| Tom Heeney | |
| Realname: | Thomas Heeney |
| Nickname: | The Hard Rock from Down Under |
| Weight: | Heavyweight |
| Height: | 5feet |
| Reach: | 72NaN |
| Nationality: | New Zealand |
| Birth Date: | 1898 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Gisborne, New Zealand |
| Death Place: | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Total: | 70 |
| Wins: | 37 |
| Ko: | 15 |
| Losses: | 23 |
| Draws: | 8 |
| No Contests: | 2 |
Thomas Heeney (18 May 1898 – 15 June 1984) was a professional heavyweight boxer from New Zealand, best known for unsuccessfully challenging champion Gene Tunney for the heavyweight championship of the world in New York City on 26 July 1928.
Heeney was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, and worked as a plumber until he left New Zealand. He was a strong swimmer and was awarded a bronze medal by the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand in 1918 for helping rescue two women from the sea off Waikanae Beach, Gisborne. He also retrieved a third woman who did not survive.[1]
He learnt to box from his father and his older brother Jack Heeney, who was the New Zealand amateur welterweight champion in 1914 and middleweight champion from 1919 to 1924. He became a professional boxer when he fought Bill Bartlett in Gisborne in 1920.[2] In October 1920, Heeney became the New Zealand heavyweight champion when he beat Brian McCleary of Dunedin on a technical knockout. Heeney was also a rugby union player and played for the Hawke's Bay — Poverty Bay team against the Springboks in 1921.[2] He boxed in Australia and won the Australian heavyweight champion title in 1922, and fought in England and South Africa in 1924.
Heeney went to the United States in 1926. He beat Jim Maloney, Johnny Risko and Jim Delaney[2] and eventually ranked fourth among the world's heavyweight boxers. After fighting Jack Sharkey, later a heavyweight world champion, in 1928 for the right to fight Tunney, on 26 July 1928, Heeney fought Gene Tunney at Yankee Stadium, New York City, for the world heavyweight championship title. Heeney entered the boxing ring wearing a Māori cloak that was given to him by Heni Materoa, the widow of Sir James Carroll. The referee, Ed Forbes, stopped the scheduled 15 round fight in the 11th round, and Tunney won. It was said of Heeney:
His gritty performance in this fight would have been considered by many observers to have justified his sobriquet of The Hard Rock from Down Under given by renowned writer and journalist, Damon Runyon.
A week after his defeat, Tom married Marion Dunn, an American. Heeney became an American citizen and boxed until 1934, accomplishing a fighting record of 70 professional bouts, 38 wins, 22 losses, 8 draws, and 2 no-contest.
After retiring from boxing, he owned a bar in Miami, Florida. He served with the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps in World War II, and afterward coached boxing and refereed armed forces bouts in the South Pacific. He often fished with his friend, the famous writer Ernest Hemingway. Heeney's wife, Marion, died in 1980. They had no children.
Heeney was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[3] unless otherwise stated.
