Artie Levine (January 26, 1925 – January 13, 2012) was an American boxer in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in the 1940s during which time he gained top ten ratings in both weight classes.Silver, Mike, Stars in the Ring, Jewish Champions, (2016) Rowman and Littlefield, Guilford, Connecticut, pgs. 293-4 Between May, 1946 and April, 1949 Levine was ranked by The Ring magazine as high as the #6 Middleweight in the world.

Overview

Levine, who was Jewish and from Brooklyn, was a legitimate contender who flattened 36 opponents with his devastating left hook.

At 5' 8", he 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 fabled trainer of boxing legend Rocky Marciano.

From 1941–42, Levine fought twenty-seven times with only two losses, and won by knockout an impressive seventeen times.

Levine vs. Robinson On November 6, 1946, Levine challenged Sugar Ray Robinson at the Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Barely able to rise from a nine count in the fifth, Robinson later claimed Levine hit him with the hardest punch of his career, a powerful left hook to the jaw. The referee held up the fight after Robinson was down, and walked Levine to his corner, and then resumed the count, giving Robinson as much as seventeen seconds to recover, an act which may have prevented Levine from immediately following up and ending the fight. After clinching for the remainder of the round to recover, Robinson came back and knocked out Levine in the tenth round after a paralyzing blow to the solar plexus allowed him to follow up with rapid blows to the head and body that put Levine down for the full count. It was the first time Levine had been knocked out in 60 fights, and nearly the only knockdown and almost the only real knockout loss in Robinson's impressive career (Robinson was later defeated by technical knockout by Joey Maxim, but only after suffering from exhaustion in the Maxim contest).Schlemmer, Jim, "Tenth Round Punches End Torrid Bout", The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, pg. 35, 7 November 1946

On March 11, 1946, Levine matched skills with Jimmy Doyle in Cleveland, Ohio, defeating him in a ninth round knock out. Levine later told a reporter that Doyle nearly died in the ring as the result of the blows he received and required a respirator to stay alive. Doyle died a year later in a fight with Sugar Ray Robinson. Levine claimed the experience affected his aggressiveness in the ring, and reduced his desire to stay with boxing as a career.Bodner, Allen, When Boxing Was a Jewish Sport, (1997) Praeger Publishing, Wesport, Connecticut, pg. 114-115, 156

Experiencing a decline, he lost to Billy Fox at Madison Square Garden in a third-round technical knockout on June 27, 1947. Fox had been nearly knocked out in the second round, but came back to send Levine to the mat in the third before the referee ended the bout.

Life after boxing After losses to Chuck Hunter and Dick Wagner, Levine retired in 1949 at only 24, feeling disillusioned and disgusted by the criminal element he felt had taken over his career. Using his ambition and intellect, he owned a meat business, started a local teamsters union and became a successful sales manager at Volkswagen, one of America's largest car dealerships. He died on January 13, 2012, at the age of 86 in Matthews, North Carolina, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.

