Abe Attell
Encyclopedia
Abraham Washington "Abe" Attell (February 22, 1884 – February 7, 1970), known in the boxing
world
as Abe "The Little Hebrew" Attell, was a boxer
who became known for his record-setting six-year reign as World Featherweight Champion. Said to be a friend of the gangster Arnold Rothstein
, Attell was charged (and acquitted) of game fixing in the Black Sox Scandal
in 1919 and was implicated in other sports controversies.
, the son of Jewish parents. 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, where the Mechanics Pavilion was, Attell was able to see 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 that maybe they had futures in boxing.
Attell's first fight was at age 15 on August 19, 1900, when he knocked out Kid Lennett in two rounds. His mother, who strongly opposed his boxing, later became one of his staunchest supporters, betting on him to win. After these early fights, he was called by the nickname "The Little Hebrew".
After winning 10 fights in a row by knockout
, Attell moved to Denver, Colorado
. At the age of 17, he fought with Dixon for the World Featherweight championship in 1901 and beat him by a decision in 15 rounds. He won again in 1904 by beating 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.
Attell successfully defended his title for 18 fights in a row from 1906–1912. (This was a division record until Eusebio Pedroza
surpassed it in 1985). Among other opponents, Attell beat Battling Nelson
and Johnny Kilbane
during that streak. He was then called "The Little Champ". From 1909–1910, his brother Monte Attell, called the "Nob Hill Terror", held the Bantamweight Championship, making them the first brothers to hold world titles simultaneously. Caesar Attell also fought and was called "Two and a Half," for always giving that amount whenever the hat was passed for charity at a boxing event, which he attended faithfully.
During his time as world featherweight champion, Attell was allegedly involved with gambler/gangster Arnold Rothstein
. According to some legends, they became good friends during this period.
Attell lost his world Featherweight title to Johnny Kilbane in 1912, losing by a 20-round decision. Kilbane claimed that Attell's handlers put a substance on the fighter's glove to blind him. According to witnesses, Attell tried an assortment of other illegal methods to win the fight. On July 4, 1913, Attell accidentally hit the referee on the face during a win against Willie Beecher. He finally retired in 1917.
Attell managed one boxer, Marty Goldman
. He coached him to a 33 Win (10 ko's), 11 Loss, 3 Draw record in 47 career fights.
In 1920 Attell was accused of being the messenger between the gangster Rothstein and players of the Chicago White Sox
baseball
organization, during the planning stages of the alleged fix
of the 1919 World Series
. The Black Sox scandal
was considered a major outrage in sports. Attell's name appeared in newspaper headlines related to the scandal. He and many White Sox players were formally charged with several counts, including fixing the event, however Rothstein was never charged.. All were eventually acquitted at trial, but the baseball association banned them from participating in baseball activities. Attell denied having been involved in any talks about fixing the series. He convinced the jury that the wrong Abe Attell was accused.
Attell died in New Paltz, New York
on February 7, 1970.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
as Abe "The Little Hebrew" Attell, was a boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who became known for his record-setting six-year reign as World Featherweight Champion. Said to be a friend of the gangster Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein , nicknamed "The Brain", was a New York businessman and gambler who became a famous kingpin of the Jewish mafia. Rothstein was also widely reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was fixed...
, Attell was charged (and acquitted) of game fixing in the Black Sox Scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
in 1919 and was implicated in other sports controversies.
Life and career
Attell was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, the son of Jewish parents. Growing up in a mostly Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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, where the Mechanics Pavilion was, Attell was able to see the fight between Solly Smith and George Dixon
George Dixon (boxer)
George Dixon was the first black world boxing champion in any weight class, while also being the first ever Canadian-born boxing champion.George was born in Africville, Halifax, Nova Scotia...
for the world's Featherweight championship. With that, Attell and his brothers Caesar and Monte
Monte Attell
Monte "The Nob Hill Terror" Attell , born in San Francisco, California, United States, was a champion boxer.-Early Career:...
became convinced that maybe they had futures in boxing.
Attell's first fight was at age 15 on August 19, 1900, when he knocked out Kid Lennett in two rounds. His mother, who strongly opposed his boxing, later became one of his staunchest supporters, betting on him to win. After these early fights, he was called by the nickname "The Little Hebrew".
