'Sixhead' could be world champion again,'Vicious' Vivian the best from GT
-Emanuel Steward
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
November 16, 2003
Emanuel Steward is known the world over as not only one of the best trainers in boxing, but also one of the best managers, analysts and commentators around.
Guyanese may remember that while giving commentary on the Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis versus James Page fight in February of 2001, it took Steward only seconds into the first round to predict that Lewis would be "too fast" for Page.
Steward's vast knowledge of the game has made him a frequent figure on HBO alongside Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley.
In his three decades in the sport Steward has trained over two dozen world champions including: Thomas 'Hit Man' Hearns, 'Sugar Ray' Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Leon Spinks, Dennis Andres, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Aaron `The Hawk' Pryor, just to name a few.
The brainchild behind the world famous Kronx Gym in the Motor City of Detroit, Steward won the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in 1963 at age 18 while fighting in the bantamweight division.
Andre Purlett
The 1997 inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame has designed and patented a new boxing glove which is used by many of today's champions.
After going through a network of contacts Stabroek Sport finally caught up with the 58-year-old boxing savant while he was preparing for a television broadcast but allowed us a few minutes of his time.
Steward disclosed that he worked with Guyanese fighters before and may be taking on another soon. He said that the camp of former WBA welterweight champion Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis had made contact with him to ascertain the possibility of him taking Lewis under his wing.
"That was about two months ago. I told them that I was busy at that time. I'm still busy but the negotiation is going on," Steward said. "It looks favourable. I should know in two weeks time," Steward added.
Lewis lost the WBA title on March 30 last year after he was knocked out by Ricardo Mayorga in Pennsylvania. His performance since winning the title in a match against James Page has been criticised by many boxing buffs some of whom claim that Lewis has lost the `killer instinct.'
However, Steward, believes that the `Albouystown Cyclone' still has a lot left in him which could assist in a climb back to the top.
"Lewis is good but he has not had a good training programme. He is big on talent but had bad training and management. He can be a world champion again," the legendary trainer said.
According to Steward if he were to train Lewis the former champion would have to leave the New York area. "He has too many distractions in New York. If I am to train him he would have to come to Detroit."
Asked how long it would take for him to make a difference with Lewis, the Detroit resident declared less than two months. "It would take me about six weeks. Lewis has tremendous punching power."
Of the current crop of Guyanese fighters he has seen, Steward rated WBA junior welterweight champion `Vicious' Vivian Harris as the best.
He claimed that `The Vicious One' is already a force to be reckoned with in the junior welterweight division. "Vivian Harris has experience and talent and has fought very good competition."
He added that undefeated WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite is also a good fighter and packs a wallop. "I'm very impressed with his punching power. I don't see anyone beating him in a hurry," the trainer said.
Turning his attention to another Guyanese fighter Steward opined that heavyweight Andre `Stone' Purlett is another talented Guyanese fighter but is a small heavyweight.
Purlett has been under his tutelage at the Kronx Gym for the last five months. Steward explained that with the recent restructuring of the cruiserweight division limit from 190 to 200 pounds Purlett would be better suited for the smaller division.
"Andre is a good boxer/puncher. He weighs just like Tyson but does not fight like him. I think that he would be much more effective as a cruiserweight."
He explained that Purlett had a problem with balance when he arrived in Detroit but is now coming along nicely. "He would have his legs stretched too far apart."
In concluding Steward disclosed that it is not only now that he has had contact with Guyanese fighters.
"I have had much contact with Guyanese fighters. I used to manage and train Dennis Andres and also worked with Andrew Murray," Steward said. Andres is the former world light heavyweight champion who was born in Guyana but fought for Britain. Then manager of Murray, Odinga Lumumba, secured the services of the trainer leading up to Murray's challenge of WBA welterweight champion Ike `Buzooka' Quartey in 1995.