Regular readers know about our aversion to unimaginative Jewish sporting nicknames. We will not name the biggest offender here (it starts with "Heb" and ends with "ammer"). Instead, we will talk about heavyweight boxer Abe Simon.

As we discussed previously, there have never been many high-level Jewish heavyweights. Even when Jewish boxing was at its peak, landsmen excelled at smaller weight classes. (There is a reason Jewish mothers keep begging their sons to eat.) The one exception is Max Baer. (Who didn't have a Jewish mother, so perhaps that explains it.)

Another exception is Abe Simon. Unlike Baer, he did not become world champion, but he got close twice. Sadly, he had to content with one of the greatest boxers ever, Joe Louis, on both occasions. Simon lost title bouts by TKO in 1941 and 1942.

Simon's nickname?

"The Ape."

On second thought, "Hebrew Hammer" doesn't sound too bad...