The family for Emanuel Steward has confirmed the Hall of Fame trainer has passed away after months of battling the colon disease Divertculosis. He was 68.
Emanuel’s sister, Diane Steward Jones, had issued contradictory statements to several media outlets earlier today including Detroit ABC Action News, The Detroit News, and Detroit Free Press regarding her brother’s condition. Her last update confirmed late afternoon that Steward had passed away.
The news first circulated when Steward training protegé and heavyweight fighter Jonathon Banks sent out a Tweet last night acknowledging Steward’s passing. The news was then seemingly confirmed by other fighters and figures close to the Steward camp such Eddie Chambers, Jim Lampley and Antonio Tarver. The Klitschko Brothers went on to post a heartfelt tribute on their Facebook page which has since been taken down.
“He’s gone but NEVER!!! will be forgotten! You fought a good fight,” Tweeted Banks late last night. “You finished your course. With tears I’m saying… RIP Emanuel Steward.”
An amateur fighters in the 60s, Steward began training fighters at Detroit’s Kronk Gym by the 70s. He began to achieve national recognition by the early 80s through his work with Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, who became the first fighter in history to win five titles in five different weight classes.
Steward’s list of trained champions includes Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Gerald McClellan, Oscar De La Hoya, Naseem Hamed, Miguel Cotto, Jermain Taylor and many others.
One of Steward’s last public appearances can be viewed below.
gutted!!! rip brother…
just heard hes not dead… hope he pulls thru