Name: King Levinsky Career Record: click Alias: Kingfish Levinsky Birth Name: Harris Krakow Nationality: US American Birthplace: New York, NY Hometown: Chicago, IL Born: 1910-09-10 Died: 1991-09-30 Age at Death: 81 Height: 5' 11 Reach: 74 inches Trainer: Whitey Ekwert Managers: Lena Levy, Harold Steinman

According to the January 23, 1932 Bellingham Evening News newspaper (of Bellingham, WA, USA), Lena Levy ("The Leaping Lena"), his sister, was his manager at that time.

In Sept., 1934, his wife sought a divorce on grounds of cruelty. She was fan dancer Roxanne Carmine (nee Golda Glickman). They had been married only five weeks.

Engaged in what was billed at the first "mixed bout" November 19, 1935, with wrestler Ray Steele at St. Louis, Missouri. Steele pinned Levinsky, who was wearing the conventional six- ounce gloves and his opponent, at 35 seconds in the first round of the scheduled ten- rounder. The crowd of 12,000 booed at the close of the "battle."

Featured on the cover of the May 1934 The Ring magazine.The King was a fixture on South Beach during the 1960s. He sold ties on the street corner near the 5th Street Gym. The King developed a very aggressive sales style; needless to say, he always sold his ties.

Syracuse Herald 8 August 1935 Louis –v- Levinsky

Louis Whips Levinsky ; Baer Is Next

Negro Star Hits His Foe Only 6 Times To Win Fight

Levinsky, Thrice Downed, Begs Referee to Stop

First Round Attack Lasted 21-3 Minutes

Spectators Hardly Realize Battle Is on When It Ends

King Levensky hunted up his old haunts along Maxwell Street today and asked for the current, wholesale quotations on fish. His once booming voice was stilled to a whisper. His wide, cocksure grin was gone. The ol' fish peddler was definitely through as a contender for the world's heavyweight boxing championship, blasted from the big puddle by the Brown Bomber from Detroit, .

In was little fish for the big Kingfish.

Six of his copyrighted punches and two minutes and 21 seconds of firing - a minute and 32 seconds less than needed to do the same thing last December - were all that the 21- year-old Negro heavyweight sensation required to drape the hulking, battered form of the Kingfish on the ring ropes at Comiskey Park, horne of the White Sox. last night.

To the utter amazement of the vast throng of 39,195 stunned spectators, the Kingfish was hooked, chilled and pleading to referee Norman McGarrlty for mercy almost before they had settled In their seats.

There were a few hoots from those who called the once glorious fish peddler "yellow" because he never appeared to try, but what the King took and saw probably would have scared many a fighting man into retreat. Louis, a cool, deliberate killer with dynamite In each fist. Measured his retreating foe for a few fleeting seconds and then pumped his deadly blows to the head and body, getting only one wild, ineffective smash on the side or his head in return.

Three times the Kingfish was battered to the canvas, but he stumbled to his sagging feet each time until the Brown Bomber ripped In two vicious left hooks to the body that sent- him down to stay. A pitiful figure, dazed and forlorn, he squatted on the bottom rope, unable to move his paralyzed legs.

"Don't let him hit me again, don't let him," he pleaded with the referee. "I'm through." As the statuesque Negro stood in his corner, receiving a tumultuous ovation from the crowd, referee McGarity and Levinsky's handlers helped the fallen Kingfish to his corner, where his manager, Harold Steinman, stood with blank amazement written over his face. He had trained his fighter for almost a month end had him down to his best fighting weight of 197 ¾ , or ¾ of a pound less than Louis. Levinsky hadn't lasted a round, suffering his most ignominious defeat in what-was known, to be his last stand.

Louis and his managers, elated over the result and the crowd that paid $192,906.50 to see the "Levinsky massacre." immediately went Into huddles with three groups, who seek to match Louis, winner of 24 straight fights since he turned professional a little more than a year ago, against Baer In September.

The three promotional factions after a Baer-Louis fight were the 20th. Century Sporting Club of New York, led by Mike Jacobs; Joe Foley and George Goetz of Chicago, who promoted last night's fight with the aid of Jacobs, and the Chicago Stadium Corporation.

"None of us know yet where the fight will take place." said Hoffman, Baer's manager, "but It's a cinch to be closed and It will be fought on either Sept. 25 or 28 In New York or Chicago. If It's here, It undoubtedly will be at Soldier Field. That .knockout punch of Louis against Baer should be worth a crowd Of 100,000 at Soldier Field With a $25 top. Louis? Sure he's good, but I don't think he'll last against Max. Max Isn't Levinsky or Primo Camera, you -know."

