![]() ![]() More recently he did a similar restoration job with Wladimir Klitschko, a man different in personality and style to Lewis, but Steward could work with them all." Lennox Lewis linked up with Steward after being knocked out by Oliver McCall in 1994 and went on to dominate the heavyweight division. In the 1980s, the Kronk became the most feared production house in boxing. "Steward's links with Tommy Hearns in the Kronk gym forged his reputation as a legend of the ring. "He had a very strange method of doing his training programme, but got the best out of Lennox Lewis and took him to a new level. "He was quite a character," he told BBC Radio 5 live. Promoter Frank Maloney, who managed former world heavyweight champion Lewis, said Steward was unique in style. In addition to Lewis, other British fighters coached by Steward, who was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1996, include former light-heavyweight world champion Dennis Andries and former featherweight world champion Naseem Hamed. Steward, who had been suffering from colon cancer, also trained boxing greats Wilfred Benitez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Mike McCallum and James Toney. I know he will be with us in spirit along the way and we will accomplish these goals in his honour. "My team and I will carry on with the goals we had set while Emanuel was with us because that is exactly what Emanuel would have wanted. The long talks about boxing, the world, and life itself. Well, I was privileged enough to work with one for almost a decade. "It is not often that a person in any line of work gets a chance to work with a legend. "Boxing has suffered a tremendous loss," said Klitschko. He was a unique trainer.The American handled more world champions than any other trainer, 43 in all, and was working with heavyweight champion Klitschko in July. 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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