Battling Levinsky

Battling Levinsky
Statistics
Real name	Barney Lebrowitz
Rated at	Light Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Reach	70 in (178 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1891-06-10)June 10, 1891 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	February 12, 1949(1949-02-12) (aged 57)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	287
Wins	196
Wins by KO	30
Losses	54
Draws	37

Barney Lebrowitz (June 10, 1891 – February 12, 1949), better known as Battling Levinsky, was the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1916 to 1920.^[1] Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Levinsky as the #12 ranked light heavyweight of all-time, while The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #9.^[2] The International Boxing Research Organization rates Levinsky as the 20th best light heavyweight ever.^[3] He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1966, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame 1982, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000.^[4]

Boxing career

Full-length portrait of Levinsky

Career beginnings

Battling Levinsky began his boxing career under the name Barney Williams. However, he received little attention until he took on a manager named “Dumb” Dan Morgan in 1913, who changed Barney’s name and his boxing fortunes.

Battling Levinsky fought 37 times in 1914 — 9 times in the month of January alone. In January 1915, he began the year with two 10-round bouts on New Year’s Day — 1 each in Brooklyn, New York City and 12 round bout in Waterbury, Connecticut.

World light heavyweight champion

After two title-match losses to light heavyweight champion Jack Dillon, (April 1914 and April 1916), Levinsky wrested the crown from Dillon on October 24, 1916. Fifty-nine bouts later, almost four years to the day, he lost his championship to France’s Georges Carpentier.

Career Record

In an era when boxing titles changed hands only because of a knockout — non-KO championship fights were labeled “no decision” — Levinsky fought all comers, including heavyweight champions to-be Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey (losing both matches). Levinsky loved to fight, although his claim to having fought as many as 500 bouts is impossible to substantiate.

His official professional record: 287 bouts – won 196 (30 KOs), lost 54, drew 37.

In his early career, Levinsky was managed by Fred Douglas (1910–11) and Jack Hanlon (1911–13). Al Lippe managed him in his comeback, 1926–1929.

Personal life

Levinsky's son Stanley was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, WWII. His daughter Harriet, a graduate of West Philadelphia High School, currently resides in Lancaster, PA.

Levinsky died on February 12, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

See also

• List of select Jewish boxers

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Battling Levinsky from BoxRec
• Cyber Boxing Zone profile