Stanley Levin was one of three brothers born to Abe and Rose Levin who would go on to pursue their legal careers with our law firm. He was also the “quiet one,” always working backstage – but his impact on the career of at least one prominent boxer was considerable and lasting.

After his graduation from Pensacola High School, Stanley went on to earn a degree in business and law from the University of Florida. Following that, he attended New York University Law School, where he specialized in tax law. Upon his admission to the bar, Stanley joined our firm, then known as Levin & Askew.

As a single father, Stanley was a conscientious parent who made it a point to be actively involved in his children’s lives. His involvement with his son Sherrod’s activities at the Pensacola Boy’s Club led him to a second career in professional boxing. It was here that Stanley met Roy Jones, Jr., who would go on to become a six-time world champion in four weight classes over the course of a 30-year career.

A lifelong fan of the sport, Stanley became Jones’ manager after the latter was prepared to leave boxing following a controversial decision by judges at the 1988 Summer Olympics that deprived Jones of a gold medal. Stanley convinced Jones to carry on, managing the young boxer’s career through the early 2000s.

Under Stanley’s management, Jones went on to achieve superstar status, eventually being recognized as one of the greatest boxers in the history of the sport. The highlight of his career occurred in 2003 when Jones made history after winning the WBA heavyweight title, becoming the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight title in 106 years.

With the assistance of his brother Fred, Stanley established himself as a manager who placed his fighters’ interests first. That is unusual in professional boxing, according to Fred. He notes that “All the key promoters, the Arums, Lou Duva, Don King … they all hated Stanley, because Stanley was such a stickler for doing things right and looking out for the fighters’ best interests.”

Stanley was chosen in 1994 as the Rocky Marciano Boxing Manager of the Year and selected co-Manager of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1995. He stepped down from his role as Jones’ manager after his health began to fail. For the next several years, he struggled with chronic illness, eventually succumbing in April of 2009.