The Legend Of Battling Levinsky

Modern-day boxing can not legitimately declare to be higher than boxing up to now. Actually, by way of the technical skills and ability degree we see at present, it’s seemingly worse. However one factor has undoubtedly improved: file protecting. Prior to now, a bout may happen and if it wasn’t reported within the native paper for some motive, any proof of the competition would shortly disappear. The converse was additionally true. Boxers and their imaginative managers may pad the file with bouts that by no means occurred in an effort to make the fighter in query seem extra formidable, and thus extra marketable.

However nobody disputes the truth that light heavyweight champion Battling Levinsky was one of many true “iron males” of boxing, a extremely lively fighter who loved a two decade lengthy profession throughout a time when “extremely lively” meant combating a dozen occasions or extra in a 12 months. In 1914 alone, Levinsky fought 36 occasions, and all of these contests have been verified. Examine that to at present the place 4 or 5 bouts is a busy 12 months for many pugilists.

Levinsky’s official file is daunting sufficient. It states that he scored 196 wins, together with newspaper choices, in 287 bouts. That signifies that an common 12 months for the fighter whose actual title was Barney Lebrowitz concerned virtually 30 matches. However till his dying day, Levinsky maintained that he truly participated in additional than 5 hundred contests, and there’s actually no means of figuring out for sure whether or not his declare is bogus. However within the many years since, boxing historians have combed by way of municipal information and previous newspapers to try to decide the reality, and in consequence the colourful story of what Levinsky achieved on January 1, 1915 is now extensively considered simply that, a narrative.

Levinsky had the model to be as lively as he was. A fast, slick, defensive genius, he possessed unimaginable stamina and thus may field and transfer spherical after spherical, sustaining little punishment as his opponent ineffectively chased him everywhere in the ring. His supervisor, “Dumb” Dan Morgan (the ironic nickname referring to the actual fact Morgan by no means stopped speaking), boasted for all to listen to about Levinsky’s ability and defensive prowess, in addition to the truth that it was every part he may do to maintain him out of the ring. “He’d battle each single night time if I let him,” claimed Morgan.

As if to show the purpose, on New Yr’s Day, 1915, Morgan, based on legend, organized for Levinsky to make not one, not two, however three separate ring appearances. Maybe “Dumb” Dan needed extra consideration paid to his fighter after the superb file he had posted within the 12 months simply completed. Regardless of the case, as a publicity stunt, it labored, and sports activities followers on the time accepted the story at face worth.

In keeping with the legend, late within the morning of January 1st, 1915, Levinsky boxed ten quick rounds with one Bartley Madden on the Broadway Athletic Membership in Brooklyn. After lunch, Morgan and Levinsky went to Manhattan the place Levinsky boxed one other ten rounds, this time with Soldier Kearns. Following the second battle, the intrepid pair made their strategy to Grand Central Station and boarded the prepare to Connecticut the place that night Levinsky took on Gunboat Smith in a scheduled twelve rounder that was declared a draw.

Like all the good boxing promoters and managers, Morgan was nothing if not a teller of tall tales, a well mannered means of claiming the person was an incessant liar. Latest searches have turned up nothing on the alleged bouts with Madden and Kearns. Actually, Madden was inactive for all of 1915, whereas Alfred (Soldier) Kearns did battle with Levinsky that 12 months, however in July, not January.

However on the time individuals thought the story true, it solely including to Levinsky’s status as probably the most lively boxers within the sport’s historical past. After which a younger reporter had the temerity to ask the formidable younger pugilist: “Mr. Levinsky, why do you insist on such a demanding schedule?” A question to which the battler — with an air of incredulity, as if a extra silly query may scarcely be conceived — bluntly replied: “I like cash!”

The next 12 months Levinsky, whose file boasts battles with such greats as Tommy Gibbons, Gene Tunney, Jack Dempsey and Harry Greb, would win the world gentle heavyweight title from Jack Dillon. He would maintain it till 1920 when he was defeated by Georges Carpentier.          — Robert Portis