Exclusive Boxing Interview: Emmanuel Steward

Kronk: Still Standing

Thomas Hearns. Oscar de la Hoya. Lennox Lewis. Wladimir Klitschko. Jermain Taylor. Just the tip of the iceberg in a Who’s Who amongst the boxing elite, past and present. These are all fighters churned out by the world renown Kronk Gym. Under the tutelage of Emmanuel Steward there have been over thirty champions who have emerged from the Detroit-based facility, but despite all the accolades and positive attention brought to the area it’s on the verge of closing.

The city announced at the end of 2005 that Kronk would close its doors, but by the efforts of generous donors and Emmanuel Steward it has remained open. I had the opportunity to speak to the man who is a legend in the realm of pugilism about the future, both of the building and the athletes being groomed within its bowels.

Kronk was named after John F. Kronk, a former Detroit City Councilman, in honor of his Polish heritage considering it was in the heart of a Polish neighborhood. Steward first came to Kronk in 1969 with his half brother James where he would coach him to a win in the Detroit Golden Gloves competition. Steward accepted a part-time coaching position of the boxing program at Kronk and history was born.

From the 1971 championship team with its unprecedented twenty-one consecutive victories to future Hall of Fame prospect Jermain Taylor walking through its doors earlier this year, Kronk Gym has remained at the forefront of champion makers and reinforcing the mettle of fighters already with belts.

But the gym has been more than just the base of operations for so many great fighters. It has also been the home away from home for many of Detroit’s troubled youth. Steward himself had a run-in with the law after injuring another teen in a street fight but was given the opportunity to avoid juvenile detention by resuming his amateur career in boxing.

Steward has taken boys and girls under his wing who would have otherwise have had nothing positive to do. With the national black eyes the city has received over the past we can only hope Kronk Gym will be seen as an Ambassador of positivity and the city reconsider its decision to close this much-needed gem.

Having all this information fresh in my mind I was no doubt nervous at the prospect of speaking to Emmanuel Steward. For years I’ve seen him as cornerman and commentator. Most notable in my mind is Steward screaming for Lennox Lewis to knock Mike Tyson out; a disappointing speech considering I was rooting for Tyson.

SaddoBoxing: Good afternoon Mr. Steward, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. First of all, I heard you were out on the West Coast with some of your amateur fighters; how did your guys do?

Emmanuel Steward: We carried 8 fighters and 5 national champs.

SB: Anybody we should be looking for to make a rumble in the pros in a few years?

ES: Erick Deleon is the new Oscar De la Hoya at 14 years old and 110 pounds. Domonique Dolton is 16 and 152 pounds and will be 18 by the Olympics.

SB: What’s the current state of Kronk? What are you up to, what are your immediate plans, what’s the latest news?

ES: We had a fundraiser recently. Some guy waved around a check for 1.5 million dollars but it turned out to be stock in some company. It’s costing me $3000 a week to stay open.

SB: How many fighters are you hands-on training?

ES: Andy Lee will be fighting on OLN on October 14 for the IBF Welterweight Championship vacated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. There’s Jonathan Banks who you know, Jermain Taylor, Wladimir Klitschko, and Kermit Cintron.

SB: Will Jermain Taylor be training there for the foreseeable future?

ES: Yeah, he loves training here. He just talked to me 10 minutes ago to make sure everything is in shape. He doesn’t want to fight a second-stringer; he only wants Winky Wright.

SB: That’s great news! I saw Jonathan Banks win against Eliseo Castillo. Was it frightening for you in the first round?

ES: Yup. He looked in the corner, and I told him just clinch, clinch, clinch. In the 2nd round we acted like the 1st never existed. Jon is fighting again on the 23rd of September and Andy and Jon will be fighting again in December.

SB: Back to the Kronk, though: what direction would you like to take it in the next few years?

ES: The amateur program is coming alive; we’re looking to have a couple guys in the Olympic Team. We’re developing a quality stable of boxers. Jonathan Banks was out there helping with training too.

SB: So your fighters help train. Does that help them to be better fighters?

ES: Oh absolutely. He was there wrapping hands and in the corners. If you noticed, Andy Lee and Kermit Cintron were in Jonathan’s corner for the Castillo fight.

SB: I know there’s an effort afoot to either buy the Kronk recreation center from the city or to get them to reconsider closing it. Any news on that front?

ES: We’re having a fundraiser this November.

SB: I’m sure you must have seen it by now; what did you think of Toney vs. Peter?

ES: I gave the fight to Peter 7-3. He wobbled Toney 3 times, set the pace and won the fight. And I like Toney.

SB: Any advice for a 6’, 175 pounder looking to drop 15?

ES: Don’t eat much after 8. Start drinking two cups of green tea a day.

SB: Thank you very much for your time Mr. Steward.

ES: Have a good day.