![]() ![]() He often took fighters in to live with him in his Detroit home, training them by day and parenting them by night. ![]() Training fighters was not just a job for Steward. As a cornerman, he commanded respect because of his strategic genius and for having the knack of saying the right thing at the right time during the heat of battle.įighters also loved him for his generosity and for the father-figure role he often played in their lives. Often called the Godfather of Detroit boxing, Steward was a beloved figure because of his outgoing personality, seemingly endless energy to talk about boxing with anyone who would approach him and his dedication to his fighters. Victoria Kirton, Steward's executive assistant, told The Associated Press that Steward died in a Chicago hospital Thursday afternoon. A younger generation of boxing fans knew him as an expert analyst on HBO's boxing telecasts. Steward, who also managed many of the fighters he trained, worked with more than two dozen champions during his decades-long career. He was a unique trainer.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĮmanuel Steward, revered as one of the best trainers in boxing history and whose Kronk Gym symbolized Detroit's gritty, blue-collar boxing scene and produced numerous world champions, died Thursday after a short illness. You try to look at their trends and work on what they have, rather than work with what you have, and he had the genius to select what they had and work with it. "He had the insight to see how to develop a fighter. "To say the least, Emanuel Steward was an exceptional trainer. ![]() "When they went to him they were normal types of boxers when he taught them they were champions," Calzaghe said. "My prayers and condolences go out to his family at this very difficult time."Įnzo Calzaghe, who trained his son, Joe, to become the undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world during an undefeated career, described Steward as a "genius". I'll miss his smile, his frank no-holds-barred truthfulness and our discussions on boxing and life. "I'm extremely grateful for the time that I was given with him and he will be severely missed by all who knew and loved him. "I'm proud to have had him in my corner for so many years. "Manny was giving, selfless, compassionate and stern," Lewis said. ![]() Steward was in Lewis's corner for his career-defining victories over Holyfield and Mike Tyson.įollowing Lewis's retirement, he began working with Klitschko and helped the Ukrainian become one of the finest heavyweights of his generation. "Manny always told me I was the best, but the truth is, he was the best and I'm grateful, privileged and honoured to be counted among his many historic successes." "It is with a heavy heart that realisation of what I hoped were just rumours are now, in fact, true. "We've maintained a close relationship and the last time we spoke he seemed his usual upbeat self, so it was very disturbing to hear about his illness and rapid decline," he added. Lewis, who retired in 2004, was unaware that Steward had been suffering from colon cancer. He subsequently reclaimed his title in 1997 and went on to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Lewis went to the American's Kronk Gym in Detroit after losing his WBC heavyweight title to Oliver McCall in 1994. Steward trained some of the most successful boxers in the history of the sport, including Thomas Hearns, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko. "Manny has helped me get through some of the biggest fights in my career and I only regret that I couldn't return the favour and see him through his biggest fight." "I'm completely devastated by the passing of my long-time friend, mentor and trainer Emanuel 'Manny' Steward. Manny always told me I was the best, but the truth is, he was the best and I'm grateful, privileged and honoured to be counted among his many historic successes ![]()
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