Artie Levine
Encyclopedia
Artie Levine is a former American
boxer
in the middleweight
and light heavyweight
divisions in the 1940s.
Levine, who stood at 5' 8", was a right handed slugger, with an orthodox fighting style. His left hook made him a fighter who no one looked forward to facing in the ring. He was trained by Charley Goldman
, the famed trainer of boxing legend Rocky Marciano
.
Levine fought professionally for eight years (1941–49) before retiring at the age of 24.
. Robinson claimed Levine hit him with the hardest punch of his career when he knocked Sugar Ray down and out for a 21-second long count
.
Instead of directing Levine back to his corner, the referee walked him to his corner then returned about 10 seconds later to begin the count on Robinson. Robinson came back and KO'd Levine in the tenth round.
Of the fight, The Ring Magazine wrote:
It is unknown what effect this victory could have had upon both the careers of Levine or Robinson. It is possible to speculate that since Levine had actually knocked Sugar Ray out in this fight that he may have done it again in a rematch, altering the history of boxings greatest pound for pound fighter.
In March 1947, Levine faced Herbie Kronowitz
of Brooklyn in the main event at Madison Square Garden
in New York City. The crowd of 12,000 was said to have been enthralled during the entire 10-round battle between the two fighters. Kronowitz always claimed that he really defeated Levine in the confrontation.
Additional career info: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?t=81457
When Boxing Was a Jewish Sport: http://www.amazon.com/dp/027595353X/
Artie Levine Statistics: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?t=81457
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
in the middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
and light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
divisions in the 1940s.
Overview
Levine, who was Jewish and from Brooklyn, was a legitimate contender who flattened 36 opponents with a devastating left hook.Levine, who stood at 5' 8", was a right handed slugger, with an orthodox fighting style. His left hook made him a fighter who no one looked forward to facing in the ring. He was trained by Charley Goldman
Charley Goldman
Charley Goldman was a famed boxing trainer who trained five world champions. Goldman's most famous pupil was the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, Rocky Marciano....
, the famed trainer of boxing legend Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
.
Levine fought professionally for eight years (1941–49) before retiring at the age of 24.
Stolen Glory
On November 6, 1946, Levine challenged Sugar Ray RobinsonSugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson was an African-American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight...
. Robinson claimed Levine hit him with the hardest punch of his career when he knocked Sugar Ray down and out for a 21-second long count
Long Count
Long Count or Slow count is a term used in boxing. When a boxer is knocked down in a fight, the referee will count over them and the boxer must be on their feet by the count of ten or else is deemed to have been knocked out...
.
Instead of directing Levine back to his corner, the referee walked him to his corner then returned about 10 seconds later to begin the count on Robinson. Robinson came back and KO'd Levine in the tenth round.
Of the fight, The Ring Magazine wrote:
(The Ring, January 1947, page 34)
Sugar ... was almost kayoed in the fourth round. A left hook, followed by a right cross, both to the chin, put (him) down and almost out... Sugar rose unsteadily and called upon all his ring skill and stamina to last out the round...Sugar had several other close calls during the course of the evening. Artie's left hooks and resounding right crosses occasionally found their marks and with telling effect. Robinson's class and body punching were taking their toll from the heavier Levine as the bout progressed. Sugar started the tenth with knockout intent. With the round about two minutes gone, Sugar paralyzed Artie with a right to the solar plexus. Then Sugar became a 'killer,' throwing punches with reckless abandon to both head and body with the result that Artie was beaten to the floor.
It is unknown what effect this victory could have had upon both the careers of Levine or Robinson. It is possible to speculate that since Levine had actually knocked Sugar Ray out in this fight that he may have done it again in a rematch, altering the history of boxings greatest pound for pound fighter.
In March 1947, Levine faced Herbie Kronowitz
Herbie Kronowitz
Herbert "Herbie" Kronowitz, originally Theodore "Ted" Kronowitz , is a retired American middleweight boxer who fought in the ring from 1941 to 1950. After his boxing career ended, Kronowitz was a highly-regarded referee for nearly thirty years...
of Brooklyn in the main event at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City. The crowd of 12,000 was said to have been enthralled during the entire 10-round battle between the two fighters. Kronowitz always claimed that he really defeated Levine in the confrontation.
External resources
Complete fight record: http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=013083Additional career info: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?t=81457
When Boxing Was a Jewish Sport: http://www.amazon.com/dp/027595353X/
Artie Levine Statistics: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?t=81457