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.
Professional career
Notable opposition
Levinsky was a rated heavyweight whose biggest wins came against ex-heavyweight championJack 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.
Marketability
A May 1932Time Magazinearticle stated: "If you defined the efficiency of a prize-fighter by his ability in the ring, Harry Krakow 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 Levy. Known as "Leapin Lena", she was a colorful character who swore like a sailor, and rooted loudly for her brother during his bouts. Esquiremagazine, in its February 1939 issue, included an article profiling his new career as a professional wrestler.
