Emanuel Steward
Encyclopedia
Emanuel Steward is an American boxing
trainer, commentator and inductee of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
.
and, by the age of 12, he had moved with his mother to Detroit, Michigan
. After moving to Detroit, he began to frequent the Brewster Recreation Center, where Joe Louis
and Eddie Futch
trained. Steward began an amateur boxing career there. He compiled a record of 94 wins and 3 losses as an amateur boxer
, including winning the 1963 national Golden Gloves
tournament in the bantamweight
division. Afterward, Steward became interested in training amateur boxers. However, due to his family's economic situation, he needed a steady job, so he temporarily became an electrician
.
In 1971 Steward took his half brother James Steward to the nearby Kronk Gym
and became a part time coach there.
In the 1970s, the Kronk gym was a hot-bed for amateur boxers. Steward trained many of the nation's top amateurs. He eventually translated his success with amateurs into a career training championship-level professional fighters.
On March 2, 1980, Hilmer Kenty
became Steward's first world champion by knocking out world lightweight champ Ernesto España
.
Steward achieved his most notable early success with welterweight Thomas Hearns
, whom he changed from a light hitting boxer into a devastating puncher. 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 in a fight known as The War
.
Steward still trains fighters in Detroit, Michigan.
He is currently training heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko
, among others.
, and has started an association with the Dodge Theater
in Phoenix
to present boxing undercards once a month.
Among the world champions who have trained or sought Steward's guidance at some point of their career are:
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
trainer, commentator and inductee of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
World Boxing Hall of Fame
The World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
.
Life and career
Steward was born in Bottom Creek, West VirginiaBottom Creek, West Virginia
Bottom Creek is an unincorporated community located in McDowell County, West Virginia, USA. Bottom Creek lies along U.S. Route 52 between the towns of Kimball and Vivian. It takes its name from the stream that runs through the community.-Notable residents:...
and, by the age of 12, he had moved with his mother to Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. After moving to Detroit, he began to frequent the Brewster Recreation Center, where Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
and Eddie Futch
Eddie Futch
Eddie Futch was a boxing trainer. Among the fighters he trained are Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, and Trevor Berbick, four of the five men to defeat Muhammad Ali....
trained. Steward began an amateur boxing career there. He compiled a record of 94 wins and 3 losses as an amateur boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, including winning the 1963 national Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
tournament in the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
division. Afterward, Steward became interested in training amateur boxers. However, due to his family's economic situation, he needed a steady job, so he temporarily became an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
.
In 1971 Steward took his half brother James Steward to the nearby Kronk Gym
Kronk Gym
Kronk Gym was a boxing gym located in Detroit and led by the famous trainer Emanuel Steward. The gym was run out of the basement of the oldest recreation center of the City of Detroit...
and became a part time coach there.
In the 1970s, the Kronk gym was a hot-bed for amateur boxers. Steward trained many of the nation's top amateurs. He eventually translated his success with amateurs into a career training championship-level professional fighters.
On March 2, 1980, Hilmer Kenty
Hilmer Kenty
James Kenty, also known as Hilmer Kenty is a former WBA professional boxing champion in the lightweight division.- Amateur career :...
became Steward's first world champion by knocking out world lightweight champ Ernesto España
Ernesto España
Ernesto España was a Venezuelan boxer who held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship in 1979 and 1980.España became a professional boxer in 1975 and won all of his bouts except one when he fought Claude Noel on June 16, 1979, for the vacant WBA lightweight title that had been given...
.
Steward achieved his most notable early success with welterweight Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
, whom he changed from a light hitting boxer into a devastating puncher. Hearns became one of Steward's most successful and popular fighters, fighting Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
, knocking out Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
, and challenging undisputed Middleweight Champion
Undisputed Champion
In professional boxing, the undisputed champion of a weight class is a boxer who is recognized as the world champion at that class by each boxing organization.-History:...
Marvelous Marvin Hagler in a fight known as The War
The War (boxing)
The War, also known as Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns or Hagler-Hearns, was a world middleweight championship boxing match between Undisputed Champion Marvin Hagler and challenger Thomas Hearns, who was himself the world's junior middleweight champion...
.
Steward still trains fighters in Detroit, Michigan.
He is currently training heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...
, among others.
Awards
- Elected into the International Boxing Hall of FameInternational Boxing Hall of FameThe modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
- Elected into the World Boxing Hall of FameWorld Boxing Hall of FameThe World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
As a businessman
Kronk became a property of Steward, who now is famous also for his collection of Rolls Royce cars and mansion. He opened a branch of the gym in Tucson, ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and has started an association with the Dodge Theater
Dodge Theater
Comerica Theatre is an indoor concert hall and arena in Phoenix. The venue seats 5,500 people and hosts many musical artists and shows...
in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
to present boxing undercards once a month.
