Description
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Abe Attell
Born: February 22, 1883 San Francisco, California
Died: February 7, 1970 (aged 86) New Paltz, New York
Height: 5’4″
Weight: 118-133 lbs
Division: Featherweight
Record:
Total fights: 172
Wins: 125
Wins by KO: 51
Losses: 9
Draws: 21
No contests: 8
Biography:
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 Championfrom 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.
Two of Attell’s brothers, Caesar and Monte, were also boxers. In 1909 when Monte won the bantamweight title, the Attells became the first brothers to hold world championships simultaneously. Abe Attell lost the featherweight title to Johnny Kilbane when he was outpointed in their 20-round match on February 22, 1912. It was his last title fight, but he continued boxing until 1917.
During his career Attell regularly bet on himself in order to increase his earnings, a common practice at that time. After his retirement he became a member of the entourage of gambler Arnold Rothstein. It was through Rothstein that Attell became linked with the fixing of the 1919 World Series in the Black Sox Scandal. Indicted after several Chicago White Sox players testified before an Illinois grand jury that he was involved in fixing games against the Cincinnati Reds, Attell claimed that it was a different Abe Attell, and the charges against him were dropped because of insufficient evidence.
More info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Attell
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abe-Attell
