Abe Attell

Abe Attell ( born February 22, 1884 in San Francisco as Abraham Washington Attell, † February 10, 1970 in New Paltz ) was an American boxer.

The Jewish Attell was a counter- boxer who fought mainly in the featherweight. In 1901, he boxed a draw against veteran George Dixon and then won the rematch. But he was widely recognized as a world champion only by victories against Johnny Reagan and Harry Forbes in 1903 and 1904, before he lost shortly thereafter via knockout against Tommy Sullivan. Sullivan saw himself thus as a world champion, Attell noted that both had weighed over the weight limit.

As Attell 1906 Jimmy Walsh struck, he was finally recognized. He succeeded in attaining 21 title defenses, including against Sullivan, Forbes, Kid Herman, Owen Moran and Johnny Kilbane.

1909 also won his younger brother Monte Attell the bantamweight world title. It was the first time that brothers held world titles at the same time.

In February 1912 Abe Attell finally lost his title to Johnny Kilbane. He boxed on for a few years, but without having much success, so he resigned in 1917 from the sport.

He was later accused of being involved in the manipulation of the " World Series " in baseball in 1919, but was just as Arnold Rothstein acquitted for lack of evidence.

The Ring Magazine lists him as the third best featherweight of all time according to Willie Pep and Terry McGovern, before Sandy Saddler and Salvador Sánchez.

1990 was Attell induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.