The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-30
Local SIugger Meets Battling Budd In B. A. c. Ring In First Big Fight

Erin go Bragh! Johnny McGinty is ready for the crucial test of his life. And the Muldoons, O'Rafferty's, Null ligan's, O'Brien's and others of the apostrophe ilk, who live, breathe and have their being In Birmingham, are holding their breath expectantly, waiting to see what Monday night will trot forth in the way of laurel wreath for the Irish. The Blarney boys usually use bricks when it comes to something in the nature of fracas. They have always been as thoroughly welded to bricks as the Senegambian of the species has been welded to raZors, but Johnny has de- parted from the ckthrowing pas time to the more renumerative job of box fitting. Tomorrow night he steps into the ring for the most im- portant battle of his career,> and the contest upon which hinges his fu- ture as a pug. Tomorrow night at the Birmingham Athletic club Johnny McGinty takes on Battling Budd ol Atlanta.
 Local fight fans are squirming in their seats and waiting for the ap- pearance of Monday on the scene. They have their hearts set on action and they seem to be reasonably as- sured that they're going to get it. The general concensus of opinion locally is that Jack Bodine, wise in the ways of the ring, would never have taken McGinty under his wing and decided to manage him, If Jack Bodine hadn't been reasonably sure that the Irishman was of the stuff that top-notchers are made of. Jack Is sincere in believeing In the Irish entry, and he isn't bit backward about predicting that McGinty will be heard from in faster circles be- fore the goodly year of 1924 has run it's course.
 In meeting Budd, McGinty goes up against one of the most crafty ring generals that Dixie boasts. Budd has been in the game since 1915 and dur ing that time he has come in cons tact glovologically with some of the best lightweights and welters that the world could trot forth. Naturally. as he waded through the cirriculm of Hardknocks college and got all the little pointers in the school of experi- ence, fe learned whole lot of tricks which will stand him in good stead when he goes against a youngster like McGinty. It's Mack's fourth fight with any pug of note, and he mer which he has yet run across in the squared arena.
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 Many Fans Expected.
 With such a holiday offering for the fans 1t is expected that capacity house will pack and jam itself into the club gymnasium tomorrow night. as it has been pointed out that the advance seat sale has been excep- tionally heavy and the contest has caused more talk and more enthu- siasm than any fight staged here in months.
 With such a headliner to offer it does look like club officials would have rested on their laurels. but such was not the case. They went after and got an all-star preliminary card as well, and 28 rounds of the swift est boxing seen here in some time is on the menu for Monday night.
 Pat O'Reilly and Larry Frederick will mix it for four fast rounds-or less. Red Ryan and Young Adams are also booked to go over the four round routex as the second number on the program. As the third affair Dave Evans will trot forth little Petey Sarron, who is now hailed as one of the best flyweights in the country. Petey, it is known, will go to Boston to compete in the National Amateur tournament and if he Is suc- cessful there he stands chance to get on the Olympic team atd ship aboard for the Olympic contests Sarron is booked to mix it for four rounds with Tony Mareno.
 The semi-windup will be fought out on the six-round basis with Bat ting Spark Plug ana Bogie Saab furnishing the thrills. 1t is the first time that Saab Ns appeared here in months, having been in the east grabbing off some laurels as a pre- liminary boy.
 Looking at it from this angle the Monday night affair promises to be of the corker variety and the very best that the club has staged in many moons.