Sport: Media Inducted: 2004 Country: USA Born: April 15, 1920, in Brooklyn, New
York
He is described by the New
York Times as “the leading
authority on the Sweet Science”, and nicknamed "Lord
of the Ring" by the Miami New Times. Historian/journalist
Hank Kaplan was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame
in October 1994.
Kaplan was editor of Boxing World magazine and Wide World
of Boxing Digest, and
has been a boxing consultant to Sport Illustrated for nearly 30 years, the London
Times, Der Stern, and numerous other publications and broadcast media throughout
the world.
Marveled by contemporaries as a “living encyclopedia of prize fighting”,
Kaplan owns and maintains, arguably, the world’s largest private boxing
library, and most extensive collection of boxing photographs and research resources.
Kaplan was the first elected president of the World Boxing Historians Association,
and is permanent Chairman of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (Las Vegas,
NV) Selection Committee.
In April 2003, the Boxing Writers Association of America conferred its James
J. Walker Award upon Kaplan, recognizing his 50-plus years of “long and
meritorious service to boxing.” He is also recipient of the 1999 Ray Arcel
Award presented by Ring 8 of New York Veteran Boxers’ Association, and
the 1999 Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame George Beahon Award. In 2004, Kaplan received
the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians (AAPRP) Award for “Outstanding
Contribution to Boxing”.