Barney "Battling" Levinsky (born Lebowitz; June 10, 1890 – February 12, 1949) was an American boxer who was the world light heavyweight champion from 1916 to 1920.

Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Levinsky as the #12 ranked light heavyweight of all time, while The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #9.

He fought his first recorded match in 1910 at Philadelphia's Diamond Lew Bailey's Broadway Athletic Club, with a first-round knockout of his opponent, Mat Ryan, who outweighed him by over sixty pounds.

He was known for possessing incredible defensive skills, not frequently winning by knockout, but often leaving the ring at the end of a fight without having received a truly damaging blow.

[8] Some reporters speculated that Dillon's hands were still sore from his bout the previous night with Larry Williams, a very capable light heavyweight, in Philadelphia.

In their ten-round bout in Buffalo on February 17, 1919, Levinsky countered and blocked well against Greb's characteristic aggressive two handed attack, and the Pittsburgh Post wrote that the contest was "one of the most brilliant big glove exhibitions ever staged", but many local papers agreed with the Buffalo Enquirer, that "Greb won by his aggressive attack.

"[12] Levinsky met future champion Jack Dempsey on November 6, 1918, and lost in Philadelphia from a third-round knockout administered by a left to the jaw.

Struggling to rise after being counted out, the vanquished Levinsky had to be brought to his feet and partly carried to his corner by Jack Britton, who had assisted him with the bout.

Perhaps his worthiest opponent, Nat Fleischer once rated Dillon the third greatest Light Heavyweight of all time while boxing promoter Charley Rose placed him at #2.

[18] In an era when the winners of bouts could not be decided by the votes of referees and boxing judges, and titles changed hands only in the case of a knockout, Levinsky fought all comers, including losses to future heavyweight champions Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey.

He also fought the 1923 World Middleweight Champion Harry Greb at least three times between 1918 and 1919, successfully defending his Light Heavyweight title in each meeting.

[15] After losing badly to Herman Weiner on January 15, 1929, he seriously discussed retirement before boxing one more time the following year in October 1930 in New York, beating Joe Simms in three rounds.

[21] After an illness of several months that had been aggravated by a car accident on January 17, Levinsky died at his home on February 12, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 59.