Joey Allen



JOEY ALLEN was the name that Angelo Anthony Levecchia boxed under from 1928 through 1943. He was born in Camden, New Jersey on November 12, 1912 to Anthony Levecchia and his wife, the former Anna Maria Onorati. His father worked for as a laborer for many years at Camden Forge. Angelo Levecchia was one of at least six children, coming after Henry and Nicholas and before Lillian, Mary, and Joseph. Under the ring name of Joey Allen, he became one of the many fine boxers that emerged from South Camden in the 1920s and 1930s.

The 1930 Census and the 1931 City Directory lists him at 429 Beckett Street. The 1943 Directory shows him residing at 523 Pine Street.

After Joey Allen hung up his gloves, he stayed in the boxing game as a trainer. Partnering with Anthony Georgette he took over the contract of Moses Lee, better known as Pedro Firpo 
 and was instrumental in getting Jersey Joe Walcott into position to win the heavyweight championship of the world. He also trained local fighter Bill Flowers and Buck Streater.  Joey Allen was Walcott's trainer from 1945 until October of 1948 when they and Walcott's manager, Felix Bocchiccio agreed to part ways. Joey Allen remained in the fight game as a trainer as late as 1957.

Joey Allen married Antoniette Cardile in January of 1951. The couple lived at 242 Powelton Avenue in Woodlynne during the 1950s. On January 1, 1954 they were blessed with a daughter, Antoinette. A son, Michael, came later. Outside of the ring he was involved with the Zuni Athletic Association. 

In 1955 he took a job as a maintenance man with the Campbell Soup Company in Camden, He retired in 1977. In his later years Joey Allen stepped away from boxing. He and his wife had moved to Marlton by 1984. Angelo Levecchia, known to the sporting world as Joey Allen, passed away in January of 1992.  


Joey Allen's Boxing Record
as best known as of June 19, 2019 - there are fights missing from the chart below

Joey Allen

Sex Male
Nationality US American
Hometown Camden, NJ
Division Lightweight
  W 55 (1 ko's)  |  L 11  |  D 6 |  Total 72  

