana one who held his own
fistic ability In light esteem. coI.
sleeted $500, 900 or more Through lnis
/ fisttc feats. Because Tom ae
careful of his portion 81 that $500.
| O0O. he has at least $3.50, 900 stoweta
away. and, as Tom puts its
That's enough for q fellow with
my tastes, It should last Is long
II as III