Artie Levine
Artie Levine | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arthur Lindsley LeVien January 26, 1925 |
| Died | January 13, 2012 (aged 86)[2] |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Cemetery, Matthews, North Carolina |
| Nationality |  American |
| Other names | Artie |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Middleweight Light Heavyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 72[1] |
| Wins | 52[1] |
| Wins by KO | 36[1] |
| Losses | 15[1] |
| Draws | 5[1] |
Artie Levine (January 26, 1925 – January 13, 2012) was an American boxer in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in the 1940s.[3][4]
Overview
Levine, who was Jewish and from Brooklyn,[5][6][7] was a legitimate contender who flattened 36 opponents with a devastating left hook.
Levine, who stood at 5' 9", 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.
Stolen Glory
On November 6, 1946, Levine challenged Sugar Ray Robinson.[5] 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:
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.
(The Ring, January 1947, page 34)
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 not only boxing history but the designation of its greatest pound-for-pound fighter. On an October, 1974 episode of The Way It Was, a PBS sports nostalgia program, Robinson was present to discuss his 1952 title defense against Rocky Graziano. Late in the program, Ray was asked by host Curt Gowdy, "Who hit you the hardest, in your career?" With a smile, Sugar Ray turned to Graziano, and jogged Rocky's memory of Artie Levine, much to Graziano's amusement. Ray then recounted the effect of the 4th round knockdown, saying, "the first thing I heard (the referee) say, was...was "Five...!", and I said (to myself), 'This guy's startin' off at 5!'" In a career spanning decades and hundreds of fights, this singling out of Levine by a boxing immortal, serves notice of the fighter's punching power.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT-DgrGDWxQ
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.
Fight Stats
His fight record was: W: 52(36 ko's)| L:15 | D:5 | Total 72
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Boxing Fights Records and News. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1369122&fh_id=12124
- ^ When boxing was a Jewish sport. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ Harry Haft: Auschwitz survivor, challenger of Rocky Marciano. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ Day by day in Jewish sports history. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ Jews of Brooklyn. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
External resources
Complete fight record: http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=013083
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