Emanuel Steward

Emanuel "Manny" Steward (July 7, 1944 – October 25, 2012) was an American boxer, trainer, and commentator for HBO Boxing. Known as "the godfather of Detroit boxing," Steward trained 41 world champion fighters throughout his career, most notably Thomas Hearns, through the famous Kronk Gym and later heavyweights Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. Emanuel trained over two dozen boxers who turned out to be champions in the course of his career. He is arguably the greatest boxing trainer of all time . His heavyweight fighters had a combined record of 34–2–1 in title fights. Steward was also known for his charity work in Detroit, Michigan, helping youth to attain an education.

Life and career Steward was born in Bottom Creek, West Virginia, but, by the age of 12, he had moved with his mother to Detroit, Michigan, after she divorced his father, who was a coal miner. After moving to Detroit, he worked briefly in the auto industry before eventually going to Brewster Recreation Center, where Joe Louis and Eddie Futch trained. Steward trained many of the nation's top amateurs. . In addition, he was very generous and was known for being a father figure. Steward had a 94-3 record and won a 1963 National Golden Gloves title as a bantamweight. Even though he fought, his main passion was training. He began coaching amateur fighters as a part-time coach in 1971 at the Kronk Gym, which later became famous for producing so many champions.

Death Steward died on October 25, 2012, after undergoing surgery for diverticulitis. He was 68.

Honors Elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame

Fighters trained Among the world champions and top rated contenders who trained or sought Steward's guidance at some point of their careers were:

Dennis Andries Johnathon Banks Wilfred Benítez Jesse Benavides Mark Breland Cornelius Bundrage Oba Carr Julio César Chávez Kermit Cintron Miguel Cotto Chad Dawson Oscar De La Hoya Domonique Dolton Tyson Fury Yuriorkis Gamboa Miguel Ángel González Mickey Goodwin Naseem Hamed Thomas Hearns Evander Holyfield John David Jackson Hilmer Kenty Ole Klemetsen Wladimir Klitschko Andy Lee William "Caveman" Lee Lennox Lewis Oliver McCall Mike McCallum Gerald McClellan Milton McCrory Steve McCrory Michael Moorer Andrew Murray Jimmy Paul Aaron Pryor Graciano Rocchigiani Tarick Salmaci Adonis Stevenson Jermain Taylor Duane Thomas James Toney Syd Vanderpool Ricky Womack

Legacy and KRONK revival Following Steward's death in 2012, Kronk Gym operated from a facility on Mettetal Street until 2020 before closing due to flood damage. In 2025, a new ownership group acquired the KRONK trademarks and reopened the gym in the historic Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center at 670 Wilkins Street, Detroit — the same building where Steward himself began his boxing career as a youth. The revival was announced alongside Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on June 4, 2025, and the gym officially reopened on December 10, 2025, with Johnathon Banks — whom Steward personally designated as his training successor — serving as head trainer.