Evening star., 1928-06-19
MICKEY FAvOR|TE
AT ODDS OF S5
Thursday Scrap Due to Pro.
duCe Thrills, With Pro-
m0ter SureSt Winner.
BY the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, June 19.-Confident and
in top form, Mickey Walker and his
challenger, Ace Hudkins OF Nebraska,
had their final strenuous workouts be-
fore them today in preparation for their
lo-round middleweight title match at
Comiskey Park Thursday night.
Both will rest tomorrow, confining
their training to light exercises.
Walker already Is under the cham
pionShip limit of l60 pounds, his trainer
reported, while the Nebraska Wildcat,
who for the first time in his career does
not have to worry over making weight
Is down to 154 pounds. They both en-
gagged in fast and furious sparring
workouts yesterday, Hudkins knocking
out one of his mates, Dixie Kid, a Chi
| cago negro light Heavyweight, in less
than round.
While the champion was an 8-to-5
betting favorite today, general opinion
among the boxers and rail birds ap-
pears almost evenly divided on the out
| come. For instance, Benny Yanger,
known two decades ago as the Upton
Lasher, picks Walker to win because
Of his straight body punches and in
| genious defense. Billy Papke, former
| middleweight champion, picks HudkinS
He favors the Ace because of his youth
and endurance, and forecasts certain
victory for the challenger If the fight
goes beyond five rounds.
Promoter Surest Winner.
Barring series of rainy nights, all
are agreed. however, the surest winner
will be Promoter Jim Mullen. Advance
sales already are at the S130,00O mark.
Mullen said. and last-day rush is ex-
| pected to bring the sale to $l75.0 900.
Many national notables have made
reservations. Among them are Mayor
Jimmy Walker of New York. several
| golf stars here for the national open,
| Jack Dempsey. Jim Jeffries former Gov
Charles A. Bryan of Nebraska, Mai
Jim Dahlman of Omaha, Gov. Len
Small and many movie stars.
| The greatest middleweight fight
since the stirring battles between Stan.
ley Ketchel and Billy Papke 20 years
ago is expected when Walker and
HudkinS clash. 1t is regarded as the
outstanding middleweight affray of the
decade, both from the standpoint OF
gate receipts and furious action. ths
prospect being that the fight may enc
In quick, spectacular. knockout.
Hudkins is rated as the most dan.
gerouS man Walker ever has faced il
the ring. The NebraSkan is a fighter
Of the Battling Nelson type. No
overly clever, he can absorb a tire.
mendouS amount of punishment anC
besides he Is no trifiing puncher him
self. Ace is the kind Of fighter whG
either gatS knocked out or knocks ou
his opponent. And he never has beer
stretched out on the canvas for tn,
count
Il The closest Hudkins ever came Il
being knocked out was a technical yer,
dict awarded Sergt. Sammy Baker II
their fight year ago. Baker cut Hud
kins' eye. and the fight was stopped
!. when it was feared the injury woulS
prove serious. Hudkins later avengeS
! his defeat by giving Baker a sound lac
ing.
Ace Crowds In Close.
The Wildcats favorite style of fight
ling is to crowd in close. place his facs
against his opponents chest and smash
! away with both hands to the body anc
, the face. His punches, while of q
/ swinging nature. are not easily blocked
as they come from all directions. Hud.