Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward has been in the game a long time and has vast amounts of knowledge in all circles of the boxing world. Needless to say, having a conversation with him about boxing was a bucket list item that I crossed out last night. Owner of the famed Kronk Gym and trainer of many of the greats in the history of our sport, Manny has accomplished tons and has revived a lot of careers; hence why he has been given the named by many as ?The Hired Gun?. Manny embraces the name with pleasure. ?If that?s what people want to call me than that?s ok. I?ve revived a lot of guys? career after bad losses. After Evander?s loss he came to me and we won big fights. When Wladimir Klitschko lost a few times, I got him back on track. Then after Miguel Cotto lost badly to Margarito and Pacquiao, I revived his career, so I?m not at all disrespected by that notion?, said Steward regarding his status as a hired gun trainer.
Cotto as mentioned was once under the tutelage of Steward after the Pacquiao loss and helped Miguel win his next two bouts. Then for whatever apparent reason, Cotto replaced Steward for Cuban Coach Pedro Diaz before his Antonio Margarito fight, a fight Cotto won by 10th round TKO. Now only mere weeks away from his biggest fight ever, Cotto takes on pound for pound King Floyd Mayweather with his same coach Pedro Diaz. Steward however is unimpressed by what he?s seen on 24/7. ?It?s a very competitive fight but Mayweather has the better skill but Cotto?s a solid fighter and if he fight?s the right fight, he has a chance of winning the fight but I don?t know if that?s going to happen. From what I seen on the TV, I?m not impressed. It doesn?t look like he looks ready mentally and in a fight with Floyd, that?s a major component you need?, said Steward.
If anyone could comment on the state of boxing, Steward is one?s opinion to value. He loves the sport and is a die-hard fan himself but even he sees the effect of the path boxing is taking. Steward says ?Bad decision, bad commissions, and fights not being made are hurting the sport. Right now the sport is being carried by two guys that won?t fight each other. If you ask people what fight they want to see they?ll say Pacquiao v. Mayweather. If you asked them what other fight you want to see, you?ll get a blank stare and the uh uh uh nothing response. If you ask people who the heavyweight champion of the world is, you get the same response. The state of the sport is sad but we need to see the big fights happen.”
A big fight happening in June will pit one of Steward?s fighters Andy Lee versus one of the sports big stars in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Steward knows the task at hand especially the weight advantage that Chavez will have fight night. So to combat that Steward is bringing in big guys for Lee to spar with. ?Camp begins tomorrow for Andy; we?re bringing in light heavyweights and cruiserweights. For this fight we?re going to make sure Chavez is a middleweight because I still don?t believe he?s made weight for his fights. This is going to be the first time Chavez will be tested by a real good middleweight and we?re going to make sure all angles are covered; weight, gloves, and ring size especially being that it?s in Texas, we?re coming to knock Chavez out?, stated Steward.
On that same night, two of the sport?s most legendary trainers will be sharing the ring as Chavez is trained by Freddie Roach. It?s always exciting to see two of the great minds of boxing sharing the same ring. While others may be excited, Manny sees it as just another trainer and fighter. ?I?ve forgotten all about that. He?s a true trainer and I have a lots of respect for Freddie. He?s paid his dues but I never really thought about it and am impressed with how Freddie has developed Chavez but no, I haven?t really put much thought to that matchup at all?, explained Steward about his excitement going up against Roach.
What does excite Steward is knockouts and knockout artists. One such fighter that fits in that category is one of Stewards fighters Adonis ?Superman? Stevenson. Campaigning in a very talented Super Middleweight Division and already an owner of one of the most brutal knockouts of the year, Steward feels the ceiling is high for Stevenson and is willing to tackle the best at 168 lbs. Steward says, ?I love knockout fighters like him. He?s a big threat to anyone. I feel he?s ready for anyone in the division, the Froch?s, The Bute?s, one of the Dirrell Brothers. I will say this, Adonis is going to make some noise and very soon as well.?
One division that lacks noise is the heavyweight division which is ruled by Steward?s fighter Wladimir Klitschko. Running out of opponents and running out of time, Manny feels embarrassed that his fighter is running out of quality opponents to solidify his legacy. ?It?s very frustrating. There?s nothing out there. To get back to America it?d have to be a Cris Arreola or something like that. But it?s sad to see there?s nothing out there for him as a fan not even as his trainer. There?s no one out there for market value, maybe a Seth Mitchell but the best possible fight would be a Deontay Wilder in the next 36 months. If we?re talking European fighters, I like Tyson Fury or David Price soon but the future is bleak?, said Steward.
As far as Steward?s future in the sport, he?s leaning more towards the managing and promotional aspect of the sport. He has fighters that he not only trains but manages. Among Stevenson, another fighter he manages is Cornelius Bundrage who holds a 154lb IBF title. Steward is not happy with his situation and states, ?Once we?re out of the Don King contract we want K9 in there with the Canelo?s, the Martirosyan?s, the Kirkland?s. This fighting once a year isn?t healthy for any fighter especially when that one fight is a Don King fighter. Once we knock out Cory Spinks, we?ll be moving on to different things.”
Switching from trainer to promoter or manager is a hard transition, that?s why Steward?s run as a trainer might be ending in the next couple of years. Steward thinks, ?I?ll be about another 48 months training and then I?ll go be moving on to managing and promoting and sharing my knowledge outside the ring. I?ve been in boxing since I was 7 years old and I?m 67 now. I?ve had an unbelievable run throughout every step. I?ve got all this knowledge that I want to share because we have everything in the sport but trainers and that?s what is essential to moving our sport forward.” Whatever path he chooses, we?re all appreciative of what he?s contributed to the sport.