After winning 10 fights in a row by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
, Attell moved to Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. At the age of 17, he fought with Dixon for the World Featherweight championship in 1901 and beat him by a decision in 15 rounds. He won again in 1904 by beating Johnny Reagan
Johnny Reagan
Johnny Reagan is a former American college baseball coach. In 36 years as head coach of the Murray State Thoroughbreds, Reagan amassed a record of 776-508-11, including 11 Ohio Valley Conference championships...
in 20 rounds. One year later, he lost the crown to Tony Sullivan
Tony Sullivan
Anthony 'Tony' Sullivan is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the VFL during the 1970s.Sullivan played as a defender and was an important member of the Melbourne team in what was an unsuccessful era for the club. He made his debut in 1967 but never really established...
but regained it in February 1906 with a decision over Jimmy Walsh.
Attell successfully defended his title for 18 fights in a row from 1906–1912. (This was a division record until Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza is a native of Panama who holds two records in boxing: His 19 defenses as world featherweight champion are a record for that division, and his seven years as world champion non-stop are a division record too...
surpassed it in 1985). Among other opponents, Attell beat Battling Nelson
Battling Nelson
Oscar Mathæus Nielsen, also known as Battling Nelson, was a Danish boxer who held the world lightweight championship on two separate occasions...
and Johnny Kilbane
Johnny Kilbane
John "Johnny" Patrick Kilbane was a featherweight boxer in the early part of the 20th century. He held the featherweight title from 1912 to 1923, the longest period in the division's history...
during that streak. He was then called "The Little Champ". From 1909–1910, his brother Monte Attell, called the "Nob Hill Terror", held the Bantamweight Championship, making them the first brothers to hold world titles simultaneously. Caesar Attell also fought and was called "Two and a Half," for always giving that amount whenever the hat was passed for charity at a boxing event, which he attended faithfully.
During his time as world featherweight champion, Attell was allegedly involved with gambler/gangster Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein , nicknamed "The Brain", was a New York businessman and gambler who became a famous kingpin of the Jewish mafia. Rothstein was also widely reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was fixed...
. According to some legends, they became good friends during this period.
Attell lost his world Featherweight title to Johnny Kilbane in 1912, losing by a 20-round decision. Kilbane claimed that Attell's handlers put a substance on the fighter's glove to blind him. According to witnesses, Attell tried an assortment of other illegal methods to win the fight. On July 4, 1913, Attell accidentally hit the referee on the face during a win against Willie Beecher. He finally retired in 1917.
Attell managed one boxer, Marty Goldman
Marty Goldman
Marty Goldman was an American boxer of Jewish descent in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He was managed by Abe Attell out of Brooklyn, New York....
. He coached him to a 33 Win (10 ko's), 11 Loss, 3 Draw record in 47 career fights.
In 1920 Attell was accused of being the messenger between the gangster Rothstein and players of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
organization, during the planning stages of the alleged fix
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
of the 1919 World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. The Black Sox scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
was considered a major outrage in sports. Attell's name appeared in newspaper headlines related to the scandal. He and many White Sox players were formally charged with several counts, including fixing the event, however Rothstein was never charged.. All were eventually acquitted at trial, but the baseball association banned them from participating in baseball activities. Attell denied having been involved in any talks about fixing the series. He convinced the jury that the wrong Abe Attell was accused.
Attell died in New Paltz, New York
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
on February 7, 1970.
Legacy and honors
Attell was inducted posthumously as a member of various halls of fame:- 1955, Boxing Hall of Fame
- 1982, National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame;
- 1983, the International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of FameThe International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
- 1985, San Francisco Boxing Hall of Fame;
- 1990, first class of the International Boxing Hall of FameInternational Boxing Hall of FameThe modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
; and - World Boxing Hall of FameWorld Boxing Hall of FameThe World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
.
- His record of 92 wins, 10 losses, 18 draws and 45 no-decisions, with 51 wins by knockout, earned him a place on the list of Ring Magazine: "Fighters with 50 or More Knockout Wins".
- Bat MastersonBat MastersonWilliam Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph...
, dean of the New York boxing journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s, considered Abe Attell pound for pound the best fighter, outside of Wyatt EarpWyatt EarpWyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
, whom he had ever seen.
External links
- CBZ Record
- Biography at Jewishsports