date
opponent w-l-d
 
result
1943-03-01 Eddie Davis 2 4 0
Coliseum, Baltimore
L
PTS
1943-01-07 Joey Longo
Olympia A.C., Philadelphia
L
KO
1942-11-19 Tony Rossino debut
Olympia A.C., Philadelphia
W
KO
1937-03-15 Pete Galiano 14 23 7
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
L
PTS
1937-03-02 Johnny Hutchinson 16 2 1
Convention Hall, Philadelphia
W
TKO
1937-01-14 Benny Bass 179 38 8
Olympia A.C., Philadelphia
L
PTS
1937-01-04 Patsy LaRocco 20 24 8
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
W
PTS
1936-11-10 Ray Ingram 47 20 18
Convention Hall, Camden
W
PTS
1936-07-14 Johnny Toomey 10 18 2
Arena, Pennsauken
W
PTS
1936-04-08 Lew Raymond 57 25 14
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
L
PTS
1936-02-17 Bucky Taylor 33 16 3
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
L
PTS
1936-01-27 Harry Jeffra 26 2 1
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
W
SD
1935-11-11 Harry Serody 40 2 2
Arena, Philadelphia
L
PTS
1935-09-16 Norman Rahn 12 8 5
Convention Hall, Camden
W
PTS
1935-08-12 Ray Ingram 40 11 17
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
L
PTS
1935-08-05 Harry Serody 38 1 2
Carnival Park, West Manayunk
L
PTS
1935-07-29 Manny Wible 5 4 1
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
W
PTS
1935-07-10 Baby Miller 60 15 4
Bain Field, Norfolk
L
PTS
1935-03-18 Charley Gomer 36 20 7
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
L
PTS
1935-02-18 Charley Gomer 36 19 7
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
W
PTS
1935-01-28 Bucky Taylor 26 12 3
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
W
PTS
1934-12-28 Bucky Taylor 25 11 3
Carlin's Park, Baltimore
L
PTS
1934-12-17 Texas Kid 7 5 0
Cinderella Ballroom, Miami
L
PTS
1934-12-06 Eddie McGeever 13 3 3
Beach Arena, Miami Beach
D
PTS
1934-11-22 Tommy Logan 3 7 9
Beach Arena, Miami Beach
L
PTS
1934-11-15 Jimmy Wade 29 14 8
Beach Arena, Miami Beach
W
PTS
1934-11-06 Ceal Yancey 24 13 4
Legion Armory, Saint Petersburg
L
UD
1934-10-29 Eddie McGeever 12 3 2
Biscayne Arena, Miami
L
PTS
1934-10-15 Bill Regan 10 5 0
Coliseum, Coral Gables
W
PTS
1934-10-08 Eddie McGeever 12 3 1
Cinderella Ballroom, Miami
D
PTS
1934-10-01 Snag Trowbridge 16 11 5
Cinderella Ballroom, Miami
W
PTS
1934-09-21 Gene Gallotto 5 0 1
Cambria A.C., Philadelphia
L
PTS
1934-08-13 Joe Borelli 21 7 5
Charlton's Hall, Pottsville
W
PTS
1934-05-07 Ray Cook 6 1 1
Valley Arena, Holyoke
L
PTS
1934-04-30 Texas Kid 7 4 0
Valley Arena, Holyoke
W
SD
1934-04-13 Norman Rahn 9 3 3
Convention Hall, Camden
W
NWS
1934-02-08 Ernie Caesar 32 41 7
New Broadway A.C., Philadelphia
L
PTS
1934-01-25 Benny Britt 32 21 8
New Broadway A.C., Philadelphia
L
PTS
1934-01-19 Frankie Brill 12 3 2
Cambria A.C., Philadelphia
W
PTS
1933-11-30 Frankie Brill 12 2 2
Cambria A.C., Philadelphia
W
PTS
1933-10-27 Norman Rahn 8 0 0
Cambria A.C., Philadelphia
W
PTS
1933-08-14 Norman Rahn 6 0 0
Arena Stadium, Philadelphia
L
PTS
1933-08-04 Mickey Palmer 0 5 0
Arena, Pennsauken
W
NWS
1933-05-26 Young Dago 0 3 0
Hobbs' Arena, Shenandoah
W
RTD
1933-05-01 Norman Rahn 4 0 0
Arena, Philadelphia
L
PTS
1933-03-10 Frankie Brill 11 2 0
Cambria A.C., Philadelphia
D
PTS
1932-11-17 George Kornfield 3 0 0
Auditorium, Wilmington
W
PTS
1930-04-08 Young Ace Hudkins Millville Punchbowl
Millville NJ
L
PTS
1930-02-25 Paddy Burns Belmont Fire Hall National Park NJ
L
PTS
1930-02-11 Davey Winters Belmont Fire Hall National Park NJ
W
TKO
1930-01-16 Frankie Polo debut
New Broadway A.C., Philadelphia
L
KO
1928-11-29 Johnny Williams debut
Broadway A.C., Philadelphia
L
PTS
1928-11-19 Milo Bradley debut
Elks Club, Phillipsburg
L
TKO
1928-11-08 Dick Forgione 0 3 0
New Broadway A.C., Philadelphia
W
PTS
1928-04-19 Al Girardi 2 1 0
Manayunk A.C., Philadelphia
W
PTS
1928-03-21 Tommy Sharkey 1 0 1
Cambria A.C., Philadelphia
W
PTS

 

Boxing Record from www.boxrec.com and from newspaper clippings


Camden Courier-Post
April 20, 1928

Buddy Burke - Jimmy Golden
Harry Gimble - Jose Diazeno
Tiger Jihnson - Frank Mitchell
Al Girardi - Joey Allen


