Oct 2012 25

Emanuel Steward, owner of the Kronk Gym in Detroit and an International Boxing Hall of Fame trainer has died. His contributions to boxing will never be forgotten.

Emanuel (Manny) Stewart was given his first pair of boxing gloves at age 8. That started a love affair with the sport that would last 60 years from boxer to trainer to manager to broadcaster. He was not only a jack of all traits but a master of all of them. After a great amateur career as a boxer Stewart wanted to help young men as a trainer. In the process he made Detroit’s Kronk Gym a house hold name throughout the world.. He developed many world champions led by the great Tommy Hearns. In all Stewart would train 41 world champions from 1995 until his death. His 1996 induction into the boxing Hall of Fame was a confirmation of his profound impact on the sport. For all his accomplishments perhaps Manny will be best remembered as boxing’s great ambassador. Stewart made many fans for the sport with his great personality and knowledge of boxing. Manny is one of those people who will be missed in boxing because he did so much for boxing. The sport of boxing really defined his life but he also defined the sport for all of us.