Hank Kaplan (April 15, 1920 – December 14, 2007) was an American boxing historian and writer. Always wearing one of many of his prized boxing baseball caps, and smoking a pipe, he is widely regarded as the nation's foremost boxing historian, and was known and respected worldwide. Kaplan was known to possess the largest collection of boxing memorabilia, consisting of millions of pieces including newspaper articles, books, and photographs, stemming back from the 19th century. His expertise in boxing history helped him earn the nickname "Lord of the Ring."
[When asked for his opinion on who he thought the greatest fighter of all time] I suppose there is a definitive answer to that, but I'd have to break it down this way. My personal favorite fighter is Joe Louis. But the greatest two-fisted fighter I have ever seen is Henry Armstrong. The most skilled fighter I've ever seen is probably Sugar Ray Robinson. The most scientific boxer I have ever seen is Willie Pep, without a doubt. And the man I believe to the greatest fighter who ever lived is Harry Greb. Nobody before him or since him has done the things he did. He was merely a middleweight and he fought light-heavyweights and heavyweights all over the lot. And here is a guy with 300 fights.
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Fact
1
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.
2
Children: Barbara, Steven.
3
Inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
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A former amateur boxer, Hank Kaplan was the founder of Boxing Digest and one of the sport's most noted and respected historians. He was admitted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Longtime boxing writer and historian.
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
American Experience
2008
TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode
Eyes on the Prize
1990
TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode
American Angels: Baptism of Blood
1989
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
ESPN 25: Who's #1?
2006
TV Series documentary
Himself
Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story
2005
Documentary
Himself
American Experience
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself - Boxing Historian
Bud Greenspan's Reflections
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
ESPN SportsCentury
2000-2001
TV Series documentary
Himself / Himself (boxing historian)
Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion
1995
TV Movie documentary
Himself
In This Corner... Boxing's Legendary Heavyweights
1992
TV Movie
Himself - Boxing Historian
Known for movies
Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story (2005) as Himself
Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion (1995) as Himself
In This Corner... Boxing's Legendary Heavyweights (1992) as Himself - Boxing Historian
ESPN SportsCentury (2000-2001) as Himself / Himself (boxing historian)
$200,000