Camden Courier-Post
April 20, 1928

Bobby Zimmerman - Midget Ambrose
Indian Ruseell - Davey Taylor
Joey Allen - Davey Winters
Joe Hillsee - Battling Buster
Dominick Fusco - Terrible Pine

 


Camden Courier-Post
February 26, 1930

Hugh Civatti - Bobby O'Donnell
Al White - Lew Kinkle
Joey Allen - Paddy Burns
Frankie Barry - Joe Torpee
Zeke Myers - Georgie Clark
Dominick Fusco - Billy Lauer

 


Camden Courier-Post
August 9, 1930

Johnny Lucas - Ray Gadsby
George Jackson - Harry Taggart
Young Ace Hudkins - Joey Allen
 Al Daley - Lew Cooper
Johnny Mandell - Willie Herman


Camden Courier-Post - August 1, 1933

LUCAS TO OPPOSE BASHARA IN WIND UP
Whitman Park Lightweight Meets Old Rival in Feature Bout Here Friday 

Lew McFarland, matchmaker for the newly organized Camden Sporting Club has arranged another attractive card for this Friday night's show at Grip's Pennsauken township open-air Arena.

Johnny Lucas, Whitman Park lightweight, has signed to meet Tommy Bashara, of Norfolk, Va., in the feature bout of eight rounds. The two youngsters have met in a couple previous bouts, Bashara winning the last encounter at Wilmington, Del.. by a hairline decision,

Harry Serody, clever Philadelphian is scheduled to clash with the tough Marty Haley, of Kensington, in the eight-round semi-final. Joey Allen, of South Camden, takes on Mike Palmer, of Philadelphia, in the main preliminary of six rounds; Terry McGovern, of the U. S. Marine Corps, faces Lou Heineman, of Lindenwold, in the second six-rounder; and Davey Taylor, of Camden, collides with Mickey Shannon, of Camden.

McFarland staged his first show last Friday night and it proved a decided success. In the windup, Roxie Allen, downtown Italian, out-pointed Johnny Pepe, of Philadelphia while the four other contests resulted in clear-cut knockouts. 


Camden Courier-Post - August 3, 1933

LUCAS IN KILLING MOOOD FOR BASHARA BATTLE
Whitman Parker Has Yet to Win Decision Over Two Norfolk, Va. Brothers
SERODY MEETS HALEY 

Another home town boxing product gets an opportunity to establish himself as a favorite with the fans tomorrow night at Grip's Pennsauken township open-air arena.

Johnny Lucas, Whitman Park junior welterweight, is the boxer in question. Lucas is scheduled to clash with Tommy Bashara, of Norfolk, Va., in the feature 10-rounder on the Camden Sporting Club's second weekly show. An eight-round semi-final and three six-rounders complete the card.

The main event is expected to attract a larger crowd than attended last week's show, as there are strained feelings between the principals, who engaged in an eight-round draw at Norfolk about a year ago. In addition, Bashara's brother, "Toots" twice was awarded decisions over Lucas in recent months, with the result that Lucas will be in a killing mood when he again encounters Tommy.

According to Anthony Georgette, Lucas' manager, Johnny is in prime physical fettle and is determined to make his first impression on the Bashara family.

"Perhaps I'm partial to Lucas, but I was not alone in thinking that Johnny should have been given the decision over "Toots" in their last fight at Wilmington, Delaware," Georgette said today.

"Almost the entire crowd thought Lucas had won as he dropped Bashara twice, still the judges gave Bashara the best of it," Georgette continued. "I guess the judges failed to take into consideration the two knockdowns otherwise, Bashara never had a chance to win.

"Anyway, Lucas lost the decision and still is 'peeved' about the result. He is in perfect shape for this fight and expects to win decisively over Tommy despite the fact that the latter gave him a great fight last year.

"Lucas is in as good shape for this fight as he was when he surprised everybody by getting a draw with Johnny Jadick. I was 'ribbed' unmercifully for taking the fight, but I knew that Lucas had improved greatly and also that he was 'in the pink.'

