Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-19
BELIEVED HIMSELF
DESTINED TO SCORE
Slept in Room at Arena as He
Awaited Battlefield
Only One Plan.
BY EDWARD ]. NEIL.

BIZ EDNAn NEIL.
~ YEW YORK, February 10 CP.-
Gene Turney was stretched
on a rubbing table at
his training quarters in
StroudSburg, Pa, resting while Lou
Fink kneaded his muscles.
His first duel with Jack Demp-
sey for the heavyweight cham
pionship was still month away.
Old Bill McCabe, kindly, pa
ternal, stuck his fuzzy white head
through the half-opened door. He
glared at the newspaper men
crowding around.
Jimmy Bronson's here, Gene" he
said
Bow-tie Jim from Joplin, one of the
finest characters in the fight business,
walked over to the big Marine and
shook his hand. He had come to help
Tunney prepare for the title shot.
Alone Of the small crowd in the dress
ing room he thought Gene could whip
Dempsey.
THE Almighty" he said. looking
down into Tunney's face, nodded you
to lick Dempsey
Had Sure Thought.
Tunney looked up at Bronson. serious
faced earnest. For a moment he
thought he was being kidded. He
realized he wasn't. He gripped Jifn'5
hand tight.
There are just two men who be-
neve that" he said, and at that mo
ment the man of destiny OF the prize
ring came into being.
"Tunney never doubted after that
that he would beat Dempsey. He few
to the scene of the fight in Philadelphia.
If 1 changed planes twice in the
air along the way" he told Bronson,
still nothing could happen to prevent
my winning the championship.
He slept in his dressing room, wait
ing 20 be called into the ring before
100000 deriding faithful for the biggest
opportunity of his life. The only plan
of battle he had was one sentence from
Bronson:
THE first time Dempsey cocks his
left hook. break your right arm If you
can on the first punch to the chin"
In the first round Dempsey drew
back the left. Tunney threw every
thing he had into a right. 1t landed
high on the sic of the man maulcr'S
head. Dempseys knees sagged. Two
inches lower and it might have been
a clean knockout. The b-ll rang and
Tunney. returned to his corner.
II didn't break my arm" he said
softly. But I've won myself a fight.
Hates Fight Game.
Tunney loves boxing but hates the
fight game. He is headed for Asia
with an exploration expedition, partly
because he was being tempted to come
back He doesn't believe he has two
rial friends among the people connected
with the boxing business.
He shuns publicity but he gets mass
of corr -spondence daily at his small
Office hidden away in the business quar-
ters of friend. He answers all letters
himself. He has no business connec-
tons and he wants none.
Tunney never had manager though
many held the title. He really loves
books and friends among the class of
people who can add something to his
life. He dislikes parties and social
affairs. One of his sisters is num-
Tunney grew up in hardy neighbor-
hood on the West Side of New York.
but always ran with the white collar
boys. He was deeply religious and am
bilious.
He paid the guarantees of two pre-
liminary fighters who had been banned
from the Heeney card because they had
been his sparring partners. He refused
to foot a 5000 check foisted upon him
by friends who summoned him to their
hilarity in a Miami cafe for the sole
purpose Of handing him the bill
Practices Ring Craft.
During his read work at Spectator
before the second Dempsey fight he'd
often scratch 20-foot ring in the dirt
and practice running backward His
handlers thought he was crazy until
they saw him in the seventh round at
Chicago.
He has close command on his
emotions. When he is angriest his lips
curl. He pays little attention to clothes
Likes blue ties and has color-Tunney
blue-named after his eyes. He believes
his life should be model TO the coun-
try's youth. He refused an offer OF
$4,000 TO indorse cigarette.
Il don't smoke" he said.
He stood at the rail of transport
coming home from France, talking to
Eddie Egan who was coming back to
school. Egan had won the interallied
niddleweight championship; Tunney,
the A. E. r. light heavyweight title.
Egan wanted Gene TO go TO Yale with
him.
NO" said Tunney, I'm going to be
the next heavyweight champion Of the
world"
Forget it," said Egan Il can lick
you myself"