Nov 2012 06

Hank Nagamine was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.  Hank holds several distinctions going into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. He is the first Asian boxer to be inducted and also the first peace officer to be honored.

Hanks story started in his native Hawaii where he first donned boxing gloves. At the age of 18 he joined the Army’s 3rd All-Hawaiian outfit and was sent to Germany.

His boxing skills were good enough to win All-Service Tournaments in Europe and the U.S.   In 1962 he moved to Los Angeles and turned pro under the tutelage of “Derby” Duke Holloway and Sammy Sanders. Following a short ring career, Hank joined the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

Besides his duties as an undercover detective in the Asian detail, he also coached various boxing programs for the Sheriff’s Department.

Hank “Okinawa Assassin” Nagamine retired as a peace officer with honors in 1997 and is still a coach with the LASD Boxing team.

Hank is a big supporter of Public Safety boxing; he and his wife Jane attended the Sacramento Battle of the Badges October 6, 2012. Hank helped out at the event, giving advice and wrapping the hands of two fighters and those fighters won. “I have a special way of wrapping hands” Hank said.