"Johnny still is 'hot' about his last bout with 'Toots' Bashara and plans to get a measure of revenge by handing Tommy a good licking. Lucas will make a fight of it and if Tommy also is willing to stand and fight it out, he's likely to be on his back long before the 10th round rolls around," Georgette concluded.

That's how Lucas' skipper feels about the forthcoming scrap and if Bashara, who is fast and a good puncher, elects to stand and trade punches the fuss should be an exciting brawl and Lucas also is clever and packs a stiff punch in both hands.

Harry Serody, agile Philadelphian, is billed to meet Martin Haley, of Kensington, in the eight-round semi­final.

Joey Allen, South Camden Italian, faces Mike Palmer, of Philadelphia, in the main preliminary of six rounds. In the other two six-rounders, Lou Heineman, of Lindenwold, takes on Terry McGovern of the United States Marine Corps, and Davey Taylor, of South Camden, clashes with Mickey Shannon, another local product.


Camden Courier-Post - August 5, 1933

Johnny Lucas Defeats Tommy Bashara
in Ten-round Windup Match at Arena Here
STRONG FINISH FACTOR IN CAMDEN YOUTH’S WIN
Lucas Cops Five of Ten Rounds, Divides One With Norfolk Ring Foe
SERODY STOPS HALEY 

LOCAL FIGHT RESULTS

Johnny Lucas, 139, Camden, outpointed Tommy Bashara, 140, Norfolk, Va., in 10 rounds.
     Referee-Gus Waldron, Trenton.
     Harry Serody, 135, Philadelphia, stopped Marty Haley, 139, Kensington, in fifth round.
     Joey Allen, 127, Camden, won decision over Mike Palmer, 128, Philadelphia, in six rounds.
    Terry McGovern, 138, U. S. Marine Corps, knocked out Louis Heinsman, 146, Lindenwold, in fourth round. Time-1 minute 44 seconds. 
    
Davey Taylor, 115˝, Camden, defeated Mickey Shannon, 114˝, Camden, in six rounds
.

By TOM RYAN
Courier-Post Sports Editor

A rally in the last two rounds enabled Johnny Lucas, blond Whitman Park junior welterweight, to gain the referee's decision over Tom­my Bashara, of Norfolk, Va., in the feature 10-rounder at Grip's Pennsauken township open-air Arena last night.

About 1000 of the faithful turned out to witness the encounter.

Lucas was credited with five rounds, Bashara won four, while one was even. However, Lucas won the ninth round by a wide margin and also won the final round with plenty to spare. Johnny also shaded Bashara in the second, third and sixth, while the Virginian showed to advan­tage in the first, fourth, fifth and eighth rounds, with the seventh being even.

Lucas' best round was the ninth in which he belabored Bashara with volleys of rights and lefts to both the head and body, forcing Tommy to try to hold during the session. Several rights to the jaw spun Tommy on his heels and he appeared tired at the end of the round.

The Whitman Parker took up where he left off at the start of the tenth and also won the round by a clear cut margin. He smothered the stubby Norfolk youngster under a body attack, and a right cross also drew the claret from Bashara's nose.

Bashara's best round was the fourth in which he cuffed Lucas a about the head with a flurry of punches and also got home a number of hard rights to the body.       

The last two rounds made the fight, as both boys were guilty of holding in the earlier rounds. Both tied each other's right up in the clinches and Referee Gus Waldron experienced difficulty in breaking them. Bashara had the better of the going when they fought "inside" in the early rounds, but Johnny more than overcame Tommy's advantage in the last two rounds, making Bashara hold when they came to close quarters.

Serody Stops Haley

Harry Serody, 135, of Philadelphia, scored a technical knockout over, Marty Haley, 139, of Kensington, in the fifth round of the scheduled eight-round semi-final bout. Referee Gus Waldron stopped the bout after Haley went down twice from body blows.             

