Artie Levine


Artie Levine 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. 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.
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.
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.
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocation
73Loss53–15–4 Dick WagnerKO10, 0:18Jun 20, 1949Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
72Loss53–14–4 Dick WagnerSD10Apr 11, 1949Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
71Loss53–13–4 Chuck HunterSD10Feb 22, 1949Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
70Win53–12–4 Tom McKeagneyTKO8, 1:29Jan 24, 1949Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, US
69Win52–12–4 Tony DeMiccoTKO8, 1:44Dec 27, 1948Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, US
68Win51–12–4 Henryk ChmielewskiTKO4, 1:18Nov 22, 1948Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, US
67Win50–12–4 Willie HedgemondKO1 Nov 11, 1948Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
66Win49–12–4 Joe ReddickKO6, 2:16Jun 21, 1948Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US
65Loss48–12–4 Billy FoxTKO3, 1:32Jun 27, 1947Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
64Loss48–11–4 Chuck HunterKO9, 1:12May 12, 1947Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
63Win48–10–4 Herbie KronowitzUD10Mar 7, 1947Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
62Win47–10–4 Jimmy SheppardRTD6 Dec 3, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
61Loss46–10–4 Sugar Ray RobinsonTKO10, 2:41Nov 6, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
60Loss46–9–4 Jimmy SheppardSD10Oct 7, 1946Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, US
59Win46–8–4 Charley PadalinoKO2, 2:09Aug 19, 1946Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, US
58Win45–8–4 Vic DellicurtiTKO10, 1:31Jul 10, 1946Ebbets Field, New York City, New York, US
57Win44–8–4 Freddie FloresKO1 Jun 24, 1946Coney Island Velodrome, New York City, New York, US
56Win43–8–4 Wilfie ShanksTKO3, 1:31Jun 13, 1946Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
55Win42–8–4 Charley PadalinoTKO3, 2:00May 29, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
54Win41–8–4 Jimmy DoyleTKO9, 0:57Mar 11, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
53Win40–8–4 Billy WalkerKO9 Jan 14, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
52Loss39–8–4 Sonny HorneUD10Dec 7, 1945Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
51Win39–7–4 Ray RovelliKO7, 1:54Sep 28, 1945Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
50Win38–7–4 Sonny HorneTKO5 Aug 31, 1945Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
49Loss37–7–4 Jerry FiorelloUD10Jul 24, 1945MacArthur Stadium, New York City, New York, US
48Win37–6–4 Marvin BryantTKO10, 0:22Jul 12, 1945Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
47Win36–6–4 Joe BennettUD8Apr 24, 1945Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, US
46Win35–6–4 Cosby LinsonPTS10Apr 19, 1945U.S.O. Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, US
45Win34–6–4 Willie WatkinsTKO4 Apr 4, 1945Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
44Win33–6–4 Lou MillerKO2 Mar 29, 1945Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
43Win32–6–4 Lew PerezTKO4 Mar 8, 1945Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
42Win31–6–4 Ray RovelliPTS10Aug 17, 1944Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
41Win30–6–4 Joe AgostaTKO5, 0:40Jun 22, 1944Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
40Loss29–6–4 Lou BassPTS9May 26, 1944U.S.O. Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, US
39Loss29–5–4 Reuben ShankPTS10Jan 14, 1944U.S.O. Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, US
38Win29–4–4 Harold GaryPTS6Jul 20, 1943MacArthur Stadium, New York City, New York, US
37Loss28–4–4 Freddie FloresPTS8Mar 15, 1943St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US
36Draw28–3–4 Freddie FloresPTS6Mar 5, 1943Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
35Win28–3–3 Frankie YoungUD10Feb 11, 1943Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
34Loss27–3–3 Larry FontanaPTS6Feb 5, 1943Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
33Win27–2–3 Gene JohnsonPTS6Jan 27, 1943Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
32Win26–2–3 Tony GreyTKO5 Jan 21, 1943Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
31Draw25–2–3 Frankie YoungPTS10Jan 7, 1943Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
30Win25–2–2 Frankie McDougallUD10Dec 10, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
29Win24–2–2 Tony PappaPTS6Nov 27, 1942Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
28Loss23–2–2 Marvin BryantPTS6Nov 23, 1942Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, US
