[hhascup]

25 October 2012
Banks: Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward has died
Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Illness takes life of boxing coach aged 68

World-renowned boxing man Emanuel ‘Manny’ Steward has passed away after suffering from a serious stomach illness for the past few months, according to close friend Jonathan Banks.

The 68 year-old, who trained Wladimir Klitschko to invincibility after a long career coaching some of the biggest names in the sport, was reported by some to be battling cancer, although this was denied by his sister.

Steward’s reported death comes just a day after Klitschko announced that he would replace Steward with fellow fighter Banks for his upcoming bout against Mariusz Wach on November 10 in Hamburg, Germany.

The Ukrainian was transformed under the tutelage of Steward after suffering some devastating knockouts in his early career and was enjoying an eight-year unbeaten run with the exceptional coach.

In his career, Steward guided the likes of Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis and at one point, 'Prince' Naseem Hamed to notable success in their careers and will be sorely missed by the boxing community.

 

[Lunny]

You'd struggle to find a top ten favourites list of the last 40 years without any boxers that have been trained by Steward. So many of our favourite fighters have gone through him. A true legend of the boxing world.

 

[nufc_jay]

From the official Klitschko fan page on facebook:

Wladimir's statement to the passing away of Emanuel Steward:

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.

It is not often that a person in any line of work gets a chance to work with a legend, well I was privileged enough to work with one for almost a decade.

I will miss our time together. The long talks about boxing, the world, and life itself. Most of all I will miss our friendship.

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. I know he will be with us in spirit along the way and we will accomplish these goals in his honor.

Rest in peace Emanuel. You will be greatly missed.

Until we meet again my friend.

Wladimir Klitschko

 

[Teeto]

RIP

Gone but never forgotten

 

[Boxed Ears]

Volo says he can still hear Manny whispering in his ear his instruction while he spars. I guess Hearns wants to try and get the original Kronk re-opened. What a giant loss. A lot of fans have been sharing their stories about meeting him all over a bunch of forums and how down to earth he was to always give them the time of day. One fellow on another forum thread shared a bit about Manny even taking the time to give him a little boxing lesson as they talked amongst themselves with Kellerman nearby with a goodly-sized group of fans, in HBO's backstage area.