Haley was no match for the clever Serody, who won as he pleased. Serody scored nine-count knockdowns in the fourth and fifth rounds, before Waldron stopped the bout after Haley again went down for a count of two.

When Haley arose he complained of pains in the left kidney and Waldron halted the scrap.

Allen Beats Palmer

Joey Allen, 127, of Camden, easily outpointed Mike Palmer, 128, of Philadelphia, in the main preliminary of six rounds.

Allen won every round by wide margins and forced the fight through­out. The Camden Italian staggered Palmer in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, but could not bring him to the mat. Palmer bled from the nose from the second round on.

Although he spotted Lou Heinsman, 146, of Lindenwold, six pounds Terry McGovern, 138, of the U.S. Marine Corps, knocked out the Lin­denwold mauler in one minute and 44 seconds of the fourth round of the second fight.

Heinsman missed a terrific right to the jaw and McGovern crossed his right to the same spot to flatten Lou for the full count. Heinsman won the first round, but McGovern carried the second and third.

Davey Taylor, 115 , of Camden, outpunched Mickey Shannon, 114 , also of Camden, in the opening match of six rounds. Taylor won every round, centering his attack on Shannon's body. .


Camden Courier-Post
January 18, 1936

Zuni Athletic Association - Eagles Hall
Emil Aceto - Ralph Bantivoglio - Felix Meschini
Harry Lorusso - Leonard Garaguso
Domenic Giordano -
Gene R. Mariano
Rone Irma Marini - Rpse L. Terranova
Alberta K. Garaguso - Mary R. Gentile
Josephine A. Marcozzi -Elizabeth Y. Zarli
Elimy S. Gerladine - Frank Devone
Domenick Radogna - Pat Salimena
Nicholas Levecchia - Anthony Nattani
Angelo Levecchia aka Joey Allen
Paul Giordano - Joseph Flamini
Ralph Marini - Luke DeLuca
Daniel LaMarra - Nick Carruli

 


Camden Courier-Post
July 13, 1936

Joey Allen Johnny Toomey

Camden Courier-Post * July 13, 1936

...continued...
Jersey Joe Walcott - Billy Ketchell - Joey Allen - Johnny Toomey - Marty Garaguso - Anthony Georgette
Al Roth - Lou Lombardi - Maxie Fisher - Allie Rowan - Red Cochrane - Joey Costa - Harry Carlton
Lou Feldman - Norman Rahn - Joe Duca- Freddy Lewis - Joey Straiges - Billy Mariner - Jimmy Russell Tommy Ricco - Erie Ratner

Camden Courier-Post * July 15, 1936


...continued...

Joey Straiges - Billy Mariner - Johnny Toomey - Joey Allen - Freddy Lewis - Joe Duca
Billy Ketchell -
Jersey Joe Walcott - Jimmy Russell -  Tommy Ricco


Bridgewater Courier-News
July 15, 1936

Joey Straiges - Billy Mariner
Johnny Toomey - Joe Allen
Freddy Lewis - Joe Duca
Billy Ketchell -
Jersey Joe Walcott
 
Tommy Ricco - Jimmy Russell

Camden Courier-Post
December 18, 1939

Joe Spearing
Jersey Joe Walcott - Roxie Allen
Frankie Blair -
Mickey Blair
Tommy Ricco - Battling Mack
Lew Skymer - Jackie Hindle
Charlie Mack -
Eddie Chaney
Young O'Connor
- Frankie Rapp
Pee Wee Ross - Bobby Zimmerman
Nick Nichols - Joey Allen
Johnny Lucas - Joey Straiges
Jim Braddock - Sgt. Ray Smith
Walter "Walter West" Kennedy
Caesar Campana
Johnny Duca - Mickey Duca - Al White
George Chaney - Benny Bass - Kid Williams
Johnny Buff - Danny Kramer - Pete Williams
Shamus Maguire - Lew Jackson - Paddy Lyons
Johnny Attell - Billy Marino - Young Firpo
Young Palmer - Tommy Dundee
Tommy McCann
Harry Shaw - Tom Walters
All Ettore - Joey O'Donnell
Mike DeLeece - Young Lawrence
Charlie Harris - Bill McFarland
Dominick Lombardo
Daniel Gallasso
James McSparrin
Paul Daly

...continued...
...continued...
...continued...
 