27Win23–1–2 Frankie McDougallPTS10Nov 19, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
26Win22–1–2 Joe SnedekerPTS6Nov 13, 1942Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
25Win21–1–2 Charlie 'Petey' SmithTKO2 Nov 5, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
24Win20–1–2 Al EvansKO6 Jul 30, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
23Win19–1–2 Eddie CostantinoPTS6Jul 16, 1942Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
22Draw18–1–2 Benny DeansPTS6Jul 9, 1942Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
21Draw18–1–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Jun 25, 1942Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
20Win18–1 Oscar SuggsRTD5 Jun 18, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
19Win17–1 Danny NobregaKO5 May 28, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
18Win16–1 Bobby HallKO1 May 14, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
17Win15–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 30, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
16Win14–1 Jack GarrityTKO2 Apr 16, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
15Win13–1 Tom CollinsTKO2 Apr 14, 1942Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
14Win12–1 Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 1, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
13Win11–1 Willie BushKO2 Mar 12, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
12Loss10–1 Tony PappaPTS6Feb 6, 1942Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
11Win10–0 Sammy MancusoTKO3 Jan 29, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
10Win9–0 Don SandhamKO4 Jan 22, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
9Win8–0 Steve BilkoKO3 Jan 8, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
8Win7–0 Billy MillerKO5 Jan 6, 1942Grotto Auditorium, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
7Win6–0 Tommy MiltonTKO2 Dec 26, 1941Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
6Win5–0 Moishe GoldsteinKO1 Dec 15, 1941Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, US
5Win4–0 Freddie ConnKO2 Dec 11, 1941Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
4Win3–0 Paulie WilsonPTS8Dec 1, 1941Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, US
3Win2–0 Joe SnedekerKO2 Nov 21, 1941Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
2Draw1–0 Joe SnedekerNWS4Nov 7, 1941Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
1Win1–0Carl JonesKO2 May 23, 1941Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocation
73Loss53–15–5Dick WagnerKO10, 0:18Jun 20, 1949Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
72Loss53–14–5Dick WagnerSD10Apr 11, 1949Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
71Loss53–13–5Chuck HunterSD10Feb 22, 1949Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
70Win53–12–5Tom McKeagneyTKO8, 1:29Jan 24, 1949Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, US
69Win52–12–5Tony DeMiccoTKO8, 1:44Dec 27, 1948Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, US
68Win51–12–5Henryk ChmielewskiTKO4, 1:18Nov 22, 1948Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, US
67Win50–12–5Willie HedgemondKO1 Nov 11, 1948Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
66Win49–12–5Joe ReddickKO6, 2:16Jun 21, 1948Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US
65Loss48–12–5Billy FoxTKO3, 1:32Jun 27, 1947Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
64Loss48–11–5Chuck HunterKO9, 1:12May 12, 1947Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
63Win48–10–5Herbie KronowitzUD10Mar 7, 1947Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
62Win47–10–5Jimmy SheppardRTD6 Dec 3, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
61Loss46–10–5Sugar Ray RobinsonTKO10, 2:41Nov 6, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
60Loss46–9–5Jimmy SheppardSD10Oct 7, 1946Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, US
59Win46–8–5Charley PadalinoKO2, 2:09Aug 19, 1946Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, US
58Win45–8–5Vic DellicurtiTKO10, 1:31Jul 10, 1946Ebbets Field, New York City, New York, US
57Win44–8–5Freddie FloresKO1 Jun 24, 1946Coney Island Velodrome, New York City, New York, US
56Win43–8–5Wilfie ShanksTKO3, 1:31Jun 13, 1946Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
55Win42–8–5Charley PadalinoTKO3, 2:00May 29, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
54Win41–8–5Jimmy DoyleTKO9, 0:57Mar 11, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
53Win40–8–5Billy WalkerKO9 Jan 14, 1946Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
52Loss39–8–5Sonny HorneUD10Dec 7, 1945Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