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Loss | 37–22–8 | Stanley Poreda | TKO | 10 (10), | Mar 27, 1933 | ||
| 69 | Loss | 37–21–8 | Charley Retzlaff | NWS | 10 | Mar 7, 1933 | ||
| 68 | Loss | 37–21–8 | Patsy Perroni | PTS | 10 | Dec 6, 1932 | ||
| 67 | Draw | 37–20–8 | John Schwake | PTS | 10 | Oct 25, 1932 | ||
| 66 | Win | 37–20–7 | Hans Birkie | PTS | 10 | Mar 16, 1932 | ||
| 65 | Loss | 36–20–7 | Max Baer | PTS | 10 | Feb 22, 1932 | ||
| 64 | Draw | 36–19–7 | Giacomo Bergomas | PTS | 10 | Oct 26, 1931 | ||
| 63 | Draw | 36–19–6 | Jose Santa | PTS | 10 | Oct 5, 1931 | ||
| 62 | Win | 36–19–5 | Jose Santa | PTS | 12 | Sep 10, 1931 | ||
| 61 | Loss | 35–19–5 | Jimmy Slattery | PTS | 6 | Apr 20, 1931 | ||
| 60 | Loss | 35–18–5 | Johnny Risko | PTS | 10 | Apr 6, 1931 | ||
| 59 | Loss | 35–17–5 | Charley Retzlaff | TKO | 7 (10) | Mar 6, 1931 | ||
| 58 | Loss | 35–16–5 | Max Baer | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 16, 1931 | ||
| 57 | Loss | 35–15–5 | Emmett Rocco | PTS | 10 | Oct 13, 1930 | ||
| 56 | Loss | 35–14–5 | Frank Cawley | UD | 10 | Sep 29, 1930 | ||
| 55 | Win | 35–13–5 | George Panka | SD | 10 | Sep 8, 1930 | ||
| 54 | Loss | 34–13–5 | Tuffy Griffiths | TKO | 10 (10) | Jul 30, 1930 | ||
| 53 | Win | 34–12–5 | George Hoffman | PTS | 10 | Sep 26, 1929 | ||
| 52 | Loss | 33–12–5 | Victorio Campolo | TKO | 9 (10), | Aug 15, 1929 | ||
| 51 | Win | 33–11–5 | Elzear Rioux | DQ | 8 (10) | May 29, 1929 | ||
| 50 | Loss | 32–11–5 | Otto von Porat | UD | 10 | Mar 12, 1929 | ||
| 49 | Loss | 32–10–5 | Jim Maloney | PTS | 10 | Mar 1, 1929 | ||
| 48 | Loss | 32–9–5 | Gene Tunney | TKO | 11 (15), | Jul 26, 1928 | ||
| 47 | Win | 32–8–5 | Jack Delaney | UD | 15 | Mar 1, 1928 | ||
| 46 | Draw | 31–8–5 | Jack Sharkey | SD | 12 | Jan 13, 1928 | ||
| 45 | Win | 31–8–4 | Johnny Risko | PTS | 10 | Oct 26, 1927 | ||
| 44 | Win | 30–8–4 | Jim Maloney | KO | 1 (12), | Sep 30, 1927 | ||
| 43 | Draw | 29–8–4 | Paulino Uzcudun | PTS | 15 | Sep 8, 1927 | ||
| 42 | Win | 29–8–3 | Bud Gorman | DQ | 3 (10), | Aug 4, 1927 | ||
| 41 | Win | 28–8–3 | Jack DeMave | PTS | 10 | Jun 24, 1927 | ||
| 40 | Loss | 27–8–3 | Paulino Uzcudun | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1927 | ||
| 39 | Win | 27–7–3 | Charley Anderson | TKO | 8 (10) | Feb 25, 1927 | ||
| 38 | Win | 26–7–3 | Jack Stanley | PTS | 15 | Oct 25, 1926 | ||
| 37 | Win | 25–7–3 | Bartley Madden | PTS | 20 | Aug 9, 1926 | ||
