Monday, January 13, 2020

Review of "Ace Hudkins"

Through a contact who works for boxing publishing companies, I was provided a copy of this book from the author, who is the great niece of the book's subject.  It was a different type of sports biography, one that I enjoyed reading and am glad that I was provided a copy.  Here is my review of "Ace Hudkins"



Title/Author:
“Ace Hudkins: Boxing With the Nebraska Wildcat" by Kristine Sader

Tags:
Boxing, professional, history, biography

Publish date:
December 26, 2018 

Length:
284 pages

Rating: to
4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:
Ace Hudkins is a fighter who is probably unknown to all except the most avid of boxing history aficionados.  While he never became a world champion in any of the seven weight divisions he fought in during his career, he was nonetheless a very successful and popular fighter in the 1920's.  His story and career are told in this book authored by his great niece, Kristine Sader.

Between research and combing through family items, Sader presents Ace's story completely from his childhood in Nebraska (and the bond he had with his brothers) to his rise in the boxing ranks and his subsequent move to California where he had not only a good boxing career but also an active social life, hobnobbing with some of the biggest celebrities of the time such as Charles Lindberg and Rudolph Valentino, the latter whom Ace once had as a sparring partner. 

However, the most striking aspect of the book is not Ace's story as much as the format of the book.  The text throughout the book is written in short sections, especially when Sader uses newspaper or magazine stories about Ace.  There are a lot of photos, clips, and scrapbook items to help tell Ace's story, including a picture of Ace and Valentino sparring.  "Scrapbook" is a good way to describe the format of the book as it has the feel of looking at a family scrapbook while reading it. 

That makes this book on one of boxing's biggest personalities from the 1920's a fun one to read.  Boxing fans of any age will enjoy this telling of the tale of the "Nebraska Wildcat."

I wish to thank Ms. Sader for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
                             
Book Format Read:
Paperback

Buying Links:

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