On This Day

In Boxing History

2012: Hall of Fame Trainer

Emmanuel “Manny” Steward Passes!

Born, Bottom Creek, West Virginia, Emanuel "Manny" Steward was an American boxer, trainer and commentator for HBO Boxing. Steward trained 41 world champion fighters throughout his career, most notably Thomas Hearns, through the famous Kronk Gym and later heavyweights Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. His heavyweight fighters had a record of 34-2-1 combined in title fights.

Steward was also known for his charity work in Detroit, Michigan, helping the youth to attain an education.

Steward, born July 7, 1944 in Bottom Creek, West Virginia, but, by the age of 12, he had moved with his mother to Detroit, Michigan, after she divorced his father, who was a coal miner.

Making his wat to the Brewster Recreation Center, where Joe Louis and Eddie Futch trained Steward began to train as an amateur boxer compiling a record of 94 wins and 3 losses including capturing a National Golden Gloves Championship as a bantamweight in 1963.

Turning down a west coast offer to turn pro not wanting to re-locate and abandon to his mother and his two younger sisters he remained in Detroit taking his half -brother, James Steward, to the nearby Kronk Gym, in 1971 where he became a main-stay training many of the nation's top amateurs and winning the team title at the Detroit Golden Gloves Tournament. Affectionately known as “Manny” Steward continued on carrying his success with amateurs into a career training championship-level pro’s.

A decade later, March 2nd, 1980, Steward would train his first world champion Hilmer Kenty who claimed the World Boxing Association World Light Title knocking out reigning world lightweight champ Ernesto España in nine rounds.

Steward achieved his most notable early success with welterweight Thomas Hearns, whom he changed from a light hitting boxer into one of the most devastating punchers in boxing history. Hearns became one of Steward's most successful and popular fighters, fighting Sugar Ray Leonard, knocking out Roberto Durán, and challenging undisputed Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

Death: Age 68, Steward died on October 25, 2012, after undergoing surgery for diverticulitis

Awards

1980: BWAA Manager of the Year

1989: BWAA Manager of the Year

1993: BWAA Trainer of the Year

1996: Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (Non-Participant Category)

1997: BWAA Trainer of the Year

2000: Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame (Expanded Category)

2001: Steward began working as a HBO boxing commentator

Kronk Gym became a property of Steward's, who was also famous for his collection of Rolls Royce cars and mansions. He opened a branch of the gym in Tucson, Arizona, and started an association with the Dodge Theater in Phoenix to present boxing undercards once a month.

Fighters Trained:

Among the world champions and top rated contenders who trained or sought Steward's guidance at some point of their career were: Aaron Pryor, Adonis Stevenson, Andrew Murray, Andy Lee, Chad Dawson, Cornelius Bundrage, Dennis Andries, Domonique Dolton, Duane Thomas, Evander Holyfield, Gerald McClellan, Graciano Rocchigiani, Hilmer Kenty, James Toney, Jermain Taylor, Jesse Benavides, Jimmy Paul, John David Jackson, Johnathon Banks, Julio César Chávez, Kermit Cintron, Lennox Lewis, Mark Breland Michael Moorer, Mickey Goodwin, Miguel Ángel González, Miguel Cotto, Mike McCallum, Milton McCrory, Naseem Hamed, Oba Carr, Oliver McCall, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Womack, Steve McCrory, Syd Vanderpool, Tarick Salmaci, Thomas Hearns, Tyson Fury, Wilfred Benítez, William "Caveman" Lee, Wladimir Klitschko, Yuriorkis Gamboa,

October 25th

1958: Greg Page was born in Louisville, Kentucky

1960: Alphonse Halimi W15 Freddie Gilroy

1964: Crisanto Espana was born in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela

1968: Sandro Mazzinghi NC9 Freddie Little

1971: Ruben Olivares KO14 Kazuyoshi Kanazawa

1980: Mike Weaver KO13 Gerrie Coetzee

1986: Rickey Parkey KO10 Lee Roy Murphy

Mike McCallum KO9 Said Skouma

1987: Rocky Lockridge KO10 Johnny de la Rosa

1990: Evander Holyfield KO3 James “Buster” Douglas

Ricardo Lopez KO5 Hideyuki Ohashi

1991: Muangchai Kittikasem W12 Alberto Jimenez

1994: Chris Eubank W12 Dan Schommer

2008: Mikkel Kessler KO3 Danilio Haussler

2012: Hall of Fame Trainer Emmanuel “Manny” Steward Passes

2013: Gabriela Bouvier W10 Florencia Roxana Canteros

Marcela Eliana Acuna W10 Halanna Dos Santos

Sindy Amador W10 Amaris Quintana

Lindsay Garbatt WMD10 Jackie Trivilino

2014: Ayaka Miyao KO10 Satomi Nishimura   

Yazmin Rivas W10 Susie Ramadan

Hekkie Budler W12 Chaozhong Xiong

Randy Caballero W12 Stuart Hall

2019: Chayaphon Moonsri W12 Simpiwe Konkco

Sonia Osorio W10 Estrella Valverde

Jose Velasquez TKO9 Melvin Lopez