Hank (Henry) A. Boone

item
Player Name
Hank (Henry) A. Boone
Type
Athlete
Sport
Boxing
Inducted
2013
Era
1971 – 1990
Description
Inducted January 2013
Hank Boone was noted by Tony Unitas, World Boxing Wall of Famer, as “the best match maker in boxing”. Hank’s boxers competed in Silver, Golden, and Labatts Gloves, Provincial and Canadian Championships. Russ Anber, boxing analyst on the Sports Network, publicly stated that Hank was the best south paw coach in Canada and possibly North America. Hank began his career as a boxing coach in 1970, at the Cyanamid Recreation Hall in Niagara Falls. He transferred to the Port Dalhousie Legion Boxing Club in 1975 for a larger training area. In 1976, Hank opened the St. Catharines Boxing Club, where he produced two Olympian brothers, Steve (1984 Olympics) and Jamie Pagendam (1988 Olympics). Hank also trained 4 of the 12 members of the Canadian A Team, Canadian Champions: Steve Pagendam, Jamie Pagendam, Guy Normandeau and John Farinacci. Hank was the primary coach at many training camps for excelling boxers. He was a boxing coach at the 1982 World Championships, 1983 Pan-Am Games, 1984 Olympics, Winter Games and numerous tournaments all over the world.
In 1984 Hank coached the Special Olympics Relay Team, winning gold. In 1985, Hank was recognized with the Ontario Championship Certificate by Ontario Premier David R. Peterson. Starting in 1985, Hank was the trainer for several pro boxers. In 1994, Hank continued training in Niagara Falls, helping at local gyms and in 1999, he opened Boone’s City Boxing Club. Hank trained several OBA Provincial and Golden Gloves Champions. In 2010, Hank trained Raymond Olubowale right through the Canadian Championships as a Super Heavy Weight Professional. Raymond still holds the title today.
Hank was in the movie Cinderella Man starring Russell Crowe and was honoured to be in the company of some of the world’s best Professional boxers. He received the reader’s choice ‘Best Coach of the Year’ for more than ten years. Despite an illness, Hank never stopped coaching. Hank produced 42 boxers that won championship titles from the World Junior, Pan-Am, Provincial, Canadian, Golden Gloves and Professional Canadian Championships. Hank is recognized for his ability to teach athletes the technical skills of boxing and he has received the highest respect due for his 40 years of dedication.
Subject
Niagara Falls Virtual Sports Wall of Fame
Awards
Portraits - Biographical
Sports - Recreation - Leisure