Abe Atell
| Abe Attell | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Abraham Washington Attell |
| Nickname(s) | The Little Hebrew |
| Weight(s) | Featherweight |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Reach | 66 in (168 cm) |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Born | February 22, 1883 San Francisco, California |
| Died | February 7, 1970 (aged 86) New Paltz, New York |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 172 |
| Wins | 125 |
| Wins by KO | 51 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 21 |
| No contests | 8 |
Abraham Washington "Abe" Attell (February 22, 1883 – February 7, 1970), often referred to by newspapers as "The Little Hebrew", was a boxer who became known for his record-setting, six year consecutive reign as World Featherweight Champion from 1906-1912, and his nearly consecutive ten-year reign starting in 1902. Said to be a friend of the gangster Arnold Rothstein, Attell was charged with game fixing in the Black Sox Scandal in 1919, but the charges were dismissed before trial. He also was suspected of other infractions including fixing fights, and using drugs during a fight.
Attell was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Jewish parents. Many sources give his year of birth as 1884, but in an article published in the October 1961 issue of Cavalier magazine, he stated that he had turned 78 that year. A copy of his passport also gives his birth year as 1883, and the 1900 U.S. Census gives his age as 17. Growing up in a mostly Irish neighborhood, he was often involved in fights with neighborhood boys. He said as a kid, he sometimes had up to 10 bouts each day. After his father abandoned the family when Attell was 13, he sold newspapers to earn money. Selling at the corner of 8th and Market, near the Mechanics Pavilion, a frequent venue for important boxing matches, Attell watched the fight between Solly Smith and George Dixon for the world's Featherweight championship. With that, Attell and his brothers Caesar and Monte became convinced they might have futures in boxing.
Attell's first fight was at age 17 on August 19, 1900, when he knocked out Kid Lennett in two rounds at the San Francisco Athletic Club. His mother, who strongly opposed his boxing, later became one of his staunchest supporters, betting on him to win.
After winning 10 fights in a row by knockout, Attell moved to Denver, Colorado. At the age of 18, he fought George Dixon for the World Featherweight championship and beat him in a 15-round decision. In 1904 he beat Johnny Reagan in 20 rounds. One year later, he lost the crown to Tony Sullivan but regained it in February 1906 with a decision over Jimmy Walsh.
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