Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 

accessible at thejewishnews.com

54 | JUNE 6 • 2024 
J
N

Queen of the Ring
I 

can think of a couple of titles to sum up this Looking Back. 
“It’s About Time!” or “Trailblazer Gets Her Due” work well. 
Or perhaps a simple “Detroit Jewish Girl Makes Good”? 
Regardless of catchphrase, Detroiter Jackie Kallen richly deserves 
her induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 
9. 
Kallen is indeed a trailblazer, and the boxing world will recog-
nize her achievements with this honor. She is one of only a few 
female boxing managers in the history of a sport that has been 
male-dominated since ancient times. It might also be 
argued that Kallen is the most successful one.
Born and raised in a Jewish family in Detroit, it 
is said that Jackie Kaplan began her writing career 
while still in elementary school. In the 1970s, 
Kellan, nee Kaplan, was a show business journalist, 
writing stories for popular magazines and inter-
viewing such celebrities as the Rolling Stones, 
Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
Kallen interviewed Thomas “Hitman” Hearns in 1977 at 
Detroit’s famous Kronk Gym. A young rising star at that time, 
Hearns would become the most famous and best boxer from 
the city since Joe Louis; and like the latter pugilist, he attained 
legendary status. Joining the Kronk Gym as its publicist in 
1989, Kallen was with Hearns every step of the way through 
his championship years, along with other famous Kronk 
world champions such as Hilmer Kenty and Milton McCory.
Kallen caught the boxing bug. As she worked as a publicist for Hearns, Kallen studied 
the business of boxing. In 1988, she made her debut as a boxing manager with heavyweight 
Bobby Hitz. Kallen had her first world champion, middleweight James Toney, in 1991, and 
another middleweight champion, Bronco McKart, in 1996.
By this time, Kallen was well-known in Detroit and nationally as a boxing manager. As a 
woman in a man’s world, however, it was not an easy rise to success. Kallen had to overcome 
sexism and prejudice. 
I found 113 pages in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History that 
mention Kallen. There are several feature stories as well. She was a particular favorite of 
Danny Raskin and was often cited in his “Best of Everything” column (see “Queen of the 
Ring,” Feb. 14, 2003). Kallen was also a guest columnist for Danny five times from 1976-78.
The story of Kallen’s trials and tribulations became a Hollywood feature film. Against the Ropes, starring Meg Ryan and 
Omar Epps, was released by Paramount Films in 2004. (Feb. 20, 2004).
Kallen was also involved in the NBC reality show, The Contenders, about aspiring young boxers, 2005-2009. Its executive 
producer was Sylvester Stallone, and Sugar Ray Leonard was a program adviser (June 6, 2004). 
BTW — Jackie may not remember, but Pam, my wife, and I were at a boxing show at the Shenandoah Country Club in West 
Bloomfield — uniquely, it was promoted by two women, Jackie and Connie Shomoun (May 21, 2015, JN). By happenstance, 
we were assigned to sit at a table with Hilmer Kenty — a great guy. Jackie stopped to say hi to Hilmer and included us in the 
conversation. She was charming and gracious. 
Obviously, I’m a fan of Jackie Kallen. It’s about time she finds her place in the Boxing Hall of Fame. 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives, available for free at thejewishnews.com.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

