In the heart of San Francisco, amidst the bustling streets of an Irish neighborhood, a young Abraham ‘Abe’ Attell, later known as ‘The Mighty Hebrew,’ found his calling. Born into a poor family in 1884, Attell’s life took a dramatic turn when his father deserted them, leaving young Abe to fend for his family. Selling newspapers on street corners, Attell’s life changed forever when he witnessed the featherweight title bout between the legendary George ‘Little Chocolate’ Dixon and Solly Smith in 1897. The ring, the crowd, the intensity—it all called out to him, promising a life far removed from the hardships he faced daily.
Abe Attell decided to step into the world of prizefighting, seeing it as an opportunity to secure a better future. The risks were high, but the rewards were higher. By the age of 17, Attell was already a champion, proving his mettle in the ring. His brothers, Monte and Caesar, followed suit, choosing the path of pugilism. Together, Abe and Monte made history as the first brothers to hold world titles simultaneously, a testament to their skill and determination.
Attell’s professional career began in 1900, and from the start, he was a force to be reckoned with. In his first year, he knocked out all but one of his opponents, showcasing his raw power and unyielding spirit. ‘When I started, I was only sixteen,’ Attell later recalled, ‘and I thought the easy way was to knock ’em out. I was a conceited fighter. I thought I could lick anybody. For a long time, I was right.’
However, Attell’s style evolved over time. He transitioned from a knockout artist to a more cerebral and technical fighter, drawing inspiration from James J. Corbett and Dixon. He incorporated defense and footwork into his game, becoming a versatile and unpredictable combatant. ‘The light dawned,’ Attell recollected. ‘A fellow could be a prizefighter and not get hurt, provided he was smart enough. I learned that lesson way back in 1900, and I remembered it until I quit boxing in 1915.’
Over his fifteen-year career, Attell built a legacy as one of the greatest featherweights to ever step into the ring. Just nine months into his professional journey, he faced his inspiration, ‘Little Chocolate’ Dixon, in Denver. The bout ended in a draw, but Attell’s determination was unwavering. A rematch two months later yielded the same result, but a week after that, Attell, still four months shy of his eighteenth birthday, battled Dixon a third time. This time, he emerged victorious, winning by a fifteen-round decision to claim the world featherweight title.
In the early twentieth century, the boxing world was a complex landscape where multiple fighters could claim the title of champion in a given division. Attell’s journey was just beginning, and his story would continue to unfold in the annals of boxing history, marking him as a true legend of the sport.
Team_TBE Boxing
🛒 Premium Recommendations
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max, 14‑core CPU, 32‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 36GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max, 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 48GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black Visit the Apple Store
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.