Herbie Kronowitz
Encyclopedia
Herbert "Herbie" Kronowitz, originally Theodore "Ted" Kronowitz (born ca. 1923), 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. He resides in Bensonhurst, in his native Brooklyn, New York.
Kronowitz adopted his brother's name, "Herbie", when he began to box as an amateur
at the age of fifteen. He said that since elementary school
he had wanted to be a professional fighter. As a youth, Kronowitz met Ben Jeby
, the 1933 middleweight champion, when the Kronowitz family moved around the corner from Jeby, who became Kronowitz's role model in boxing.
In 1947, Kronowitz was ranked tenth in the world among middleweights. In March, he faced Artie Levine
at Madison Square Garden
in New York City
. The crowd of 12,000 was said to have been enthralled during the 10-round battle between the two Jewish fighters. Levine won the decision, although Kronowitz claimed that while Levine "won the decision. There was no question that I won the fight." Kronowitz fought the top contenders in the middleweight division. He lost to Rocky Castellani
and Vinnie Cidone in decisions. Among boxers that he defeated were Harold Green, Billy Walker, Jerry Fiorello, and Pete Mead
, a native of Trumann, Arkansas
, who died in 2007.
On his retirement at the age of twenty-seven, Kronowitz had won fifty-four (nine by knockout) of eighty-three career decisions. There were also five draws. Reflecting on his decade
in the ring, Kronowitz said: "The thing about boxing is that it gave every one of us everything we have. I don't mean just money. It taught us how to live, how to act, how to eat, how to be physically fit. It opened doors to places that we never could have gotten into. Some made more money than others, but every boxer looks at his career as the most important experience in his life."
Kronowitz worked as a referee from 1955 to 1984. He is a member of the "Ring 8" board of directors.
Kronowitz served in the United States Coast Guard
during World War II
. Two of his brothers served overseas, and his younger brother was killed in the Battle of the Bulge
in Belgium
.
Kronowitz is featured in the Jewish exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York
at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street in Manhattan.
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...
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 in the ring from 1941 to 1950. After his boxing career ended, Kronowitz was a highly-regarded referee for nearly thirty years. He resides in Bensonhurst, in his native Brooklyn, New York.
Kronowitz adopted his brother's name, "Herbie", when he began to box as an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
at the age of fifteen. He said that since elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
he had wanted to be a professional fighter. As a youth, Kronowitz met Ben Jeby
Ben Jeby
Ben Jeby , was an American world champion middleweight champion boxer from the Lower East Side of New York City.Jeby was Jewish, and one of a number of Jewish title-holders of the time...
, the 1933 middleweight champion, when the Kronowitz family moved around the corner from Jeby, who became Kronowitz's role model in boxing.
In 1947, Kronowitz was ranked tenth in the world among middleweights. In March, he faced Artie Levine
Artie Levine
Artie Levine is a former American boxer in the middleweight and light heavyweight 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,...
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
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The crowd of 12,000 was said to have been enthralled during the 10-round battle between the two Jewish fighters. Levine won the decision, although Kronowitz claimed that while Levine "won the decision. There was no question that I won the fight." Kronowitz fought the top contenders in the middleweight division. He lost to Rocky Castellani
Rocky Castellani
Attilio N. "Rocky" Castellani was an American boxer. He was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to Attilio Castellani and Rose Isopi Castellani , who later moved to Margate City, formerly South Atlantic City, in Atlantic County in eastern New Jersey...
and Vinnie Cidone in decisions. Among boxers that he defeated were Harold Green, Billy Walker, Jerry Fiorello, and Pete Mead
Pete Mead
Felix G. "Pete" Mead was an American middleweight boxer who fought in the ring from 1942 to 1951. He was defeated in his last fight by Rocky Graziano of New York City. In 1989, Mead wrote his autobiography, Blood, Sweat and Cheers, a collector's item that can sell for as much as $135...
, a native of Trumann, Arkansas
Trumann, Arkansas
Trumann is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,889 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Trumann is located at ....
, who died in 2007.
On his retirement at the age of twenty-seven, Kronowitz had won fifty-four (nine by knockout) of eighty-three career decisions. There were also five draws. Reflecting on his decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
in the ring, Kronowitz said: "The thing about boxing is that it gave every one of us everything we have. I don't mean just money. It taught us how to live, how to act, how to eat, how to be physically fit. It opened doors to places that we never could have gotten into. Some made more money than others, but every boxer looks at his career as the most important experience in his life."
Kronowitz worked as a referee from 1955 to 1984. He is a member of the "Ring 8" board of directors.
Kronowitz served in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Two of his brothers served overseas, and his younger brother was killed in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Kronowitz is featured in the Jewish exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street in Manhattan.