This edition focuses on theme of amateur boxing. This is Part Four of an ongoing series with Emanuel that will explore past champions, historical fights, mythical match-ups, great rivalries, memorable fighters, and Steward’s own personal experiences as a world class trainer. In fact Steward has trained and/or managed 41 World Champions, including the reigning heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko. I love you.“A lot of guys try to emulate him, but there will never be another Pernell Whitaker”-Emanuel StewardĮxclusive Interview by Geoffrey Ciani – With his vast wealth of knowledge, experience, and an amazing track record of success, Emanuel Steward is undoubtedly one of the greatest trainers the sport of boxing has ever seen. I want to say, 'From your son, Thomas, I truly miss you already, Emanuel. "I have a great deal of love for him," Hearns said as he turned and walked through the front door of the Kronk and out onto the street. "Before he walked out of the Kronk Gym on West Warren, possibly for the last time, Hearns looked at some remaining photos of him and Steward on the walls - in the good old days. "He was having a problem, but he didn't tell me so much that he had cancer. "We talked for about an hour or more," Hearns said. "Hearns said the last time he saw Steward was at his old trainer's house in Rosedale Park, as Steward was beginning to feel ill. "Emanuel knew the ability I had as a boxer," Hearns said. "His greatest fight with Steward in his corner, Hearns said, was, oddly enough, a draw in his second fight with Ray Leonard in 1989 in Las Vegas, when Hearns had Leonard down in the third and 11th rounds. "Manny told me as a kid, I'd be a world champion one day," Hearns said. He used to make it dance with his left jab and right hand. Hearns stared at a heavy punching bag hanging from the ceiling. "The City of Detroit, the State of Michigan - if they could clean up the building on McGraw and reopen the gym there, it would be awesome," Hearns said. "If there was anything that could be done to honor Steward now, Hearns said, it would be to reopen the original Kronk, which was closed by the city because of financial hardship in 2006. I know in my heart I should have been there. "I was too late to see him (before he died)," Hearns said. His thoughts were with his trainer, whose health and whereabouts had been cloaked in secrecy by family over the past couple months. There is talk of a new Kronk location in Southfield, but Friday was not time to discuss this with the Hit Man. I'm willing to work all the way, not just part-way, in helping Emanuel's dreams." "All I know is that Emanuel wanted things to keep moving. "I really don't know what's going on - I have no idea," Hearns said. Hearns was distracted for a moment by a ladder being placed outside the Kronk to take down the red and gold signature sign of the gymnasium. Every time I think of Emanuel, there's a burning sensation in my heart." "I'm feeling a large gap - a gaping hole," said Hearns looking down at the gym floor. Hearns, who terrorized opponents in six different weight classes, watched as workmen dismantled the latest version of the gym he helped make famous. In an unexpected and emotional twist, as Hearns and a dozen others around him attempted to come to grips with the loss of Steward, the Godfather of Detroit boxing and the driving force behind the Kronk, the facility was locked up at the direction of Steward's sister, Diane Steward-Jones, who ordered Kronk signage outside taken down and boxing memorabilia inside taken away. Hearns, who finished his legendary pro career with a record of 61 wins, five losses, one draw and 48 knockouts, had come to the gym to share his grief with other Kronk boxers and trainers who had gathered at the building. Hearns, 53, one of the greatest fighters the world has known, was without his trainer, Emanuel Steward, who died Thursday in the Chicago area after battling what was thought to be colon cancer - alone for the first time since he was a skinny kid skipping rope at the old Kronk Gym on McGraw in Detroit. His friend, his mentor - the man he looked at as a father - was gone, and there was nothing the battle-scarred warrior could do about it. They were dulled by pain, reddened by tears.Tommy Hearns sat on the edge of the boxing ring at the Kronk Gym on West Warren, those normally piercing brown eyes the gateway now to a broken heart. DETROIT - The eyes of the Motor City Cobra told it all.
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