Originally Posted by
Manos de Piedra
Originally Posted by
THE THIRD MAN
Fantastic! Robinson says Artie Levine was the hardest puncher he fought and with good reason, in their 1946 fight Levine knocked Robinson down in the 4th and almost out.
It's great to hear what fighters have to say about other fighters, it's good knowledge to have especially when trying to rank fighters.
The famous 21 second long count !
On November 6, 1946, Levine challenged
Sugar Ray Robinson.
[5] Robinson claimed Levine hit him with the hardest punch of his career when he knocked Sugar Ray down and out for a 21-second
long count.
Sugar ... was almost kayoed in the fourth round. A left hook, followed by a right cross, both to the chin, put (him) down and almost out... Sugar rose unsteadily and called upon all his ring skill and stamina to last out the round...Sugar had several other close calls during the course of the evening. Artie's left hooks and resounding right crosses occasionally found their marks and with telling effect. Robinson's class and body punching were taking their toll from the heavier Levine as the bout progressed. Sugar started the tenth with knockout intent. With the round about two minutes gone, Sugar paralyzed Artie with a right to the solar plexus. Then Sugar became a 'killer,' throwing punches with reckless abandon to both head and body with the result that Artie was beaten to the floor.
Levine was trained by Marciano trainer Charlie Goldman, no one wanted to fight him and Levine was avoided by many fighters at the time.
(The Ring, January 1947, page 34)
It is unknown what effect this victory could have had upon both the careers of Levine or Robinson. It is possible to speculate that since Levine had actually knocked Sugar Ray out in this fight that he may have done it again in a rematch, altering the history of boxings greatest pound for pound fighter.
Levine passed away this year, gone, but not forgotten as the man who nearly ruined Sugar Ray's career!
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