Evening star., 1931-12-18
AMATEUR FAILURE
QU|CKPRO SUCCESS
Steals Way In to See Lough'
ran Bout, Fights Him 20
Months Later.
BY WILBUR WOOD.

n JEW YORK, December 18.--
M One evening in the early
/ Y Spring of 1929 husky
youth crashed the gallery
entrance of the Chicago Stadium
and found a seat high up in that
great indoor arena, from which
to enjoy a free look at the
fight between Tommy Loughran,
light-heavyweight champion, and
Mickey Walker, middleweight
champion.
Twenty months after beating his way
into the stadium to see the Loughran-
Walker fight, the youngster in question
walked down an aisle of that same
arena, gloves on his hands, vaulted over
the ropes as thousands shouted his
name in acclaim and shook hands with
Loughran, his opponent of the evening.
Tonight the same fellow will 60 to
war with Loughran in the featured To-
round bout in Madison Square Garden.
You guessed? Sure, King Levinsky is
the hero of this rather amazing chro-
no!ogy. The Kingflsh, as he refers to
himself, is an amazing fellow.
THE KINGFISH, who started his
l. QueenSberry career as an amateur,
was probably the most complete
bust in the history of Chicago simon
pure boxing. He had a score of fights
the y,l hl,f ho
medal or decision. He ate lot of
leather every time he went to the post,
Convinced that he never would
amount to anything as an amateur, did
Levinsky decide to say good-by to the
ring forever? Not he The Kingfish
turned professional
His luck changed. He still ate load
OF leather every time out, but he gave
more than he took. The Kingfish was
as much of success as a professional
as he was bust as an amateur. Amaz-
ing? Surely, but, as remarked, he is an
amazing fellow
Levinsky's real name is Harry Kra-
kow. He was born in the Bronx
slightly more than 81 year ago. HIS
parents went to Chicago when he was
still babe. He never knew what the
Bronx was like until he paid that region
visit few days ago. Privately, he
doesn't think much of it. Il like it
better downtown" he says.
THE Kingfish is managed by his
L sister, Mrs. Lena Levy. Formerly
he was one of the numerous gladi-
ators under the spreading wing of Ray
AlvlS. When AlviS made a deal whereby
all the Kingflsh got for boxing Tuffy
Grifdths was $4,000, whereas Tuffy's
end was $4,000. Mrs. Levys blood
boiled. She deposed Alvis as manager
and took charge of the Kingflsh herself.
Since she started doing the managing
the Kingflsh has never got the worst of
o deal.
Levinsky. with Mrs Levy leading the
way was ushered into Jimmy John
ston's office in the Garden to meet the
newspaper men. The Kingfish wore an
expansive camel's hair overcoat, a
snappy chapeau and spats, among other
things.
When he removed his overcoat it was
seen that he was minus a necktie.
Il must have forgot to put it on"
apologized Levinsky, donning his over
coat againt and mufling it up around
his neck. II always was a bit careless
about clothes"
Levinsky is just as carefree when it
comes to throwing punches. He prob
ably tosses more punches to the min
ute than any other heavyweight. Most
OF them miss or are blocked, but some
OF them get home to the target
In his first fight with Loughran
a little more than year ago, one of his
swings landed on Loughran's jaw and
Tommy sat down for nine Still Tommy
won the verdict. The clever Phils6el-
phian may win another one tonight.
Levinsky thinks he will more than even
the score this time
If the Kingfish lives up to his prom
ise, and he probably will, there will be
no end of action when he climbs in
with Loughran. At any rate, you will
see one-man battery. The KingfiSh
IS pitcher and catcher all in one.