From left: Henry Hascup, director of NJ Boxing Hall of Fame; Plevins; Antony Thomas, nominator; and Larry Hazzard, NJ Boxing Commissioner.
Steve Plevins recently received the 2024 Boxing Man of the Year Award from the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.
Plevins has devoted his life to serving communities and uplifting youth, with a particular focus on the transformative power of boxing. Over the years, he has received more than 100 major awards for his community contributions, including a Point of Light Award from President George W. Busch and a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama. This year, New York’s Marquis recognized him in “Who’s Who” for his distinguished work with young people and community outreach.
Plevins’ journey began early; from ages 10 to 15, he trained with amateur boxers, and by 16, he was volunteering at Ma Byrd’s Training Camp in Pleasantville, NJ. There, he had the honor of working alongside iconic figures such as Joe Frazier, Yank Durham, Emile Griffith, Gypsy Joe Harris, Ernie Terrell, and Stanley “Kitten” Hayward, as he gained invaluable experience with Philadelphia’s boxing legends.
As a community recreation director in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Plevins supported the local boxing team, which included the young Sugar Ray Leonard, and collaborated with Adrian Davis in a program in Bowie, Maryland. Later, as recreatin director at the Vineland Children’s Residential Treatment Center. Plevins made history by integrating boxing into treatment and rehabilitation of troubled youth securing state approval to take his students to professional boxing workouts in Atlantic City. His program worked with celebrated fighters like Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Shannon Briggs, Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield, and George Foreman. He acheived remarkable results as many of the young participants did not return to state facilities, marking it as a highly successful initiative.
Plevins also mentored Dwight Braxton (later known as Dwight Muhammad Qawi) guiding him to work with youth at The Lighthouse in Pleasantville. Braxton’s contibutions were later acknowledged by Gov. James Florio. Additionally, Plevins built a connection with Muhammad Ali, whom he met on three occasions, and was asked to share his experiences in a local newspaper article.
One of Plevins’ notable initiatives, “Broaden Your Horizons,” was a five-day afterschool program centered on boxing, which earned recognition from Gov. Christie Whitman as the best in the state and eventually evolved into the Vineland Boys and Girls Club.
In 2023, Plevins was honored before Congress for his enduring impact on the Vineland community. His numerous accolades celebrate his unwavering dedication to inner city and at-risk youth in Vineland.