| 36 | Loss | 24–7–3 | Phil Scott | PTS | 10 | Jul 10, 1926 | ||
| 35 | Win | 24–6–3 | Tom Berry | PTS | 15 | Jul 5, 1926 | ||
| 34 | Win | 23–6–3 | Charley Smith | DQ | 5 (10) | Mar 18, 1926 | ||
| 33 | Loss | 22–6–3 | George 'Blackie' Miller | DQ | 5 (20) | Nov 14, 1925 | ||
| 32 | Win | 22–5–3 | George 'Blackie' Miller | DQ | 8 (20) | Oct 10, 1925 | ||
| 31 | Win | 21–5–3 | Vic Morace | KO | 4 (20) | Jul, 1925 | ||
| 30 | Win | 20–5–3 | Johnny Squires | RTD | 18 (20) | Jun 15, 1925 | ||
| 29 | Win | 19–5–3 | Johnny Squires | PTS | 20 | Apr 9, 1925 | ||
| 28 | Loss | 18–5–3 | George Cook | PTS | 20 | Feb 12, 1925 | ||
| 27 | Win | 18–4–3 | Trooper Jim Young | KO | 4 (15) | Jan 19, 1925 | ||
| 26 | 17–4–3 | Frans Hendrickx | NC | 6 (15) | Nov 3, 1924 | |||
| 25 | Loss | 17–4–3 | Phil Scott | PTS | 20 | Sep 22, 1924 | ||
| 24 | Win | 17–3–3 | Ern Young | TKO | 4 (15) | Feb 20, 1924 | ||
| 23 | Win | 16–3–3 | Jim O'Sullivan | KO | 9 (15) | Dec 26, 1923 | ||
| 22 | Win | 15–3–3 | Jim O'Sullivan | DQ | 5 (15) | Nov 10, 1923 | ||
| 21 | Win | 14–3–3 | Jim Savage | KO | 1 (15) | Oct 26, 1923 | ||
| 20 | Loss | 13–3–3 | Jim O'Sullivan | PTS | 15 | Sep 26, 1923 | ||
| 19 | Win | 13–2–3 | Brian McCleary | TKO | 14 (15) | Aug 14, 1923 | ||
| 18 | Win | 12–2–3 | Jim Flett | TKO | 9 (15) | Aug 2, 1923 | ||
| 17 | Win | 11–2–3 | Cyril Whittaker | TKO | 15 (15) | Jun 4, 1923 | ||
| 16 | Win | 10–2–3 | Jack Complin | TKO | 9 (20) | Jan 1, 1923 | ||
| 15 | Draw | 9–2–3 | Ern Waddy | PTS | 20 | Dec 18, 1922 | ||
| 14 | Draw | 9–2–2 | Charlie Taylor | PTS | 20 | Aug 12, 1922 | ||
| 13 | Win | 9–2–1 | Tom Batho | TKO | 14 (20) | Jul 22, 1922 | ||
| 12 | Loss | 8–2–1 | Colin Bell | PTS | 20 | Jun 30, 1922 | ||
| 11 | Win | 8–1–1 | Jack Leahy | PTS | 20 | Jun 3, 1922 | ||
| 10 | Win | 7–1–1 | Jim Flett | PTS | 15 | May 1, 1922 | ||
| 9 | Loss | 6–1–1 | Colin Bell | PTS | 20 | Mar 17, 1922 | ||
| 8 | Win | 6–0–1 | Max Gornik | RTD | 15 (20) | Feb 11, 1922 | ||
| 7 | Draw | 5–0–1 | Colin Bell | PTS | 15 | Oct 27, 1921 | ||
| 6 | Win | 5–0 | Jack Cole | PTS | 15 | Jul 23, 1921 | ||
| 5 | Win | 4–0 | Albert Pooley | PTS | 15 | Feb 11, 1921 | ||
| 4 | Win | 3–0 | Albert Pooley | PTS | 15 | Oct 27, 1920 | ||
| 3 | 2–0 | Frank Gribben | ND | 3 | Aug 27, 1920 | |||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | George Modrich | PTS | 15 | Jun 8, 1920 | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Bill Bartlett | TKO | 9 (15) | Feb 12, 1920 | ||
