Woowwwww. R.I.P. Manny. Even though he had his faults, I still will feel like the HBO telecasts will NEVER be the same again.
Fightnews.com reporting it now. Sad news but he had aged like hell in the past few years, and we knew he was sick. Still I expected him to live on for a while yet. According to fightnews, a close family friend confided in them that he had passed and they now see fit to pass on the information. RIP.
Meh. Remember Naz tried to get Manny to work with that bum Suarez and Manny threw a shit-fit and said he hadn't taken orders since he was 14 years of age? Manny: "Grab him behind the neck and pull him down, Ali". Dundee: "We got that bit down already".
Wlad announced a while back that Manny would not be working his corner for the Wach fight. I guess Manny's ability to see into the future was rubbing off on Wlad.
Wow, that is weird, and sad. The strange thing is, up until recently, like maybe even a year or 2, he looked pretty young for his age. Not like an "old" guy at all really. I've never rated him that much as a trainer or broadcaster, but always found him likeable.
I remember Bert Sugar told me 2 years ago how Manny was really sick. He said he did not have long to go, and this was before Bert was diagnosed with lung cancer.
http://www.freep.com/article/20121025/SPORTS18/121025036 VERY Sad News... Though he Became More of a "Hired Gun" Trainer Later in Life, Manny Steward BIRTHED the Kronk Boxing Team & its Many World Champions...Extremely NICE Gentleman & a True AMBASSADOR for the Sport of Boxing... While in Vegas for Mosley-Vargas II, REED Hung Around the MGM Grand Afterwards to People Watch...Whereas Jim Lampley & Larry Merchant COULDN'T Be Bothered as they Walked through the Hotel Lobby, Manny Steward Stopped & Accomodated EVERY SINGLE Fan that Requested his Attention... R.I.P. Manny Steward... REEDray:
:: Did he also tell you that Manny Steward once socked a zinger straight out of Yankee Stadium and into the mouth of J Edgar Hoover?
Manny was nice enough to give me 45 minutes of his time for an interview back in 2005. Really good guy. Told me he respected my opinion a few times, that meant a lot to a young reporter. Doesn't look like anyone has been able to confirm his death either way.
Saw the same thing when I was in Montreal for Hopkins/Pascal II. He was just chilling outside in the hotel lobby before and after the weigh in. Had time for everyone.
RIP Manny. The Kronk was legendary, and he was the trainer of my favourite ever fighter during his greatest years, seemed like a top bloke too.