King Levinsky

King Levinsky (10 September 1910 – 30 September 1991), also known as Kingfish Levinsky, was an American heavyweight boxer who fought during the 1930's. He was born Harris Krakow, and was a member of the Krakow fish selling family of Maxwell street Chicago.

Levinsky was a rated heavyweight whose biggest wins came against ex-heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey on a ten round decision, and ex-lightheavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, also on a decision. Unfortunately, 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 18 February 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.

For a portion of his career, Levinsky was managed by his sister Lena Krakow. Known as "Leapin Lena", she was a colorful character who swore like a sailor, and rooted loudly for her brother during his bouts.

Some remember Levinsky as the punch drunk old ex-prizefighter selling ties and watches on the streets of Miami Beach, Florida. He was reputed to have offered to sell Herbert Hoover a "hot" watch. Before the first Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight in 1964, Levinsky would heckle Clay telling him that he had no chance, but not to worry because after the Liston fight they could sell ties together. Clay then went on to shock the world by defeating Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship.