Favorite Jewish boxers?

Zab’s dad was a Hebrew Israelite, which is distinctly not the same as being Jewish. Idk if Zab practiced Judaism at one point, but he’s a Christian now like you said.

 

Thanks! I actually wasn't very familiar with Seeman, just happened to have read an article about him recently. Sounds like one hell of a fighter!

 

He was fantastic. And I love that he gets love on these boards because he deserves it.

 

Me too

 

James Toney

 

I looked for "The other thread" in the search box and nothing popped up.
Anyway this thread has kind of grown on me so ill give a shout out for Munir Abu-Keshek who won the bronze medal in the 2002 asian games....oh wait i think he is Palestinian.

 

That Driscoll was reported as having outboxed Attell in a 10-round no decision bout whilst Abe was the champion, is certainly true.

How much you hold that against Attell is up to you. Attell had 150 fights and lost newspaper decisions to lesser fighters than the great Driscoll. When you're champion, fighting that often & a KO loss in a no-decision bout could still see your perceived champion status lost, it's feasible you'd not go all out to "win" the newspaper decision, but rather ensure you weren't at risk of being KO'd and save your best efforts for when your title is on the line in decision bouts. That said, I do consider this a win for the outstanding Driscoll, it boosts his standing in my view and slightly detracts from Attell's.

According to my notes, allowing for slightly over the weight non title contests, I estimate Attell as having gone 107-10-20 in bouts contested at FW.

Including newspaper decisions (NWS), I consider he only lost 5 x fights at FW in or around his prime years - Jack McClelland (who didn't weigh in, so I can't be certain this was a FW contest), Tommy Sullivan (Attell claimed a foul (low blow from memory) & indeed many continued to consider him the FW champion after this loss on that basis, but the official winner was Sullivan), Tommy O'Toole in a 6-round NWS, Jim Driscoll 10-round NWS (my #15 all time at FW) & Johnny Kilbane (my #8 all time FW. Attell had already beaten Kilbane & this was probably past Abe's absolute peak).

His world title record is incredible - 24-3-3 (I don't consider his loss to the 128lbs Freddie Welsh as a world title fight because Welsh was overweight), of the 3 x defeats, he lost to the excellent Benny Yanger when he was only 19 before he became champion, there's the controversial loss to Sullivan and the loss past his peak against the great FW Johnny Kilbane.

Whilst a few of Attell's title defences were against unworthy challengers, his FW win resume is outstanding & he beat a past prime George Dixon (my #6 all time FW), Johnny Kilbane, the great Owen Moran x 2, Harry Forbes x 3, Jimmy Walsh x 4 and Charley White x 2.

I rank him #4 all time at FW, based on only fights in that division, again allowing a little bit for over the weight non-title contests.

 

Benny Leonard and Barney Ross are my two favourite Jewish boxers ever. And they are the two best Jewish boxers as well.
Leonard, the greatest lightweight of all time and top 10 p4p all time and Ross, a great lightweight, junior welter and welterweight, a top 20 all time p4p.

 

I rate Driscoll at #15 at FW, based on fights contested in that division (making allowances for slightly over the weight non-title contests). i.e. his wins up at LW, which were significant, don't factor into my ranking. I'd rank him higher p4p, based on their entire respective careers, then several of the fighters I rank above him at FW.

Yes, that's correct. Driscoll went home back to Wales not long after his newspaper "win" in their no-decision bout, to box in an event organised to raise money for local orphans. When he returned to the States, Memphis Pal Moore was considered to have gotten the better of him in another no-decision bout & so he returned to Wales again, where Freddie Welsh falsely led him to believe he was in poor health and needed a purse to pay his medical bills, yet when they fought, Welsh's trick became apparent & Driscoll got DQ'd for head butting Welsh in frustration/disgust.