The Tale of the Journeys of Tom Heeney, Gene Tunney Challenger to London
I MUST agree with Steve Bunce, who stated in his column (September 29) that Gene Tunney is “arguably the most overlooked and underrated heavyweight world champion”.
I think he’s going to beat top Jack Dempsey, who was past his best age when he was knocked out twice in 1926 and 1927. Gene has defended his title only twice, a famous victory. ‘long’ against Dempsey in Chicago in September 1927, and an 11th round goal by New Zealand hardliner Tom Heeney, 10 months later at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Heeney did not become one of the greatest heavyweight title challengers, and he was completely defeated by the champion in one of his attempts. However, late last year, the Everlast Book of Records, then the leading authority on boxer records and rankings, ranked him as the 5th heavyweight boxer in the world behind Tunney, Dempsey, Jack Sharkey and George Godfrey. Like so many other boxers from what was then ‘colonial’, Tom came to the UK to take his career to the next level. Our shores were then a stepping stone for such budding talent, and if they make a big enough impact, the next stage for them is America.
Heeney boxed seven times in London between 1924 and 1926, and he also fought once in Dublin. His results were mixed, but when he arrived in the United States in early 1927, his career was a success, culminating in a duel with Tunney. What was his career in the UK after that? Upon arrival, he prepared for the ill-fated show at Wembley Stadium featuring Tommy Gibbons and Jack Bloomfield. This show was such a financial disaster that Tom could not get paid even if he fought on it. His first competition took place at The Ring, Blackfriars, against Phil Scott, the future British champion. Tom lost points after a game that lasted twenty innings. The BN The report was scathing, “Heeney lays on a lot and holds some, proving that he is game, strong and tough, but apart from showing some skill that turns his head out of the punch line, obviously. there is no concept of the art of attack or defense.”
His next contest did not improve matters. His 15th round at the same venue as Belgian Franz Hendrickx was declared uncontested in the sixth inning held by both men. It was a terrible case. Reduced to 10 innings then Tom beat Brixton’s Jim Young by a fourth round knockout at the National Sporting Club. Some think he’s found his class. Then Tom lost to George Cook, Australia’s top heavyweight, in the Premierland, in another round of 20 rounds in front of a sparse house. Tom didn’t actually set the house on fire with his performance, and when he beat Charlie Smith of Deptford by knockout at the Royal Albert Hall in March 1926, few observers would have believed they were looking in. a future world title challenger.
Tom has seen a year with the last four competitions here. He overcame the British light-heavyweight champion by 10 at The Ring and then lost another contest to Phil Scott at Dell, Southampton, then the football club’s home ground. Initially, Scott went to see local favorite Joe Beckett, and with Heeney’s late replacement, the promoter lost a lot of money. Tom then defeated Bartley Madden, an Irish-American, at Croke Park, Dublin before knocking out Jack Stanley. In their report on the contest, BN called both Heeney and Stanley “strong contenders without a punch”.
Then Tom left for America, where he suddenly found his form. He beat Jim Maloney, Johnny Risko, and Jack Delaney and drew with Jack Sharkey to climb the ranks and take the champion.
When he retired in 1933, he won only 37 of his 67 competitions, but he fought for the sport’s richest prize.
