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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 Portrait — Images of Angelo Levecchia, better known as boxer Joey Allen.

Camden Courier-Post — April 20, 1928

Buddy Burke beat Jimmy Golden in the 10-round feature bout at the Manayunk A. C. last night. Harry Gimble returned to the ring and knocked out Jose Diazeno, of Cuba, in the fifth round of the semi-final. In the main preliminaries, Tiger Johnson beat Frank Mitchell and Al Girardi lost to 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;

LUCAS TO OPPOSE BASHARA IN WIND UP

Whitman Park Lightweight Meets Old Rival in Feature Bout Here Friday

Camden Courier-Post — August 1, 1933

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.

LUCAS IN KILLING MOOOD FOR BASHARA BATTLE

Whitman Parker Has Yet to Win Decision Over Two Norfolk, Va. Brothers

SERODY MEETS HALEY

Camden Courier-Post — August 3, 1933

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 againencounters 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 semi-final.

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.

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

Camden Courier-Post — August 5, 1933

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, 115½, Camden, defeated Mickey Shannon, 114½, 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.