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, timeDateAgeLocation73Loss53–15–4 Dick WagnerKO10 (10), Jun 20, 1949 72Loss53–14–4 Dick WagnerSD10Apr 11, 1949 71Loss53–13–4 Chuck HunterSD10Feb 22, 1949 70Win53–12–4 Tom McKeagneyTKO8 (10), Jan 24, 1949 69Win52–12–4 Tony DeMiccoTKO8 (10), Dec 27, 1948 68Win51–12–4 Henryk ChmielewskiTKO4 (10), Nov 22, 1948 67Win50–12–4 Willie HedgemondKO1 (10)Nov 11, 1948 66Win49–12–4 Joe ReddickKO6 (10), Jun 21, 1948 65Loss48–12–4 Billy FoxTKO3 (10), Jun 27, 1947 64Loss48–11–4 Chuck HunterKO9 (10), May 12, 1947 63Win48–10–4 Herbie KronowitzUD10Mar 7, 1947 62Win47–10–4 Jimmy SheppardRTD6 (10)Dec 3, 1946 61Loss46–10–4 Sugar Ray RobinsonTKO10 (10), Nov 6, 1946 60Loss46–9–4 Jimmy SheppardSD10Oct 7, 1946 59Win46–8–4 Charley PadalinoKO2 (10), Aug 19, 1946 58Win45–8–4 Vic DellicurtiTKO10 (10), Jul 10, 1946 57Win44–8–4 Freddie FloresKO1 (10)Jun 24, 1946 56Win43–8–4 Wilfie ShanksTKO3 (10), Jun 13, 1946 55Win42–8–4 Charley PadalinoTKO3 (10), May 29, 1946 54Win41–8–4 Jimmy DoyleTKO9 (10), Mar 11, 1946 53Win40–8–4 Billy WalkerKO9 (10)Jan 14, 1946 52Loss39–8–4 Sonny HorneUD10Dec 7, 1945 51Win39–7–4 Ray RovelliKO7 (8), Sep 28, 1945 50Win38–7–4 Sonny HorneTKO5 (10)Aug 31, 1945 49Loss37–7–4 Jerry FiorelloUD10Jul 24, 1945 48Win37–6–4 Marvin BryantTKO10 (10), Jul 12, 1945 47Win36–6–4 Joe BennettUD8Apr 24, 1945 46Win35–6–4 Cosby LinsonPTS10Apr 19, 1945 45Win34–6–4 Willie WatkinsTKO4 (8)Apr 4, 1945 44Win33–6–4 Lou MillerKO2 (10)Mar 29, 1945 43Win32–6–4 Lew PerezTKO4 (10)Mar 8, 1945 42Win31–6–4 Ray RovelliPTS10Aug 17, 1944 41Win30–6–4 Joe AgostaTKO5 (8), Jun 22, 1944 40Loss29–6–4 Lou BassPTS9May 26, 1944 39Loss29–5–4 Reuben ShankPTS10Jan 14, 1944 38Win29–4–4 Harold GaryPTS6Jul 20, 1943 37Loss28–4–4 Freddie FloresPTS8Mar 15, 1943 36Draw28–3–4 Freddie FloresPTS6Mar 5, 1943 35Win28–3–3 Frankie YoungUD10Feb 11, 1943 34Loss27–3–3 Larry FontanaPTS6Feb 5, 1943 33Win27–2–3 Gene JohnsonPTS6Jan 27, 1943 32Win26–2–3 Tony GreyTKO5 (10)Jan 21, 1943 31Draw25–2–3 Frankie YoungPTS10Jan 7, 1943 30Win25–2–2 Frankie McDougallUD10Dec 10, 1942 29Win24–2–2 Tony PappaPTS6Nov 27, 1942 28Loss23–2–2 Marvin BryantPTS6Nov 23, 1942 27Win23–1–2 Frankie McDougallPTS10Nov 19, 1942 26Win22–1–2 Joe SnedekerPTS6Nov 13, 1942 25Win21–1–2 Charlie 'Petey' SmithTKO2 (6)Nov 5, 1942 24Win20–1–2 Al EvansKO6 (8)Jul 30, 1942 23Win19–1–2 Eddie CostantinoPTS6Jul 16, 1942 22Draw18–1–2 Benny DeansPTS6Jul 9, 1942 21Draw18–1–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Jun 25, 1942 20Win18–1 Oscar SuggsRTD5 (6)Jun 18, 1942 19Win17–1 Danny NobregaKO5 (6)May 28, 1942 18Win16–1 Bobby HallKO1 (6)May 14, 1942 17Win15–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 30, 1942 16Win14–1 Jack GarrityTKO2 (6)Apr 16, 1942 15Win13–1 Tom CollinsTKO2 (4)Apr 14, 1942 14Win12–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 1, 1942 13Win11–1 Willie BushKO2 (6)Mar 12, 1942 12Loss10–1 Tony PappaPTS6Feb 6, 1942 11Win10–0 Sammy MancusoTKO3 (6)Jan 29, 1942 10Win9–0 Don SandhamKO4 (6)Jan 22, 1942 9Win8–0 Steve BilkoKO3 (6)Jan 8, 1942 8Win7–0 Billy MillerKO5 (6)Jan 6, 1942 7Win6–0 Tommy MiltonTKO2 (6)Dec 26, 1941 6Win5–0 Moishe GoldsteinKO1 (6)Dec 15, 1941 5Win4–0 Freddie ConnKO2 (4)Dec 11, 1941 4Win3–0 Paulie WilsonPTS8Dec 1, 1941 3Win2–0 Joe SnedekerKO2 (4)Nov 21, 1941 2Draw1–0 Joe SnedekerNWS4Nov 7, 1941 1Win1–0 Carl JonesKO2 (4)May 23, 1941