Camden Courier-Post * December 20, 1939

...continued...
Frank Kopesky - James Braddock - Jersey Joe Walcott - Roxie Allen - Frankie Blair - Mickey Blair
Lew Skymer - Battling Mack -
Joe Spearing- Frankie Rapp - Johnny Lucas - Joey Straiges - Joey Allen
Sgt. Ray SmithTommy Ricco - Al Daley - Jackie Hindle -
Eddie Chaney
 Caesar Campana - Young O'Connors - Charlie Mack - Pee Wee Ross - Bobby Zimmerman
Buck Flemming - Joe Shannon -Kayo Palmer - Pat Lawrence- Dave Lambert
Young Lawrence - Archie McNew - Lou Jackson - Al White - Young Palmer - Tommy Dundee
Joe Mangold - Joey O'Donnell  - Young Joe Firpo

Camden Courier-Post
January 8, 1943

Sgt. Jackie Wilson - Frankie Saia
Sugar Ray Robinson - Al Jordan - Willie Thomas
Jimmy McAllister - Frankie McGrane
Charlie WIlliams - Hughie Civatti
Joey Longo -
Joey Allen


Camden Courier-Post - May 18, 1946
Tom Ryan - Joey Allen - Jersey Joe Walcott - Lee Oma - Billy Conn
Joe Louis - Jimmy Bivins - Joe Baksi

Camden Courier-Post
June 19, 1948

Curtis Shepard
Jersey Joe Walcott
Billy Norris
Dan Florio
Paddy Cream
Joe Holmes
Cliff Dyes
Felix Bocchicchio
Joey Allen
Nick Bocchicchio
Dace Schockley
Bob Cream
Austin Johnson


Camden Courier-Post - November 20, 1948
Joseph Webster - Joey Allen - Anthony Georgette - Jersey Joe Walcott - Eddie Prince
Pedro Firpo - Gene Jones
Mickey Blair - Frankie Blair - Tip Gorman - Frankie Rapp - Roxie Allen - Joey Powell
Bobby Zimmerman - Joey Straiges - Johnny Lucas

Camden Courier-Post - October 12, 1949
Jersey Joe Walcott - Felix Bocchicchio - Dan Florio - Joey Allen
Anthony Georgette - Pedro Firpo
Ezzard Charles - Johnny Denson - Olle Tandberg - Joey Maxim
Joe Louis - Joe Baksi

Camden Courier-Post
December 29, 1950

Zuni Athletic Association - Frank A. Di Renzo
Peter A. Barbalace - Anthony A. Darpino
Joseph Palermo - Pat Barbalace - Albert Aceto
Angelo Levecchia aka Joey Allen
John La Placa - Jack O'Neil - Gene R. Mariano

Rev. Michael Argullo - Frank A. Abbott - John R. DiMona - Joseph P. DeLuca - Anthony F. Marino
Angelo A. DePersia - Dr. Lawrence Palese - Michael Greenetz - Joseph Greenetz - William Denof Sr.
Louis Bantivoglio - John Bantivoglio - Pat DiSmone - Samuel E. Fulton - Joseph Macciocca
Leonard Garaguso - Joseph Wood - Al Seri





Camden Courier-Post
May 14, 1957

Joey Allen
Billy Cephas
Vic Marsillo
Billy Boswell










Camden Courier-Post * November 9, 1984


Camden Courier-Post
February 21, 1985

Steven Mazzola

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Camden Courier-Post * January 30, 1992

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