Louis "Kid" Kaplan (born October 15, 1901, in Kyiv, Ukraine – October 26, 1970), known as the Meridan Buzzsaw, was a professional boxer and a 1925 world featherweight champion.

Early life

Kaplan and his family emigrated to the United States from the Kyiv when he was five years old and settled in Meriden, Connecticut. While selling fruit for five cents a day, he began boxing as a teenager at the Lenox Athletic Club in Meriden, and turned professional in 1919.

Professional career

Kaplan began his boxing career in the Connecticut State circuit. At the time, Meriden was an epicenter of boxing in the Northeastern United States. Early in his career, Kaplan fought the popular local favorite and former New York State champion Charlie Pilkington. Though they never boxed a professional match together, their early rivalry and Pilkington's role as a mentor and sparring partner had much to do with launching Kaplan's very successful boxing career.

A busy fighter, he engaged in over 50 bouts in his first four years in the paid ranks. During one of his early fights in 1920, Kaplan knocked out opponent Sailor Cunningham within two minutes.

After winning against Hughie Hutchinson and Earl Baird in 1922, Kaplan gained significant popularity.

In 1923 he twice drew with rival Babe Herman before scoring a 10-round win over future world lightweight champ Jimmy Goodrich.

World featherweight champion, 1925

By late 1924, World Featherweight champion Johnny Dundee vacated his title and a tournament was arranged to determine a successor. "Kid" kayoed Angel Diaz in three rounds, outpointed Bobby Garcia over 10-rounds, and then halted Joe Lombardo in four rounds to advance to the finals. On January 2, 1925, he knocked out Danny Kramer in nine rounds at Madison Square Garden to become the new champion. His first two defenses were against the familiar Babe Herman (D15 and W15) in late 1925. Kaplan next decisioned Hall of Famer Billy Petrolle over 12 rounds in a non-title bout.

However, Kaplan's reign as champion was nearing its end. Despite standing 5 ft 4 in., he was experiencing difficulty making the featherweight limit and decided to relinquish the crown to campaign as a lightweight in 1927. As a 135-pounder, he scored wins over Jackie Fields, Johnny Jadick, Billy Wallace, Battling Battalino and Sammy Mandell among others. Amongst the wins were losses to Wallace and Hall of Famer Jimmy McLarnin. In 1933 he lost to Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Lewis Hardwick, and promptly retired from the ring with a 108-17-13D- 12 ND (26KOs) record.

Known as a rugged, pressing boxer who possessed tremendous stamina, the crowd-pleasing "Meriden Buzzsaw" died on October 26, 1970, in Norwich, Connecticut.

