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:
Greeat read thanks
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