Ace Hudkins: Boxing With The Nebraska Wildcat

They say the world needs certain people for certain times. People that come along at the right time and in the right place. Boxer Ace Hudkins was one of those people in one of those times. Born and reared in Nebraska, Hudkins would eventually heed the call of “Go West, young man!” to make his fame and fortune inside the dusty boxing rings of 1920s Los Angeles, California.

Author and publisher Kristine Sader tells this brash and adventurous tale of her great uncle within Ace Hudkins: Boxing With The Nebraska Wildcat, 290 pages.

The 1920s was a time in American history when it seemed anything and everything was possible. A time of great promise and upward mobility for those willing to take risks in order to make a better life for themselves and their families. Ace Hudkins was one of those pioneering risk takers.

Athletically gifted as a youth in Nebraska, Hudkins excelled at any sport he attempted - from swimming to running, to baseball to wrestling and eventually boxing. It seemed Ace’s fate was cast early in life to make it as a prizefighter. Alongside his brothers, who served in various capacities throughout what would become a storied boxing career, Hudkins fearlessly set out for parts unknown to conquer the boxing world. What becomes clear in the pages of this book is that Hudkins willed himself to succeed in a sport and a business at that time which summarily chewed up and spat out the faint-hearted. 

Sader’s familiarity with the subject and her in-depth research takes the reader on Hudkins’ swashbuckling adventures from New York City to Chicago to Los Angeles with stops always back home to Nebraska where he was welcomed into the warm arms of his family and feted by adulating crowds. It’s the story of a one-time newsboy from less than humble beginnings who would go on to rub shoulders, befriend and be fawned over by Hollywood actors and actresses and other superstars of the times.

Hudkins made the turn to the paid ranks in 1922 at age 16 and was powered by a youthful, bounding confidence, a never quit constitution and an all-action, aggressive fighting style. He barnstormed through the midwest and within three years he became a must see attraction at the Legion Stadium in Hollywood and the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. His drawing power would later extend nationwide as he engaged in epic battles against the best competition the world had to offer in the most well known stadiums, ballparks and arenas in the United States.

Ace and a furry friend.

One of the central themes is that Ace did not accomplish all he did on his own. His family and his brothers were always watching out for him and guiding him through the shark infested waters of the boxing business. The actual opponent was often a secondary concern as penny-pinching promoters, devious opposing managers and even corrupt boxing officials would invent any angle to protect the champions Hudkins faced. Sader illustrates well that Hudkins’ boxing style was so crowd-pleasing and his personality so endearing that he was a superstar in his own right in a world and a sport at that time which seemed full of superstars.

Sader does an impeccable job of researching her subject with a virtual treasure trove of family pictures, newspaper articles and quirky cartoons unavailable elsewhere. To some extent, the book is written from the standpoint of an extended family member. While Hudkins was certainly an excellent pugilist, he and his brothers were never able to crack the code needed to garner a world championship. It is obviously a subject for debate as to whether Hudkins won fights he was deemed the loser and Sader does manage to present compelling evidence and first-hand accounts to support arguments that Hudkins was indeed robbed of victory on numerous occasions.

A recurring theme throughout the book is family. The Hudkins family relied upon and supported one another all of their lives. Pictures throughout the book show the Hudkins brothers, family and extended family members. Some scenes show a very proud Ace and his family in front of the home he built in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. Ace’s monetary and business success was their success and he was happy to share it with them. During his boxing peak, life was good, money was plentiful and the sun was shining. There were luxurious cars, tailored suits, manicured lawns and landscaped yards. 

For America, for boxing and for his family, Ace Hudkins, the one-time Nebraska newsboy - came along at just the right time.

April 2019