Halls of Fame

Kaplan was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

Kaplan, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

Miscellaneous

Brother of fellow boxer Israel "Izzy" Kaplan

Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official Record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted to the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound(s)DateLocationNotes164Loss107–22–13 Herbert Lewis HardwickPTS10Feb 20, 1933 163Win107–21–13 Eddie HolmesPTS10Oct 13, 1932 162Loss106–21–13 Pancho VillaSD10Sep 9, 1932 161Win106–20–13 Frankie PetrollePTS8Aug 4, 1932 160Win105–20–13 Emil RossiPTS8Jul 19, 1932 159Win104–20–13 Jackie PilkingtonPTS10Jun 29, 1932 158Loss103–20–13 Eddie RanKO1 (8)Nov 20, 1931 157Win103–19–13 Harry DublinskyPTS8Nov 4, 1931 156Win102–19–13 Pancho VillaKO9 (10)Oct 12, 1931 155Win101–19–13 Jackie PilkingtonPTS10Sep 8, 1931 154Win100–19–13 Sammy MandellPTS10Aug 24, 1931 153Win99–19–13 Tommy JarrettPTS10Jul 23, 1931 152Win98–19–13 Ralph LennyPTS10Apr 20, 1931 151Win97–19–13 Billy LynchPTS10Apr 6, 1931 150Win96–19–13 Buster BrownPTS10Mar 16, 1931 149Win95–19–13 Tommy CrowleyTKO6 (10)Mar 4, 1931 148Win94–19–13 Jack PortneyPTS10Feb 4, 1931 147Loss93–19–13 Justo SuárezPTS10Oct 17, 1930 146Win93–18–13 Christopher BattalinoPTS10Sep 24, 1930 145Win92–18–13 Jimmy O'BrienTKO9 (10)Aug 9, 1930 144Win91–18–13 Maurice HoltzerPTS10Jun 30, 1930 143Win90–18–13 Tommy CrowleyPTS10Jun 19, 1930 142Win89–18–13 Joey MedillPTS10Jun 2, 1930 141Win88–18–13 Johnny FarrPTS10Mar 18, 1930 140Loss87–18–13 Jack PortneyPTS10Feb 24, 1930 139Win87–17–13 Andy CallahanPTS10Dec 13, 1929 138Win86–17–13 Emory CabanaPTS10Nov 19, 1929 137Win85–17–13 Eddie WolfeTKO8 (10)Oct 30, 1929 136Loss84–17–13 Emory CabanaPTS10Sep 17, 1929 135Win84–16–13 Henri DewanckerTKO7 (12)Sep 9, 1929 134Win83–16–13 Joe TrabonPTS10Aug 22, 1929 133Win82–16–13 Billy WallacePTS10May 10, 1929 132Win81–16–13 Joey MedillPTS10Apr 11, 1929 131Win80–16–13 Joe GlickPTS10Apr 2, 1929 130Loss79–16–13 Freddie MuellerDQ8 (10)Feb 26, 1929 129Win79–15–13 Phil McGrawPTS10Feb 14, 1929 128Win78–15–13 Johnny JadickDQ7 (10)Jan 11, 1929 127Win77–15–13 Ritchie KingPTS10Jan 1, 1929 126Win76–15–13 Bruce FlowersPTS10Oct 16, 1928 125Win75–15–13 Bert LambKO7 (10)Sep 21, 1928 124Loss74–15–13 Manuel QuinteroPTS10Jul 2, 1928 123Loss74–14–13 Manuel QuinteroPTS10May 31, 1928 122Win74–13–13 Georgie DayPTS10May 8, 1928 121Win73–13–13 Joe TrabonPTS10Feb 27, 1928 120Win72–13–13 Bobby MaysPTS10Feb 20, 1928 119Win71–13–13 Mike DundeePTS12Nov 1, 1927 118Loss70–13–13 Jimmy