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Loss | 37–23–8 | Stanley Poreda | TKO | 10 (10), | Mar 27, 1933 | ||
| 69 | Loss | 37–22–8 | Charley Retzlaff | NWS | 10 | Mar 7, 1933 | ||
| 68 | Loss | 37–21–8 | Patsy Perroni | PTS | 10 | Dec 6, 1932 | ||
| 67 | Draw | 37–20–8 | John Schwake | PTS | 10 | Oct 25, 1932 | ||
| 66 | Win | 37–20–7 | Hans Birkie | PTS | 10 | Mar 16, 1932 | ||
| 65 | Loss | 36–20–7 | Max Baer | PTS | 10 | Feb 22, 1932 | ||
| 64 | Draw | 36–19–7 | Giacomo Bergomas | PTS | 10 | Oct 26, 1931 | ||
| 63 | Draw | 36–19–6 | Jose Santa | PTS | 10 | Oct 5, 1931 | ||
| 62 | Win | 36–19–5 | Jose Santa | PTS | 12 | Sep 10, 1931 | ||
| 61 | Loss | 35–19–5 | Jimmy Slattery | PTS | 6 | Apr 20, 1931 | ||
| 60 | Loss | 35–18–5 | Johnny Risko | PTS | 10 | Apr 6, 1931 | ||
| 59 | Loss | 35–17–5 | Charley Retzlaff | TKO | 7 (10) | Mar 6, 1931 | ||
| 58 | Loss | 35–16–5 | Max Baer | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 16, 1931 | ||
| 57 | Loss | 35–15–5 | Emmett Rocco | PTS | 10 | Oct 13, 1930 | ||
| 56 | Loss | 35–14–5 | Frank Cawley | UD | 10 | Sep 29, 1930 | ||
| 55 | Win | 35–13–5 | George Panka | SD | 10 | Sep 8, 1930 | ||
| 54 | Loss | 34–13–5 | Tuffy Griffiths | TKO | 10 (10) | Jul 30, 1930 | ||
| 53 | Win | 34–12–5 | George Hoffman | PTS | 10 | Sep 26, 1929 | ||
| 52 | Loss | 33–12–5 | Victorio Campolo | TKO | 9 (10), | Aug 15, 1929 | ||
| 51 | Win | 33–11–5 | Elzear Rioux | DQ | 8 (10) | May 29, 1929 | ||
| 50 | Loss | 32–11–5 | Otto von Porat | UD | 10 | Mar 12, 1929 | ||
| 49 | Loss | 32–10–5 | Jim Maloney | PTS | 10 | Mar 1, 1929 | ||
| 48 | Loss | 32–9–5 | Gene Tunney | TKO | 11 (15), | Jul 26, 1928 | ||
| 47 | Win | 32–8–5 | Jack Delaney | UD | 15 | Mar 1, 1928 | ||
| 46 | Draw | 31–8–5 | Jack Sharkey | SD | 12 | Jan 13, 1928 | ||
| 45 | Win | 31–8–4 | Johnny Risko | PTS | 10 | Oct 26, 1927 | ||
| 44 | Win | 30–8–4 | Jim Maloney | KO | 1 (12), | Sep 30, 1927 | ||
| 43 | Draw | 29–8–4 | Paulino Uzcudun | PTS | 15 | Sep 8, 1927 | ||
| 42 | Win | 29–8–3 | Bud Gorman | DQ | 3 (10), | Aug 4, 1927 | ||
| 41 | Win | 28–8–3 | Jack DeMave | PTS | 10 | Jun 24, 1927 | ||
| 40 | Loss | 27–8–3 | Paulino Uzcudun | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1927 | ||
| 39 | Win | 27–7–3 | Charley Anderson | TKO | 8 (10) | Feb 25, 1927 | ||
| 38 | Win | 26–7–3 | Jack Stanley | PTS | 15 | Oct 25, 1926 | ||
| 37 | Win | 25–7–3 | Bartley Madden | PTS | 20 | Aug 9, 1926 | ||
| 36 | Loss | 24–7–3 | Phil Scott | PTS | 10 | Jul 10, 1926 | ||
