If you worked this side of the ropes in the boxing business, you relied on Hank Kaplan. He was an historian who was generous with his time and his collection of photos, magazines and clips. He could often be a writer's greatest resource.
Hank passed away early this morning at his home in Kendall, Florida following a brief battle with cancer. He was 88.
A native of Brooklyn, Kaplan began doing publicity work for Angelo and Chris Dundee at Miami’s Fifth Street Gym in the 1950s. He was the founder and editor of World-Wide Boxing Digest magazine and served as consultant to Sports Illustrated and HBO. For over a decade he was The Ring’s Florida correspondent. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.
It's been said that Kaplan will donate his massive collection and archives to Brooklyn College.
Appropriately, today, the flags will fly half-staff at the Hall.
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RIP Hank!