McLarninKO8 (10)Oct 18, 1927 117Win70–12–13 Tommy CelloPTS10Oct 11, 1927 116Win69–12–13 Clicky ClarkTKO5 (12)Sep 8, 1927 115Win68–12–13 Bruce FlowersPTS10Jun 29, 1927 114Win67–12–13 Jackie FieldsPTS10Jun 15, 1927 113Win66–12–13 Al ForemanPTS10May 9, 1927 112Win65–12–13 Tony VaccarelliTKO8 (12)May 2, 1927 111Win64–12–13 Johnny CeccoliPTS10Apr 4, 1927 110Win63–12–13 Jackie BradyPTS10Mar 28, 1927 109Win62–12–13 Frankie FinkTKO8 (10)Mar 18, 1927 108Win61–12–13 Lou PalusoPTS12Jan 17, 1927 107Win60–12–13 Paris CangeyKO4 (10)Jan 10, 1927 106Loss59–12–13 Billy WallaceKO5 (15)Dec 2, 1926 105Win59–11–13 Tommy CelloPTS10Nov 5, 1926 104Win58–11–13 Tommy CelloPTS10Aug 3, 1926 103Win57–11–13 Bobby GarciaTKO10 (15)Jun 28, 1926 102Win56–11–13 Billy WhiteNWS10Jun 4, 1926 101Win56–11–13 Leo RoyKO7 (10)Apr 21, 1926 100Win55–11–13 Mickey ChapinUD10Apr 12, 1926 99Win54–11–13 Tommy HermanPTS12Mar 26, 1926 98Draw53–11–13 Eddie WagnerPTS10Mar 8, 1926 97Win53–11–12 Billy PetrollePTS12Mar 1, 1926 96Win52–11–12 Billy MurphyPTS10Jan 25, 1926 95Win51–11–12 Babe HermanUD15Dec 18, 1925 94Draw50–11–12 Babe HermanPTS15Aug 27, 1925 93Win50–11–11 Billy KennedyNWS10Aug 5, 1925 92Win50–11–11 Frankie SchaefferNWS10Jun 26, 1925 91Win50–11–11 Steve SullivanTKO5 (10)May 22, 1925 90Win49–11–11 Ernie GoozemanNWS12Mar 28, 1925 89Win49–11–11 Johnny FarrNWS12Mar 11, 1925 88Win49–11–11 Bud RidleyNWS12Feb 10, 1925 87Win49–11–11 Danny KramerTKO9 (15)Jan 2, 1925 86Win48–11–11 Jose LombardoKO4 (12)Dec 12, 1924 85Win47–11–11 Bobby GarciaPTS10Nov 21, 1924 84Win46–11–11 Angel DiazKO3 (?)Oct 10, 1924 83Win45–11–11 Lou PalusoPTS12Sep 15, 1924 82Win44–11–11 Pal MoranDQ9 (12)Aug 21, 1924 81Win43–11–11 Bobby GarciaPTS12Jun 9, 1924 80Draw42–11–11 Cuddy DeMarcoPTS12Apr 24, 1924 79Draw42–11–10 Bobby GarciaPTS12Mar 20, 1924 78Win42–11–9 Cuddy DeMarcoPTS12Feb 21, 1924 77Win41–11–9 Eddie BradyUD12Feb 1, 1924 76Draw40–11–9 Cuddy DeMarcoPTS10Jan 7, 1924 75Win40–11–8 Allentown Johnny LeonardPTS12Dec 13, 1923 74Win39–11–8 Jimmy GoodrichPTS10Sep 28, 1923 73Win38–11–8 Tommy NobleTKO7 (10)Aug 9, 1923 72Draw37–11–8 Babe HermanPTS12Jul 3, 1923 71Draw37–11–7 Babe HermanPTS12Jun 12, 1923 70Draw37–11–6 Babe HermanPTS8Jun 2, 1923 69Win37–11–5 Danny FrushKO6 (?)May 17, 1923 68Win36–11–5 Harvey BrightPTS12Apr 16, 1923 67Loss35–11–5 Al ShubertPTS12Mar 14, 1923 66Win35–10–5 Babe HermanPTS12Mar 8, 1923 65Win34–10–5 Mickey TraversPTS12Jan 15, 1923 64Loss33–10–5 Babe HermanPTS12Dec 18, 1922 63Win33–9–5 Steve SullivanUD12Nov 24, 1922 62Win32–9–5 Gene DelmontPTS12Nov 14, 1922 61Win31–9–5 Andy ChaneyPTS12Oct 20, 