“I keep things simple, and I give everybody their own individuality. You never see all my fighters fight the same way. I find the best punches and movements that are the most natural for the coordination of their body types,” Emanuel ‘Manny’ Steward once said in a conversation with The Commercial Appeal of Memphis in 2007. Maybe this is what made him so special to so many great boxers.

Five years after he made that quote, on 25th October 2012, Steward—revered as one of the greatest trainers in boxing history—passed away at the age of 68 due to complications following surgery for diverticulosis. His legendary Kronk Gym in Detroit had become a symbol of the city’s gritty blue-collar boxing scene. He was a coal miner’s son from West Virginia, yet Steward transformed the basement boxing gym in a struggling neighborhood into a powerhouse that produced more than 30 world champions.

Over the years, his stable featured a star-studded lineup, including Lennox Lewis, Tommy Hearns, Gerald McClellan, and Evander Holyfield, solidifying his lasting contributions to the sport. If those names didn’t signify the extent of his work, he also worked with the six-time world champion in three different weight classes, Julio César Chávez. He even helped Oscar De La Hoya, a world champion in six weight classes, and of course, Leon Spinks, and Wladimir Klitschko, the reigning heavyweight champion when Steward passed.

Therefore, even twelve years after his tragic death in 2012, the boxing community continues to feel the immense void he left behind, which was evident from the tributes shared by countless fans and legends alike on the anniversary of his passing.

Steward was born on July 7, 1944, in Bottom Creek, West Virginia, and a quick eight years later, his fascination with boxing took over. It began with Steward receiving a pair of Jack Dempsey gloves as a Christmas present. Three years later when his parents separated, Steward moved with his mother and sisters to Detroit.

The very next year, he would join the Brewster Recreation Center in Detroit, Michigan, where Joe Louis and Eddie Futch had also trained. As an amateur, ‘Manny’ the bantamweight, amassed a 94-3 record, later winning the national Golden Gloves championship in 1963. His skills in the ring made him a 1964 Olympics hopeful, but supporting his family took greater precedence for him over his career.

His affair with boxing had come to an end, and he became an electrician for Detroit Edison. However, some things are just meant to be. A while later when his teenage half-brother, James, came from West Virginia to live with him—a spark was lit. James wanted to box. This led the duo to Kronk and Steward’s half-brother became his first student.

It didn’t take long for people to take notice, as many other fighters joined under ‘Manny,’ and he started taking them to fights across the country. However, these were not good times, at least, not financially. Slowly but surely this changed, as his fighters kept doing well, and he kept getting a percentage of his fighter’s purse. 

Years later, he became the go-to trainer for most world champions. One impoverished, at the height of his fame in the 80s and 90s, ‘Manny’ would eventually own a collection of luxury cars that included a Rolls-Royce, a Lincoln, and a Jaguar. In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the sport, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996. Although the Kronk Gym was closed in 2006 by the city authorities, Steward continued to train fighters in various locations.

On the anniversary of Steward’s passing, Boxing News commemorated the boxing legend on social media, prompting an outpouring of tributes from figures like former world champion Tony Bellew and legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer, among others, who gathered to pay their respects to the revered trainer

Tony Bellew brands Emanuel Steward the Greatest of All Time (GOAT)

The former cruiserweight champion has been a big fan of Emanuel Steward and his work, especially Steward’s work with Lennox Lewis. In a September 2023 interview, Bellew credited Steward for training Lewis, which, he believed led to Lewis avenging his first career loss to Oliver McCall. Regardless, remembering Steward, Bellew wrote, “[GOAT emoji] when it comes to boxing teachers [in my opinion]…”

Michael Buffer, who has announced countless fights for Steward’s fighters, joined the conversation, noting, “R.I.P. Manny…My Friend, My Brother-I Miss You Everyday 💔.” Interestingly, Buffer and Steward were close friends, and after Steward’s passing, Buffer branded the late trainer a “legend… an icon” while mourning the passing of his “loved one”.

Another user commented on Steward’s character, writing, “To this day, the ONLY man in boxing no one can say anything bad about. RIP 🥊.” Some sources say, he often visited his fighters in their homes or took them to live with him. He would even cook for them if he thought his fighters weren’t eating well. Such was his dedication to the boxers under his tutelage.

The next user lamented Steward’s passing, writing, “You won’t see another trainer like him in our lifetime.” Notably, Steward would even customize his fighter’s outfits for their fights. Popularly, he changed Lennox Lewis’ black shoes, claiming, “You can’t feel quick in black shoes.”

Meanwhile, one user celebrated Steward’s contributions, writing, “What a legend!! Trained and nurtured so many talented fighters, fly high🕊️.” Boxing may never see the likes of Steward ever again. However, the celebration of Steward’s legacy isn’t limited to the hundreds of thousands of boxing fans today. It extends to his family as well.

Veteran trainer, Sugar Hill Steward, whose original name was Javan Sugar Hill, honored his uncle Emanuel Steward by legally adopting the Steward surname in 2019. Reflecting on his uncle’s legacy at the press conference for the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury fight in May, Sugar Hill, who has been Tyson Fury’s trainer for a long time, remarked, “If Emanuel were alive, he’d be here right now,” while fighting back tears.

Perhaps Fury could have used Emanuel’s guidance in his corner, as he ultimately lost the fight to Usyk. Steward’s tactical brilliance was legendary; during Lennox Lewis’s fight against Mike Tyson, he famously fired up Lewis before the seventh round by screaming at him: “Get this motherf**ker out of here… You’ve got a dead man in front of you… Just let that s**t go.” One round later, Lewis had knocked out Mike Tyson and crowned himself the greatest heavyweight of the 90s. Had Steward been in Fury’s corner, maybe the outcome might have been slightly different.

Over a decade later, the outpouring of tributes from Tony Bellew, Michael Buffer, and countless others serve as a testament to Steward’s enduring influence. His spirit lives on in the sport he loved, a lasting reminder of what it means to dedicate one’s life to a craft. Boxing may move forward, but Emanuel Steward’s impact is forever woven into the fabric of the sport.

Do you have a few words for Emanuel Steward on his death anniversary?