.With lively bidding for the proposed match, a definite announcement was expected to be made soon. It is doubtful whether such a fight could get a $25 top In Chicago, but this city probably had the edge, If any. In the dickering.

Several other cities also were reported In the running, but Hoffman and John Roxborough, commander of Louis, said they had no official word from them. However, It was known Roxborough would like to stage One of Louis' forthcoming fights In Detroit his home town.

Louis, winner of 20 of his 24 fights by knockouts and whose foes have averaged 4.- 5 rounds against him said he was anxious to meet Baer. "I hope Mr. Baer now will fight me," he said without a change In expression. "Levinsky only hit me one punch and that never hurt me."My advice to Baer Is to duck." Levinsky said later. "Say, that guy Louis can hit harder than Baer."

Victory Brought $47,061 to Louis and Levinsky $31,374

Two Lightning Blows gives

Joe Louis Another Boost

Up Heavyweight Ladder

Brown Bomber Flashes Left Then Right Against Levinsky’s jaw

To Decide Chicago Bout In First Round

By Grantland Rice

Levinsky, the Chicago fish monger, moved into action against Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber, the King was on the floor. At the end of two minutes and 21 seconds the King had been hammered to the resin three times and as he finally staggered up from the lower ropes Referee Norm McGarrlty stopped the slaughter to keep the King from having the top of his head knocked off. More than 40,000 spectators paid In something like $200,000 to see less than three minutes of action as the sensational Negro fighter from Alabama and Detroit again proved his place ns one of the great fighters of all time.

As Louis was bouncing Levinsky. Of the canvas with a bewildering swirl Of punches, Hoffman, Baers manager, looked upon the annihilation with frowning eyes. For Hoffman expects to send Max Baer against the deadly Bomber late in September with all the arrangements to be completed in the next few hours.

Last winter Baer knocked out Levinsky in two rounds, but tonight the killing Bomber Just doubled Baer's knockout speed. Levinsky, weighing 107 ¾ pound, looked to be In perfect physical condition as he stepped out to meet the bomber's first attack.

For the first 20 seconds the two fiddled around the ring, Louis wearing the same dead pan, unconcerned expression with the King, deadly serious for a change. He seemed to sense that he was on his way to the guillotine.

At the end of 20 seconds Louis started his attack. Moving around after the fashion of a Jungle cat, the Bomber moved into quicker action. As he came In Levinsky threw a right hand. With A flick of his head that was almost too fast for the eye to follow Louis slipped by the punch and nailed Levinsky with a left and a right that landed less than a second apart. Down went Levinsky. At the count of three he came to his feet with a pair of quivering legs, Louis made no attempt to rush the Job.

His dead pan expression remained unchanged. He began stalking the retreating Levinsky, waiting for the next opening, and when it came another rapid flurry of lightning leather sent the King crashing again .upon the back of his broad neck.

Once again Levinsky was too badly dazed and muddled to take the count as he came up at the count of four. Again the stalking started and within a few seconds, the big Chicago fishmonger was once more bouncing around on the floor. Another wallop left him sitting on the lower ropes and as he reeled to his feet again completely helpless, referee McGarrity stopped the murder. ..",

Louis once more moved into action with everything that a great fighter needs. There was no waste motion of any sort as he first started stalking Levinsky and when the first opening came the speed and accuracy of his two hands startled the big crowd. All the eye could see was a double leather flash and then a heavy thud as the King crashed. He fell after. the manner of a steel girder tossed from the top of a skyscraper. And when he landed you could see that he was badly hurt. As a rule the Kingfish is ring wise and knows what to do in trouble, but the punches that knocked him down came with the force of a woodman's axe and they landed where It counts. The Kingfish threw but one serious punch, and that was the movement that broke up the fight.

For as Levinsky's right hand was still half way around, Louis was already inside with his left under way. The time of the three counts was 2 5 and 5 in the way of seconds. The King might have given himself more time, but there were too many funny noises buzzing In his block. He had no Idea at the moment whether be was in Chicago, Singapore or Capetown.

As the referee awarded the fight to Louis after little more than two minutes of competition, the crowd paid Louis a noisy tribute In spite of the disappointing show which ended much, too abruptly for any thrills.

It was the thrill you might get from watching a cow tangled up with a buzz saw. Levinsky was completely outclassed by the youngest fighter that ever fought his way to worldwide fame in only a year. Louis came up to every expectation. There was the same surge of speed and power, the same uncanny accuracy, and • the same stolid,., listless look upon his face which never for a spilt second lost its look of full concentration on the evenings job.

The Kokomo Tribune 19 September 1933

Levinsky Wins Decision In Clash With Sharkey

Chicago, Sept. 18

King Levinsky won the decision over , former' worlds heavyweight champion, in a savage ten round battle tonight.It was the first bout Sharkey has fought since he .was knocked out , losing the title, to three months ago.

