Abrams, Georgie

A Hall of Fame fighter, Abrams was an outstanding middleweight contender in the early 1940s, who faced such great boxers as Tony Zale, Billy Soose and the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson -- Robinson once said that Abrams gave him his toughest bout! During his career, Georgie faced eight former or future champions.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. November 11, 1918 - d. July 5, 1994

Career Highlights:
Abrams began his professional career in 1937 and won his first 17 bouts before being knocked out by Jimmy Jones in the fifth round of a bout in March 1938. In his first two years as a professional, Georgie fought primarily out of Washington, D.C., but then shifted to New York City in 1939. After defeating former world welterweight champ Lou Brouillard in 10 rounds in June 1939, Abrams went on to win 20 of his next 23 fights (with 2 losses and 1 draw). An excellent boxer, Georgie had speed and mixed his punches well, but with little power -- he had only 9 knockouts during his career.

In 1941, the middleweight championship was vacated. Abrams, who was New York's No. 1 contender, dispatched former champ Billy Soose in 10 rounds in July to set up a title bout with the great Tony Zale in November. Georgie's speed and hit-and-run style gave Zale problems from the start, as Abrams knocked him down in the first round. After an accidental head butt opened a cut over Georgie's eye in the second round, though, Zale took over the fight. A superior boxer and fighter, Zale's constant body blows eventually won him the fight, although Abrams did hurt Zale in the eighth round. Still, it was not quite enough to win. The bout went the distance (15 rounds), and Zale was awarded the decision and the middleweight crown.

Abrams continued to fight following his defeat, but he never got another title shot. With only one fight in 1942, Abrams did not fight again until 1946. After winning three of five fights that year (he lost a 10-round decision against Hall of Famer Marcel Cerdan), he faced Sugar Ray Robinson in May 1947, in Robinson's first appearance in New York City since winning the world welterweight crown the previous December. Abrams gave Sugar Ray, considered by many to be the greatest fighter in history, a tough bout, but lost the 10-round decision. Georgie fought three more fights, but lost them all and retired in 1948. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.

Origin:
Norfolk, Virginia

Physical description:
5'9", 156-162 pounds

Career Statistics:
Professional record:
Wins: 48 (9 by knockout)
Losses: 10
Draws: 3

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