| 35 | Win | 24–6–3 | Tom Berry | PTS | 15 | Jul 5, 1926 | ||
| 34 | Win | 23–6–3 | Charley Smith | DQ | 5 (10) | Mar 18, 1926 | ||
| 33 | Loss | 22–6–3 | George 'Blackie' Miller | DQ | 5 (20) | Nov 14, 1925 | ||
| 32 | Win | 22–5–3 | George 'Blackie' Miller | DQ | 8 (20) | Oct 10, 1925 | ||
| 31 | Win | 21–5–3 | Vic Morace | KO | 4 (20) | Jul, 1925 | ||
| 30 | Win | 20–5–3 | Johnny Squires | RTD | 18 (20) | Jun 15, 1925 | ||
| 29 | Win | 19–5–3 | Johnny Squires | PTS | 20 | Apr 9, 1925 | ||
| 28 | Loss | 18–5–3 | George Cook | PTS | 20 | Feb 12, 1925 | ||
| 27 | Win | 18–4–3 | Trooper Jim Young | KO | 4 (15) | Jan 19, 1925 | ||
| 26 | 17–4–3 | Frans Hendrickx | NC | 6 (15) | Nov 3, 1924 | |||
| 25 | Loss | 17–4–3 | Phil Scott | PTS | 20 | Sep 22, 1924 | ||
| 24 | Win | 17–3–3 | Ern Young | TKO | 4 (15) | Feb 20, 1924 | ||
| 23 | Win | 16–3–3 | Jim O'Sullivan | KO | 9 (15) | Dec 26, 1923 | ||
| 22 | Win | 15–3–3 | Jim O'Sullivan | DQ | 5 (15) | Nov 10, 1923 | ||
| 21 | Win | 14–3–3 | Jim Savage | KO | 1 (15) | Oct 26, 1923 | ||
| 20 | Loss | 13–3–3 | Jim O'Sullivan | PTS | 15 | Sep 26, 1923 | ||
| 19 | Win | 13–2–3 | Brian McCleary | TKO | 14 (15) | Aug 14, 1923 | ||
| 18 | Win | 12–2–3 | Jim Flett | TKO | 9 (15) | Aug 2, 1923 | ||
| 17 | Win | 11–2–3 | Cyril Whittaker | TKO | 15 (15) | Jun 4, 1923 | ||
| 16 | Win | 10–2–3 | Jack Complin | TKO | 9 (20) | Jan 1, 1923 | ||
| 15 | Draw | 9–2–3 | Ern Waddy | PTS | 20 | Dec 18, 1922 | ||
| 14 | Draw | 9–2–2 | Charlie Taylor | PTS | 20 | Aug 12, 1922 | ||
| 13 | Win | 9–2–1 | Tom Batho | TKO | 14 (20) | Jul 22, 1922 | ||
| 12 | Loss | 8–2–1 | Colin Bell | PTS | 20 | Jun 30, 1922 | ||
| 11 | Win | 8–1–1 | Jack Leahy | PTS | 20 | Jun 3, 1922 | ||
| 10 | Win | 7–1–1 | Jim Flett | PTS | 15 | May 1, 1922 | ||
| 9 | Loss | 6–1–1 | Colin Bell | PTS | 20 | Mar 17, 1922 | ||
| 8 | Win | 6–0–1 | Max Gornik | RTD | 15 (20) | Feb 11, 1922 | ||
| 7 | Draw | 5–0–1 | Colin Bell | PTS | 15 | Oct 27, 1921 | ||
| 6 | Win | 5–0 | Jack Cole | PTS | 15 | Jul 23, 1921 | ||
| 5 | Win | 4–0 | Albert Pooley | PTS | 15 | Feb 11, 1921 | ||
| 4 | Win | 3–0 | Albert Pooley | PTS | 15 | Oct 27, 1920 | ||
| 3 | 2–0 | Frank Gribben | ND | 3 | Aug 27, 1920 | |||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | George Modrich | PTS | 15 | Jun 8, 1920 | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Bill Bartlett | TKO | 9 (15) | Feb 12, 1920 | ||
5. Vogt, Anton: 'Tom Heeney in heaven,' New Zealand Listener, 14 October 1960