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King Levinsky

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Real name
  
Harris Krakow

Nationality
  
American

Height
  
1.8 m

Stance
  
Orthodox stance

Reach
  
74 in (188 cm)

Role
  
Boxer

Total fights
  
117

Rated at
  
Name
  
King Levinsky

Division
  
Heavyweight

Nickname(s)
  
Kingfish Levinsky

Wins
  
75

Martial art
  
Boxing


King Levinsky staticboxreccomthumbeeeLevinskyK2jpg300px

Born
  
September 10, 1910 (
1910-09-10
)

Died
  
September 30, 1991, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Jack dempsey vs king levinsky


King Levinsky (10 September 1910 – 30 September 1991), also known as Kingfish Levinsky, was an American heavyweight boxer who fought during the 1930s. He was born Harris Kraków and was a member of the Kraków fish-selling family of Maxwell Street, in Chicago's old Jewish ghetto.

Contents

King Levinsky wwwjosportsinccomitemimages1206106507jpg

DiFilm - Max Baer derrota a King Levinsky 1934


Notable opposition

King Levinsky Boxer King Levinsky Buy Photos AP Images DetailView

Levinsky was a rated heavyweight whose biggest wins came against ex-heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey on a 10-round decision, and ex-lightheavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, also on a decision. He was defeated twice by Primo Carnera, and also lost to Max Baer. Although he never fought for the title, Levinsky faced all of the top fighters of his era.

King Levinsky News Clipping 1244 Dempseys 74000 Exhibition Jack Dempsey vs

Levinsky is best remembered for "freezing" in his fight with Joe Louis, who knocked him out in the first round. On February 18, 1931, Levinsky also fought a 4-round exhibition with Jack Dempsey. Dempsey had embarked on a tour of exhibition bouts and was contemplating a comeback. The Levinsky fight convinced him that he was through as a fighter.

Marketability

King Levinsky First Reported Female Boxing Manager of King Levinsky 1929 Women

A May 1932 Time Magazine article stated: "If you defined the efficiency of a prize-fighter by his ability in the ring, Harry Krakow ('Kingfish Levinsky') would not rate better than tenth among U. S. heavyweights. Last year he had 15 fights, won only eight. If you defined efficiency as a fighter's ability to earn money at his trade, Kingfish Levinsky might rank as best fighter in the U. S. In the last 15 months, gates at his fights with Slattery, Griffiths, Camera, Paulino and an exhibition bout against Jack Dempsey have amounted to $254,124.68. He may this year earn more than Schmeling, Sharkey, Dempsey, Camera or Schaaf. Kingfish Levinsky's earning power is due partly to an engaging slapstick manner in the ring, an engaging entourage.... It is due partly to the fact that most of Levinsky's fights have been in Chicago, where everyone knows that he grew up on the West Side and entered the fish-peddling business with a pushcart on Maxwell Street."

King Levinsky Max Baer KOs King Levinsky This Day December 28 1934 YouTube

For a portion of his career, Levinsky was managed by his sister Lena (Kraków) Levy. Known as "Leapin Lena", she was a colorful character who swore like a sailor, and rooted loudly for her brother during his bouts. Esquire magazine, in its February 1939 issue, included an article profiling his new career as a professional wrestler.

Life after boxing

Some remember Levinsky as the punch drunk old ex-prizefighter selling ties and watches in front of his sister's fish market on Maxwell Street in Chicago and on the streets of Miami Beach, Florida. He was reputed to have offered to sell Herbert Hoover a "hot" watch. Before the first Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight in 1964, Levinsky would heckle Clay telling him that he had no chance, but not to worry because after the Liston fight they could sell ties together. Clay then went on to shock the world by defeating Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship. Levinsky is mentioned by name in The Honeymooners episode, "TV Or Not TV".

Levinsky was married to fan dancer Roxana Sand for just over a month in 1934.

References

King Levinsky Wikipedia