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocation73Loss53–15–5 Dick WagnerKO10 (10), Jun 20, 1949 72Loss53–14–5 Dick WagnerSD10Apr 11, 1949 71Loss53–13–5 Chuck HunterSD10Feb 22, 1949 70Win53–12–5 Tom McKeagneyTKO8 (10), Jan 24, 1949 69Win52–12–5 Tony DeMiccoTKO8 (10), Dec 27, 1948 68Win51–12–5 Henryk ChmielewskiTKO4 (10), Nov 22, 1948 67Win50–12–5 Willie HedgemondKO1 (10)Nov 11, 1948 66Win49–12–5 Joe ReddickKO6 (10), Jun 21, 1948 65Loss48–12–5 Billy FoxTKO3 (10), Jun 27, 1947 64Loss48–11–5 Chuck HunterKO9 (10), May 12, 1947 63Win48–10–5 Herbie KronowitzUD10Mar 7, 1947 62Win47–10–5 Jimmy SheppardRTD6 (10)Dec 3, 1946 61Loss46–10–5 Sugar Ray RobinsonTKO10 (10), Nov 6, 1946 60Loss46–9–5 Jimmy SheppardSD10Oct 7, 1946 59Win46–8–5 Charley PadalinoKO2 (10), Aug 19, 1946 58Win45–8–5 Vic DellicurtiTKO10 (10), Jul 10, 1946 57Win44–8–5 Freddie FloresKO1 (10)Jun 24, 1946 56Win43–8–5 Wilfie ShanksTKO3 (10), Jun 13, 1946 55Win42–8–5 Charley PadalinoTKO3 (10), May 29, 1946 54Win41–8–5 Jimmy DoyleTKO9 (10), Mar 11, 1946 53Win40–8–5 Billy WalkerKO9 (10)Jan 14, 1946 52Loss39–8–5 Sonny HorneUD10Dec 7, 1945 51Win39–7–5 Ray RovelliKO7 (8), Sep 28, 1945 50Win38–7–5 Sonny HorneTKO5 (10)Aug 31, 1945 49Loss37–7–5 Jerry FiorelloUD10Jul 24, 1945 48Win37–6–5 Marvin BryantTKO10 (10), Jul 12, 1945 47Win36–6–5 Joe BennettUD8Apr 24, 1945 46Win35–6–5 Cosby LinsonPTS10Apr 19, 1945 45Win34–6–5 Willie WatkinsTKO4 (8)Apr 4, 1945 44Win33–6–5 Lou MillerKO2 (10)Mar 29, 1945 43Win32–6–5 Lew PerezTKO4 (10)Mar 8, 1945 42Win31–6–5 Ray RovelliPTS10Aug 17, 1944 41Win30–6–5 Joe AgostaTKO5 (8), Jun 22, 1944 40Loss29–6–5 Lou BassPTS9May 26, 1944 39Loss29–5–5 Reuben ShankPTS10Jan 14, 1944 38Win29–4–5 Harold GaryPTS6Jul 20, 1943 37Loss28–4–5 Freddie FloresPTS8Mar 15, 1943 36Draw28–3–5 Freddie FloresPTS6Mar 5, 1943 35Win28–3–4 Frankie YoungUD10Feb 11, 1943 34Loss27–3–4 Larry FontanaPTS6Feb 5, 1943 33Win27–2–4 Gene JohnsonPTS6Jan 27, 1943 32Win26–2–4 Tony GreyTKO5 (10)Jan 21, 1943 31Draw25–2–4 Frankie YoungPTS10Jan 7, 1943 30Win25–2–3 Frankie McDougallUD10Dec 10, 1942 29Win24–2–3 Tony PappaPTS6Nov 27, 1942 28Loss23–2–3 Marvin BryantPTS6Nov 23, 1942 27Win23–1–3 Frankie McDougallPTS10Nov 19, 1942 26Win22–1–3 Joe SnedekerPTS6Nov 13, 1942 25Win21–1–3 Charlie 'Petey' SmithTKO2 (6)Nov 5, 1942 24Win20–1–3 Al EvansKO6 (8)Jul 30, 1942 23Win19–1–3 Eddie CostantinoPTS6Jul 16, 1942 22Draw18–1–3 Benny DeansPTS6Jul 9, 1942 21Draw18–1–2 Buddy FarrellPTS6Jun 25, 1942 20Win18–1–1 Oscar SuggsRTD5 (6)Jun 18, 1942 19Win17–1–1 Danny NobregaKO5 (6)May 28, 1942 18Win16–1–1 Bobby HallKO1 (6)May 14, 1942 17Win15–1–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 30, 1942 16Win14–1–1 Jack GarrityTKO2 (6)Apr 16, 1942 15Win13–1–1 Tom CollinsTKO2 (4)Apr 14, 1942 14Win12–1–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 1, 1942 13Win11–1–1 Willie BushKO2 (6)Mar 12, 1942 12Loss10–1–1 Tony PappaPTS6Feb 6, 1942 11Win10–0–1 Sammy MancusoTKO3 (6)Jan 29, 1942 10Win9–0–1 Don SandhamKO4 (6)Jan 22, 1942 9Win8–0–1 Steve BilkoKO3 (6)Jan 8, 1942 8Win7–0–1 Billy MillerKO5 (6)Jan 6, 1942 7Win6–0–1 Tommy MiltonTKO2 (6)Dec 26, 1941 6Win5–0–1 Moishe GoldsteinKO1 (6)Dec 15, 1941 5Win4–0–1 Freddie ConnKO2 (4)Dec 11, 1941 4Win3–0–1 Paulie WilsonPTS8Dec 1, 1941 3Win2–0–1 Joe SnedekerKO2 (4)Nov 21, 1941 2Draw1–0–1 Joe SnedekerNWS4Nov 7, 1941 1Win1–0 Carl JonesKO2 (4)May 23, 1941

See also List of select Jewish boxers

References

External links

Additional Information When Boxing was a Jewish Sport synopsys