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| Boxing Training Legend Emanuel Steward |
Emanuel Steward, The Hall of Fame boxing trainer, has died at the age of 68.
Steward was legend in the sport. He trained or was involved in the careers of more than 40 world champions. He first came to Prominence in the 1980s when Thomas Hearns of his own Kronk gym in Detroit became a World champion and went on to fight in many classics agaisnt boxing greats such as Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.
Steward was born in West Virginia in 1944 and carved a reputation as a good fighter in his own right, compiling an amateur record of 94 wins against just three defeats, and winning the Golden Gloves title at bantamweight in 1963.
He took both Hilmer Kenty and Hearns into the professional ranks.
While Kenty won the WBA crown in 1980, it was with Hearns, who won his first world title five months later by beating Pipino Cuevas in two rounds for the WBA welterweight belt, that Steward first found fame.
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| Manny was inducted to International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996 |
Hearns, who continued fighting until 2006, also became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four recognised weight divisions, and earlier this year was elected to join Steward in the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame, which the trainer has been a part of since 1996.
Steward went on to establish himself as one of his sport's most successful and prolific trainers, working with world champions throughout his entire career including Mike McCallum, Dennis Andries, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed, and most recently
Wladimir Klitschko. He was still working closely with his final champion, Klitschko, until a matter of weeks before his death.
Steward had recently undergone surgery for a stomach illness and had been forced to relinquish his role as chief trainer for Klitschko's upcoming world heavyweight title fight against Mariusz Wach.
Diane Steward-Jones confirmed confirmed her brother's death in a telephone call to the Detroit Free Press, "He has passed - he's gone home. He was in no pain, and we sang to him, as well as did the doctors present. He had loved ones with him. He gave it his all, but he's been called away now." she told the newspaper.
Emanuel, who became a respected co-commentator on big fights for the American cable network Home Box Office, has been remembered by a former fighter of his. Lennox Lewis has spoken of his 'devastation'at the trainers passing.
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| Steward with former champion Lennox Lewis |
"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."
The Briton went to Steward's Kronk Gym after losing his WBC heavyweight title to Oliver McCall (who was trained by Manny) in 1994, reclaiming it three years later before dominating the division prior to his retirement in 2004.
As for his more recent champion fighter, Klitschko, he has also issued a statement to the Klitschko brothers' official website, "Boxing has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Emanuel Steward,"
"Vitali and I, along with the entire Team Klitschko, send our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Emanuel's family and friends.
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| One of the greatest corner men of all time. |
Many more of Steward's proteges as well as others from within the sport have throuhout the night been tweeting messages in memory of the legend. For those who were fans of the sport, they will agree with Wladimir's believe that the legendary trainer "will be greatly missed."