51Win39–7–5Ray RovelliKO7, 1:54Sep 28, 1945Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
50Win38–7–5Sonny HorneTKO5 Aug 31, 1945Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
49Loss37–7–5Jerry FiorelloUD10Jul 24, 1945MacArthur Stadium, New York City, New York, US
48Win37–6–5Marvin BryantTKO10, 0:22Jul 12, 1945Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
47Win36–6–5Joe BennettUD8Apr 24, 1945Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, US
46Win35–6–5Cosby LinsonPTS10Apr 19, 1945U.S.O. Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, US
45Win34–6–5Willie WatkinsTKO4 Apr 4, 1945Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
44Win33–6–5Lou MillerKO2 Mar 29, 1945Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
43Win32–6–5Lew PerezTKO4 Mar 8, 1945Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
42Win31–6–5Ray RovelliPTS10Aug 17, 1944Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
41Win30–6–5Joe AgostaTKO5, 0:40Jun 22, 1944Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
40Loss29–6–5Lou BassPTS9May 26, 1944U.S.O. Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, US
39Loss29–5–5Reuben ShankPTS10Jan 14, 1944U.S.O. Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, US
38Win29–4–5Harold GaryPTS6Jul 20, 1943MacArthur Stadium, New York City, New York, US
37Loss28–4–5Freddie FloresPTS8Mar 15, 1943St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US
36Draw28–3–5Freddie FloresPTS6Mar 5, 1943Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
35Win28–3–4Frankie YoungUD10Feb 11, 1943Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
34Loss27–3–4Larry FontanaPTS6Feb 5, 1943Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
33Win27–2–4Gene JohnsonPTS6Jan 27, 1943Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
32Win26–2–4Tony GreyTKO5 Jan 21, 1943Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
31Draw25–2–4Frankie YoungPTS10Jan 7, 1943Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
30Win25–2–3Frankie McDougallUD10Dec 10, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
29Win24–2–3Tony PappaPTS6Nov 27, 1942Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
28Loss23–2–3Marvin BryantPTS6Nov 23, 1942Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, US
27Win23–1–3Frankie McDougallPTS10Nov 19, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
26Win22–1–3Joe SnedekerPTS6Nov 13, 1942Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
25Win21–1–3Charlie 'Petey' SmithTKO2 Nov 5, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
24Win20–1–3Al EvansKO6 Jul 30, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
23Win19–1–3Eddie CostantinoPTS6Jul 16, 1942Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
22Draw18–1–3Benny DeansPTS6Jul 9, 1942Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
21Draw18–1–2Buddy FarrellPTS6Jun 25, 1942Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
20Win18–1–1Oscar SuggsRTD5 Jun 18, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
19Win17–1–1Danny NobregaKO5 May 28, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
18Win16–1–1Bobby HallKO1 May 14, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
17Win15–1–1Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 30, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
16Win14–1–1Jack GarrityTKO2 Apr 16, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
15Win13–1–1Tom CollinsTKO2 Apr 14, 1942Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
14Win12–1–1Buddy FarrellPTS6Apr 1, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
13Win11–1–1Willie BushKO2 Mar 12, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
12Loss10–1–1Tony PappaPTS6Feb 6, 1942Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
11Win10–0–1Sammy MancusoTKO3 Jan 29, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
10Win9–0–1Don SandhamKO4 Jan 22, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
9Win8–0–1Steve BilkoKO3 Jan 8, 1942Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
8Win7–0–1Billy MillerKO5 Jan 6, 1942Grotto Auditorium, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
7Win6–0–1Tommy MiltonTKO2 Dec 26, 1941Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
6Win5–0–1Moishe GoldsteinKO1 Dec 15, 1941Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, US
5Win4–0–1Freddie ConnKO2 Dec 11, 1941Scott Hall, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US
4Win3–0–1Paulie WilsonPTS8Dec 1, 1941Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, US
3Win2–0–1Joe SnedekerKO2 Nov 21, 1941Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
2Draw1–0–1Joe SnedekerNWS4Nov 7, 1941Masonic Hall, Highland Park, New Jersey, US
1Win1–0Carl JonesKO2 May 23, 1941Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US