King Levinsky (10 September 1910 – 30 September 1991), also known as Kingfish Levinsky, was an American heavyweight boxer who fought during the 1930s. Ranked in the top 10 heavyweights every year from 1931-1934 by The Ring, peaking at 3rd in 1933. He was born as 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 champion Jack 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.Baer, California's Ex-Butcher Boy, Beats Chicago's Kingfish Levinsky Ludington Daily News - Jul 6, 1932 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.The Louis Laugh Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Aug 10, 1935Obverse English, Delivering a Glancing Blow to the Cliche Ludington Daily News - Jan 30, 1978 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.

On November 19, 1935 Levinsky lost to professional wrestler Ray Steele in a boxer versus wrestler match in St. Louis, Missouri.

Marketability A May 1932 Time Magazine article stated: "If you defined the efficiency of a prize-fighter by his ability in the ring, Harry Krakow ('Kingfish Levinsky') 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, Carnera, Paulino and an exhibition bout against Jack Dempsey have amounted to $254,124.68. He may this year earn more than Schmeling, Sharkey, Dempsey, Carnera 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 (Kraków) Levy. Known as "Leapin Lena", she was a colorful character who swore like a sailor, and rooted loudly for her brother during his bouts. Esquire magazine, in its February 1939 issue, included an article profiling his new career as a professional wrestler.

His ring name was a combination of Battling Levinsky, a fighter he admired, and the "Kingfish" character from Amos 'n' Andy.

Life after boxing Levinsky served in the US Army during World War II. In his later years he worked as a tie salesman in Miami Beach, Florida. He was married to fan dancer Roxana Sand for just over a month in 1934. In 1935, Levinsky became a professional wrestler as Kingfish Levinsky working in the States and Canada until retiring in 1946.

Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes118Loss Frankie EdgrenKO3 (10)Jul 11, 1939117Loss74–34–7 Jay D. TurnerPTS10Jun 2, 1939116Loss74–33–7 Babe RitchieKO3 (10), May 31, 1939115Loss74–32–7 Johnny PaychekTKO3 (8)Jul 11, 1938114Win74–31–7 Jack ConleyKO2 (10)Oct 7, 1937113Loss73–31–7 Jack DoylePTS12Apr 27, 1937112Loss73–30–7 Bob NestellPTS10 (10), Feb 9, 1937111Loss73–29–7 Maxie RosenbloomPTS10Jan 5, 1937110Win73–28–7 Babe HuntTKO6 (10), Dec 1, 1936109Draw72–28–7 Nash GarrisonPTS10Nov 10, 1936108Win72–28–6 Leo LomskiPTS10Sep 22, 1936107Loss71–28–6 Marty GallagherUD10Sep 1, 1936106Win71–27–6 Big Boy BrackeyPTS10Jul 20, 1936105Loss70–27–6 Lee RamagePTS10Jul 7, 1936104Win70–26–6 Joe BauerPTS10Jun 26, 1936103Win69–26–6 Harold MurphyPTS10Jun 5, 1936102Win68–26–6 Pepe Del RioTKO2 (10), May 26, 1936101Draw67–26–6 Lee RamagePTS10Apr 7, 1936100Loss67–26–5 Phil BrubakerPTS10Feb 14, 193699Win67–25–5 Alfred RogersKO4 (10)Jan 27, 193698Win66–25–5 Hank HankinsonPTS10Jan 14, 193697Loss65–25–5 Marty GallagherPTS10Oct 9, 193596Loss65–24–5 Joe LouisTKO1 (10), Aug 7, 193595Win65–23–5 Tom JonesPTS4Jun 10, 193594Win64–23–5 Jack SladeKO2 (10), Jun 7, 193593Win63–23–5 Hans BirkiePTS10May 27, 193592Win62–23–5 Hans BirkieKO4 (?), Apr 15, 193591Win61–23–5 Bob WilliamsKO1 (?), Apr 4, 193590Win60–23–5 Joe RiceKO2 (10)Apr 1, 193589Win59–23–5 Babe HuntPTS10Mar 27, 193588Win58–23–5 Salvatore RuggirelloTKO2 (10)Mar 4, 193587Win57–23–5 Jack TownsendKO2 (?)Feb 21, 193586Win56–23–5 Jack TownsendKO2 (?)Feb 19, 193585Win55–23–5 Ted DeMarinoKO2 (10)Feb 14, 193584Win54–23–5 Eddie CivilTKO2 (10)Feb 11, 193583Win53–23–5 Merrill 'Red' TonnKO6 (10)Feb 4, 193582Draw52–23–5 Art LaskyPTS10Nov 23, 193481Win52–23–4 Salvatore RuggirelloKO3 (10)Sep 28, 193480Win51–23–4 Art SykesPTS10Sep 20, 193479Loss50–23–4 Art LaskyUD10Jun 12, 193478Win50–22–4 Lee RamagePTS10Apr 17, 193477Loss49–22–4 Walter NeuselMD10Mar 9, 193476Win49–21–4 Charley MasseraSD10Feb 9, 193475Win48–21–4 Don McCorkindalePTS10Dec 29, 193374Win47–21–4 Jack SharkeyUD10Sep 18, 193373Win46–21–4 Tuffy GriffithsUD10Jun 2, 193372Win45–21–4 Charley RetzlaffKO1 (10), May 3, 193371Loss44–21–4 Johnny RiskoPTS10Feb 24, 193370Win44–20–4 Unknown WinstonPTS10Feb 2, 193369Win43–20–4 Meyer K.O. ChristnerTKO5 (?)Jan 23, 193368Loss42–20–4 Tommy LoughranUD10Jan 10, 193367Loss42–19–4 Primo CarneraSD10Dec 9, 193266Loss42–18–4 Joe SekyraNWS10Oct 13, 193265Win42–18–4 Angus SnyderTKO3 (10)Sep 22, 193264Loss41–18–4 Johnny RiskoPTS12Sep 1, 193263Loss41–17–4 Max BaerPTS20Jul 4, 193262Loss41–16–4 Mickey WalkerSD10Apr 29, 193261Loss41–15–4 Max BaerUD10Jan 29, 193260Win41–14–4 Paulino UzcudunMD10Jan 15, 193259Win40–14–4 Tommy LoughranUD10Dec 18, 193158Loss39–14–4 Primo CarneraUD10Nov 19, 193157Win39–13–4 Jimmy SlatteryPTS10Oct 30, 193156Win38–13–4 Joe SekyraMD10Sep 30, 193155Draw37–13–4 Young Con O'KellySD10Sep 9, 193154Loss37–13–3 Ace HudkinsPTS10Jul 1, 193153Win37–12–3 Pat McCarthyTKO4 (10)Jun 9, 193152Win36–12–3 Emmett RoccoPTS10May 8, 193151Loss35–12–3 Emmett RoccoPTS10Apr 27, 193150Loss35–11–3 Johnny RiskoPTS10Apr 21, 193149Win35–10–3 Young Con O'KellyUD10Mar 31, 193148Loss34–10–3 Tuffy GriffithsPTS10Mar 6, 193147Win34–9–3 Jack GagnonKO3 (10)Feb 6, 193146Win33–9–3 Harry DillonKO2 (?)Jan 30, 193145Loss32–9–3 Jimmy SlatteryPTS10Jan 14, 193144Loss32–8–3 Tommy LoughranUD10Nov 21, 193043Win32–7–3 Jimmy SlatterySD10Nov 6, 193042Win31–7–3 Tom KirbyKO2 (10)Oct 14, 193041Win30–7–3 Leo LomskiKO5 (10)Sep 11, 193040Win29–7–3 Jack KrackenTKO6 (10)Aug 29, 193039Win28–7–3 Len DarcyPTS10Aug 16, 193038Win27–7–3 Bud DoranPTS10Aug 1, 193037Win26–7–3 Jimmy MahoneyKO4 (10)Jul 18, 193036Win25–7–3 K.O. WhitePTS10Jul 11, 193035Loss24–7–3 Paul PantaleoPTS10Jun 20, 193034Win24–6–3 Mitz MinikelKO1 (10)May 28, 193033Win23–6–3 Al KeeganTKO1 (4)Apr 30, 193032Loss22–6–3 Mitz MinikelPTS10Apr 21, 193031Win22–5–3 Dave MaierTKO1 (10)Apr 3, 193030Loss21–5–3 Paul SwiderskiPTS8Mar 24, 193029Win21–4–3 Leon LucasKO6 (?)Mar 8, 193028Loss20–4–3 Al StillmanNWS5Feb 11, 193027Win20–4–3 Chick RifeTKO1 (4)Feb 7, 193026Win19–4–3 Jack BarryPTS6Jan 31, 193025Win18–4–3 Johnny FreemanPTS8Jan 23, 193024Win17–4–3 Tom JonesPTS8Dec 26, 192923Loss16–4–3 Ted RossDQ6 (10)Nov 18, 192922Win16–3–3 Russell BuelickKO4 (6)Oct 29, 192921Win15–3–3 Russell BuelickKO1 (6)Oct 22, 192920Win14–3–3 Nick TaftTKO3 (5)Oct 16, 192919Win13–3–3 Tommy O'BrienUD10Aug 12, 192918Win12–3–3 Johnny SherrodPTS6Jul 9, 192917Win11–3–3 Frankie RyanKO1 (4)Jul 4, 192916Win10–3–3 Joe CorradoKO4 (6)Jun 24, 192915Draw9–3–3 Joe CorradoPTS4Jun 10, 192914Win9–3–2 Mickey FureyKO2 (4), May 24, 192913Win8–3–2 Art SchragelTKO1 (5)Apr 29, 192912Loss7–3–2 Johnny SherrodPTS5Mar 25, 192911Win7–2–2 Chuck BenoitKO1 (5)Mar 12, 192910Win6–2–2 Billy O'BrienTKO3 (6)Feb 4, 19299Draw5–2–2 Johnny DeCourseyPTS6Jan 22, 19298Win5–2–1 Sam CurtisPTS4Jan 8, 19297Win4–2–1 Mickey FureyPTS4Nov 26, 19286Win3–2–1 Nick TaftKO2 (4)Oct 29, 19285Loss2–2–1 Cecil HurtDQ3 (6)Oct 9, 19284Draw2–1–1 Russell BuelickPTS4Sep 27, 19283Win2–1 Jimmy GardnerPTS4Sep 6, 19282Win1–1 Joe GrebPTS4Aug 20, 19281Loss0–1 Nick TaftPTS4Jul 13, 1928

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.