Battling Levinsky

Barney Williams (better known as Battling Levinsky; born Barney Lebrowitz June 10 1891 – died February 12 1949 in Philadelphia, PA) was light heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Boxing career

World Light-Heavyweight Champion from 1916 to 1920, 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.

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

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.

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 192 (34 KOs), lost 52, drew 34, 9 no-decisions.

In his early career, Levinsky was managed by Fred Douglas (1910-11) and Jack Hanlon (1911-13). Al Lippe managed him in his comeback, 1926-29.

Hall of Fame

Levinsky was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Levinsky, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. [http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/Tables/Sport/Boxing.htm]

References

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* [http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/levinsky.htm Cyber Boxing Zone profile]