"____ Palooka" (3)
I believe the answer is:
joe
'palooka' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for joe that I've seen before include "- Bloggs; - Public" , "--- Gargery (Great Expectations)" , "Short for Joseph" , "-- Bloggs, ordinary man" , "-- Orton, playwright" .)