Among the world champions who have trained or sought Steward's guidance at some point of their career are:
- Dennis AndriesDennis AndriesDennis Andries was a British professional boxer in the light heavyweight division.Andries turned pro in 1978 and won the WBC Light Heavyweight Title in 1986 in a decision over American JB Williamson. He defended the title once against fellow Briton Tony Sibson before losing the belt in 1987 to...
- Wilfred BenítezWilfred BenitezWilfred Benítez , is a Puerto Rican boxer. He is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities who won world championships in three separate weight divisions, and was the youngest world champion in boxing history at the age of 17...
- Julio César ChávezJulio César ChávezJulio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
- Kermit CintronKermit CintronKermit Cintrón is a Puerto Rican boxer who is from Carolina, Puerto Rico. Cintrón is trained by Ronnie Shields and managed by Josh Dubin. He is promoted by Top Rank.-Early and personal life:...
- Miguel CottoMiguel CottoMiguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional boxer and the reigning WBA light middleweight champion. He is the younger brother of contender Jose Miguel Cotto and cousin of Abner Cotto...
- Oscar De La HoyaOscar de la HoyaOscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
- Domonique DoltonDomonique DoltonDomonique Dorian Dolton is an undefeated professional boxer and is considered one of the best prospect in the Light Middleweight division, Dolton Is also the older brother of Middleweight amateur boxer Jalen Grimes of Motown Boxing Gym in Detroit, MI.-Amateur career:Domonique lost to Keith Thurman...
- Naseem HamedNaseem HamedNaseem Hamed is an English former professional boxer.He is the former WBO, WBC, IBF, & Lineal featherweight champion, and European bantamweight champion....
- Thomas HearnsThomas HearnsThomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
- Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
- John David Jackson
- Hilmer KentyHilmer KentyJames Kenty, also known as Hilmer Kenty is a former WBA professional boxing champion in the lightweight division.- Amateur career :...
- Ole KlemetsenOle KlemetsenOle "Lukkøye" Klemetsen is a retired Norwegian boxer in the Light Heavyweight division. He was nicknamed "Mister Sandman" and the "Golden Viking".-Amateur:...
- Wladimir KlitschkoWladimir KlitschkoWladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...
- Lennox LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
- Michael MoorerMichael MoorerMichael Lee Moorer is a retired American boxer who is a former light heavyweight and heavyweight World Champion.-Biography:Moorer is a native of Monessen, Pennsylvania, which is in Southwestern Pennsylvania.-Professional career:...
- Oliver McCallOliver McCallOliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall is an American professional Heavyweight boxer best known for winning the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1994 after scoring an upset knock out victory over Lennox Lewis, in Lewis' home town of London, England, followed by his infamous in-ring meltdown in the rematch...
- Mike McCallumMike McCallumMike McCallum is a retired boxer. Nicknamed "The Body Snatcher" for his fierce body punching. McCallum won world titles in three weight classes.-Amateur career:Claimed an amateur record of 240-10...
- Milton McCroryMilton McCroryMilton McCrory was a professional boxer in the welterweight division.- Amateur :Milton had a reported amateur record of 105-15.He lost in the 1979 National AAU finals to Lemuel Steeples and in the Olympic Trials to Johnny Bumphus.- Pro career :Known as "Ice Man", McCrory turned pro in 1980 an won...
- Steve McCrorySteve McCrorySteve McCrory was an American boxer, who won the Flyweight Gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics...
- Gerald McClellanGerald McClellanGerald McClellan is a former boxer from the United States of America, who was the WBO and WBC middleweight champion. McClellan's record as a professional boxer was 31 wins and 3 losses with 29 wins by knockout...
- Jimmy PaulJimmy PaulJimmy Paul was an American boxer in the lightweight division. On April 6, 1985 he beat Harry Arroyo to become the IBF Lightweight Champion. Paul successfully defended the title four times. On December 6, 1986 Paul lost the title to Greg Haugen. Paul retired in 1999 with a professional record of...
- Jermain TaylorJermain TaylorJermain Taylor is an American professional boxer and former undisputed middleweight champion. He made his professional boxing debut in 2001 and won his first 25 bouts, which included victories over former champions Raúl Márquez and William Joppy...
- Duane ThomasDuane ThomasDuane Julius Thomas is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played four seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins from 1970 to 1974....
- James ToneyJames ToneyJames Nathanial Toney is an American professional boxer who has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight divisions. Toney currently fights in the heavyweight division in boxing and also now competes in mixed martial arts.-Boxing career:Toney's amateur boxing...
- Yuriorkis Gamboa