King Levinsky
Encyclopedia
King Levinsky 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
.
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.
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.
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."
For a portion of his career, Levinsky was managed by his sister Lena (Krakow) 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, wrote an article profiling his new career as a professional wrestler.
Some remember Levinsky as the punch drunk old ex-prizefighter selling ties and watches 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
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
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
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's old Jewish ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
.
Levinsky was a rated heavyweight whose biggest wins came against ex-heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey
Jack Sharkey
Jack Sharkey was an American heavyweight boxing champion. He was born Joseph Paul Zukauskas , the son of Lithuanian immigrants, in Binghamton, New York but moved to Boston, Massachusetts as a young man...
on a 10-round decision, and ex-lightheavyweight champion Tommy Loughran
Tommy Loughran
Thomas Patrick Loughran was the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world.Loughran's effective use of coordinated foot work, sound defense and swift, accurate counter punching is now regarded as a precursor to the techniques practiced in modern boxing...
, also on a decision. He was defeated twice by Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera was an Italian boxer, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, who became the world heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
, and also lost to Max Baer. Although he never fought for the title, Levinsky faced all of the top fighters of his era.
Levinsky is best remembered for "freezing" in his fight with Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, who knocked him out in the first round. On February 18, 1931, Levinsky also fought a 4-round exhibition with Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
. 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.
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."
For a portion of his career, Levinsky was managed by his sister Lena (Krakow) 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
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine, in its February 1939 issue, wrote an article profiling his new career as a professional wrestler.
Some remember Levinsky as the punch drunk old ex-prizefighter selling ties and watches on the streets of Miami Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He was reputed to have offered to sell Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
a "hot" watch. Before the first Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
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
Roxana Sand
Roxana Sand was an erotic dancer and fan dancer whose performance at Minsky's Burlesque, in August 1936, resulted in a crackdown on burlesque shows in New York City...
for just over a month in 1934