Al Tavares lived in Lowell, Massachusetts most of his life. He worked there in textile mills from his youth, and began boxing as a teenager, using the name Al Mello. Known as “the Stocky Portuguese Battler” Mello turned professional in 1925. He lost three of his first four fights, but persevered and fought as a professional through 1931, finishing with a career record of 37 wins, 10 losses, with 18 knockouts. He defeated the brothers Vince and Joe Dundee, both former world welterweight champions, but neither was a title bout. After his retirement Mello ran Al Mello’s Restaurant in his hometown of Lowell.
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