Fight by rounds:

Round One

Sharkey with a 'sneer on his face came out to hook a left to the Jaw, but they tied up in a clinch. Levinsky threw a left to the body and cut loose with a wild swing to the head. He cracked a right to the jaw and floored Sharkey staggering him and then knocked him down with another right for a count of seven. Sharkey held on when he got up and wrestled to the ropes with Levinsky, Swinging punches from his hips. Sharkey drove a right to the jaw and Levinsky pounded him around the body. They traded body punches in mid ring with Sharkey retreating to the ropes.

Round Two

Sharkey began throwing punches .to the body with the Kingfish circling around him. Levinsky swung another wild right to the head forcing Sharkey to clinch. Levinsky cracked Sharkey with two, more driving the sailor to a corner.

Sharkey teetered on his toes but managed to stay upright Sharkey dug a left to the body and hooked a left to the jaw. Levinsky backed into a corner with a left and right to the head. Sharkey drove short right to the jaw. They Continued to punch after the bell.

Round Three

Sharkey attempted to box at long range but the Kingfish bulled his way in close. Thev slugged furiously in midring. Levinsky hooked a left to the body and caught two lefts in return. Sharkey chased him to a corner and they fought it out on the ropes. Levinsky landed a heavy right to the body and at the bell Sharkey ran to a neutral corner looking for a place to sit down.

Round Four

Sharkey ripped a left to the body. They mauled at close quarters with neither doing Any damage, then Sharkey hooked a left to the jaw that spun Levinsky around. They slugged head to head with Levinsky throwing punches to the body. Sharkey connected with a left and right to the jaw before they tied up in a clinch. Sharkey drove both fists to the body and blocked Levinsky’s returns to the head.

Round Five

Sharkey connected with a left and right to the jaw and took a left hook to the chin. The former champion dug a left hook into foul territory, and Levinsky retaliated with a blow in the same territory . Levinsky connected with a .heavy right to the head that .shook Sharkey to his heels and. Sharkey stabbed Levinsky with four straight lefts to the face. Levinsky landed with a left and right to the body then hit Sharkey with straight, right to the head, waiving for the former champion to come in and fight.

Round Six

Sharkey's first punch was a left hook low. Levinsky missed a right, uppercut and a left to the head. Sharkey countered with-short body punches. Levinsky threw both hands to the body. Sharkey was short with a left to the jaw and then stabbed the Kingfish with two lefts to the face. Levinsky landed a heavy right to the head and then they traded punches on even terms.

Sharkey nailed Levinsky with a right to the jaw and caught a heavy right swing in return. Sharkey connected with left and right to the jaw.

Round Seven

Sharkey charged in with three sharp left hooks to the body and he caught a left hook to the head.. They traded two straight lefts to the face and when Sharkey stepped in he hooked his left to the body.

They slugged it out in midring and Sharkey sneered over Levinsky's shoulder as they were locked in a clinch. Sharkey jabbed two straight lefts to the face and then Levinsky tore into him throwing both hands to the head. Sharkey connected with a left and right to the head as the bell ended the round

Round Eight

Sharkey missed a left to the body and clinched. Jack dug a left hook to the body and. Levlnsky threw both hands to the head Levinsky nailed Sharkey with a heavy right to the jaw that knocked him back on his heels and he invited the sailor to come on and slug.

Sharkey .stepped in and caught another right to the head. Levinsky dropped a right hand shot to the jaw and then repeated. Levinsky drove the ex champion to the ropes under another body attack without return.

Round Nine

They, went into a clinch with Sharkey sending two light lefts to the face. Levinsky stepped in with right and left to the body. Sharkey landed a hard right under, the heart and Levinsky shot a right uppercut to the head. Sharkey jolted the Kingfish with three lefts. Levinsky backed Sharkey into a corner, landing a heavy right to the head. Levinsky again rushed Sharkey to the ropes, outscoring him in their exchanges. Levinsky pinned Sharkey into, a corner and smashed away with both hands, to the head.

Round Ten

They shook hands in mid ring and Sharkey missed a vicious right uppercut. Levinsky again nailed Sharkey with a. looping right to the head' and Sharkey backed away. They clinched and hammered each other around the ribs. Sharkey drove two lefts to the face. The Kingfish appeared to be tiring.

Levinsky suddenly lashed out with a right to the head and left and right to the body. He forced Sharkey to the ropes with heavy swings, Sharkey stabbed two lefts to the face. Levinsky swung lefts the head, Sharkey backing away. Sharkey missed a left and right to the head. Levinsky landed with two rights and three lefts to the Jaw and nearly knocked Sharkey through the ropes. They were in a clinch as the bell sounded.