1922 60Win30–9–5 Johnny ShugruePTS12Sep 14, 1922 59Win29–9–5 Eddie WagnerPTS12Aug 10, 1922 58Win28–9–5 Earl BairdDQ8 (12)Jun 29, 1922 57Loss27–9–5 Eddie WagnerPTS12Jun 9, 1922 56Win27–8–5 Earl BairdPTS12May 29, 1922 55Win26–8–5 Johnny LissePTS12May 13, 1922 54Win25–8–5 Johnny WilliamsNWS12Apr 18, 1922 53Win25–8–5 Dick RussellPTS10Apr 10, 1922 52Win24–8–5 Hughie HutchinsonPTS12Apr 1, 1922 51Win23–8–5 Artie RoseTKO2 (12)Mar 20, 1922 50Win22–8–5 Knockout Al WagnerPTS8Mar 13, 1922 49Draw21–8–5 Jackie CoburnPTS6Mar 6, 1922 48Draw21–8–4 Mickey TraversPTS12Mar 2, 1922 47Draw21–8–3 Hughie HutchinsonPTS12Feb 25, 1922 46Win21–8–2 Dick RussellRTD2 (10)Feb 13, 1922 45Win20–8–2 Jimmy DwyerPTS12Nov 29, 1921 44Win19–8–2 Freddie JacksPTS12Nov 19, 1921 43Win18–8–2 Dutch BrandtPTS12Oct 31, 1921 42Win17–8–2 Al ShubertPTS12Oct 24, 1921 41Win16–8–2 Billy DeFoeDQ5 (12)Oct 10, 1921 40Win15–8–2 Pete McDonaldPTS12Sep 23, 1921 39Win14–8–2 Billy MurphyPTS12Sep 2, 1921 38Win13–8–2 Kid LewisPTS12Aug 19, 1921 37Win12–8–2 Sammy WaltzPTS12Jul 1, 1921 36Win11–8–2 Jack CunninghamTKO1 (8)Jun 9, 1921 35Win10–8–2 Romeo RochePTS10May 14, 1921 34Win9–8–2 Joe CurrieNWS8Apr 7, 1921 33Win9–8–2 Terry O'ConnorDQ5 (8)Mar 31, 1921 32Loss8–8–2 Romeo RochePTS10Mar 11, 1921 31Loss8–7–2 Romeo RochePTS10Feb 25, 1921 30Win8–6–2 Johnny WilliamsNWS8Feb 21, 1921 29Loss8–6–2 Jimmy DwyerPTS8Feb 3, 1921 28Loss8–5–2 Mickey TraversPTS10Dec 27, 1920 27Loss8–4–2 Johnny ShugruePTS12Dec 11, 1920 26Draw8–3–2 Irish Kid WilliamsPTS8Dec 4, 1920 25Win8–3–1 Artie O'LearyTKO6 (6)Nov 12, 1920 24Win7–3–1 Joe HallPTS8Nov 6, 1920 236–3–1 Mickey TraversNC5 (?)Aug 17, 1920 22Draw6–3–1 Mickey TraversPTS8Aug 14, 1920 21Win6–3 Johnny GrayKO10 (10)Jun 18, 1920 20Win5–3 Jimmy FarrenPTS10Jun 10, 1920 19Draw4–3 George ProtoNWS6May 29, 1920 18Loss4–3 Mickey TraversPTS6Apr 29, 1920 17Loss4–2 Mickey TraversPTS10Apr 13, 1920 16Win4–1 Battling GreenTKO7 (10)Mar 29, 1920 15Win3–1 George SmithTKO3 (?)Mar 4, 1920 14Draw2–1 Eddie FordNWS8Feb 21, 1920 13Win2–1 Johnny (KO) RomanoNWS6Jan 22, 1920 12Win2–1 Battling HarrisNWS6Dec 27, 1919 11Win2–1 George HeborTKO4 (6)Dec 18, 1919 10Win1–1 Frankie MackNWS6Dec 1, 1919 9Win1–1 Terry O'ConnorNWS6Oct 30, 1919 8ND1–1 Kid BlackND6Oct 20, 1919 7ND1–1 Tommy SheaND6 (?)Oct 15, 1919 6ND1–1 Happy GormanND6Sep 2, 1919 51–1 Young DempseyND4Sep 1, 1919 4Draw1–1 Battling LewisNWS6Nov 18, 1918 3Loss1–1 George ProtoPTS6Apr 29, 1918 2Win1–0 Frankie MackNWS4Mar 21, 1918 1Win1–0 Young RoccoKO1 (6)Mar 7, 1918

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions to the win/loss/draw column.