Name: Abe Attell Alias: The Little Hebrew Birth Name: Abraham Washington Attell Born: 1883-02-22 Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA Died: 1970-02-06 (Age:86) Nationality: US American Hometown: San Francisco, California, USA Boxing Record: click Abraham Washington Attell (born February 22, 1884 in San Francisco, California – died February 6, 1970 in New Paltz, New York), better known in the boxingworld as Abe "The Little Hebrew" Attell, was a boxer who became known for his record-setting period as world Featherweight champion, as well as for his involvement in the Black Sox scandal and other scandals. Attell was Jewish, but he grew up in an Irish neighborhood. Because of that, he often found himself involved in fights, and according to him, he would get involved in as many as 10 bouts each day as a kid. Attell's father abandoned his family when Attell was 13, and Attell had to sell newspapers to support his family. He used to sell them on the streets and corners, and while selling newspapers, he got a chance to witness the fight between Solly Smith and George Dixon for the world's Featherweight championship. With that, Attell and two of his brothers were convinced that maybe they had a future in boxing. Attell's first fight was on August 19, 1900, when he knocked out Kid Lennett in two rounds. His mother, who strongly opposed Attell's idea of being a boxer, later became one of Attell's staunchest supporters, even betting on her son to win. He gained the nickname "The Little Hebrew" in these early fights. Attell won 10 fights in a row by knockout and later moved to Denver, Colorado, where he met Dixon for the world's Featherweight championship in 1903, when Attell was 18. He beat Dixon by a decision in 15 rounds, and became world Featherweight champion. He lost the crown in his second defense, being knocked out in five rounds by Tommy Sullivan. However, he regained the crown from Sullivan by beating him in their rematch by knockout. Attell then went on his streak of 18 defenses in a row (a division record until Eusebio Pedroza broke it in 1985). Attell beat, among others, Battling Nelson and Johnny Kilbane during that streak. His nicknamed changed into the "The Little Champ" during this streak. During his time as a world champion, Attell was allegedly involved with mafiosoArnold Rothstein. According to some legends, they became very good friends during this period. Attell went on to lose his world Featherweight title to Kilbane in 1912, losing by a 20 round decision, in a fight where Kilbane declared that Attell's handlers put a substance on Attell's glove to make Kilbane blind. According to live witnesses, Attell also 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 in his career, Marty Goldman, to a 33 Win (10 ko's), 11 Loss, 3 Draw record in 47 career fights. Attell was involved in one of sport's largest scandals of all time, when he was accused in 1920 of being the messenger between Rothstein and players of the Chicago White Soxbaseball organization, during the planning stages of the alleged fix of the 1919World Series, also known as the Black Sox scandal. Attell's name made it back to the newspaper headlines, and he along with Rothstein and many White Sox players, were formally accused of many charges, including fixing the event. All were eventually found not guilty but banned from participating in baseball activities. Attell subsequently denied being involved in any talks about fixing the series, and he alleged that the wrong Abe Attell was accused. As a consequence, Attell is, alongside Rothstein, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose, one of the few people banned from joining the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was, however, inducted as a member of various halls of fame. Attell had a record of 92 wins, 10 losses, 18 draws and 45 no-decisions, with 51 wins by knockout, making him a member of Ring Magazine's list of fighters with 50 or more knockout wins. Halls of Fame Attell was inducted into the original Boxing Hall of Fame. Attell was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a member of their original class, in 1990. Attell was also inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the San Francisco Boxing Hall of Fame. links http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/attell.htm http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/AbeAttell.htm Attell v Kilbane Published 23 Feb 1912 Johhny Kilbane Given Decision Over Attell In Battle At Los Angeles A new pugilistic champion was made in the Vernon arena yesterday, when Johnny Kilbane of Cleveland, decisively outfought, outgamed and outpunched Abe Attell in a 20 round contest and at' the close was awarded the featherweight title by Referee Charles Eyeton. Nearly. 10,000 persons saw the fight; Fully 500-others were turned away at the gates. This was the greatest crowd that ever viewed a prize fight in Los Angeles. The receipts amounted to approximately $25,000. The men fought for a purse of $10,000, of which Attell was to receive $6,500, win lose or draw and Kilbane $3,500. They agreed to divide evenly the moving picture privilege. Attell was clearly outfought. His boasted speed and wonderful cleverness were not in evidence. Kilbane made him look like a novice in nearly every round. Only in one round, the seventh, did Attell have a lead, that was not, by any means, as decisive as that of Kilbane in the remaining rounds. Attell brought the wrath of the big crowd upon his head by foul tactics. Time and again he would hold Kilbane's arms in a clinch and once, In the' eighth, .he grabbed Kilbane's left arm with both hands and tried to bend it back. In the third he "heeled" the Cleveland boy while in a clinch and in nearly every succeeding round his work called for the hisses from the spectators. In the .seventh after rushing into a clinch to avoid Kilbane’s tattoo on the face and body, Attell butted the Clevelander with his head, opening a great gash over Kilbane’s left eye, from which blood spurted profusely. At the beginning of the sixteenth round referee Eyeton stopped the fight, grabbed a towel and thoroughly wiped off Attell’s body. It was seen to covered with some greasy substance. Attell protested, but the referee paid no attention to him. Kilbane's work was a revelation to even his friends. Entering the ring with the odds 2 to 1 against him, he never faltered for an instant. He fought' fast and showed clever work with his hands and feet. A straight left jab to Attell's nose or sore left eye was his favorite blow. He would send this in, and then, like a flash cross with his right to the other side of Attell's head and jump back out of harm's way. Attell seemed wild throughout the fight, but this was due as much to Kilbane's foot work as to any other cause. Time and again the bewildered Attell' tried in vain to corner the Cleveland man. The decision of Referee Eyeton was received with cheers, and Kilbane was carried from the building on the shoulders of his friends. "I want to telephone to Mary." He said, meaning Mrs. Kilbane. Attell, tired, his face drawn and bleeding, left the ring alone. As he reached the edge of the platform, he said to a friend: "Well I had to stand for it; I couldn't do any better." Fight By Rounds. Round 1 Both men walked slowly to center. After sparring they clinched, and Kilbane got in a hard right to the jaw on the break. For the next minute both men stood in the center and not a blow was exchanged, then they clinched and Kilbane got In a left and a right to the jaw he was quick as lightning. They clinched again and Attell missed a right. Round even. Round 2 Each man tried to feel out his opponent.Kilbane put a vicious left to the jaw and avoided a left counter . Attell did not seem as fast on his feet as Kilbane. The Clevelander landed right and left and avoided returns. He brought blood from Attell's mouth with a straight left. Kilbane again landed two hard lefts to the face, starting the blood flowing. A right to Attell's bad eye nearly closed the optic. It was Kilbane's round. Round 3 They clinched and Kilbane complained to the referee that Attell bent his arm. Attell held on and at the break dodged a vicious left, only to encounter a hard right Each man was fighting rapidly and roughly. In the next clinch Attell was warned for heeling. Kilbane put right and left to the face. The bell rang with the men clinched. Kilbane's round. Round 4 They came to the center slowly and Kilbane jabbed Attell twice.Attell tried to clinch but ran into a hard right. The boy’s clinched and wrestled about the ring. Kilbane was landing three blows to Attell’s one. The crowd “booed” at Attell for holding in a clinch.Attell backing away, motioned for Kilbane to come on, to which the Clevelander responded with a stiff left to the jaw.