Legendary Boxing trainer Emanuel Steward visited the students at Leo High School to talk about personal commitment and work ethic only hours before his fighter Andy Lee took down another opponent at Hammond’s Horseshoe Casino, on Friday October 1st*.
Mr. Steward met with nearly one hundred Leo High School students in the Leo Boxing facility. Boxing Coach Mike Joyce introduced the man who trained such boxing greats as Thomas Hearns, Miguel Cotto, Vladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Andy Lee. Mr. Steward told the Leo Men about a boxer’s day that begins and ends with hard work. Vladimir Klitschko, Steward explained, dances for eighty minutes, before he begins his morning’s workout, in order to temper his balance. Boxing is not all hitting and Emanuel Steward to the Leo students that European boxers concentrate much more on boxing basics -balance, footwork and timing – much more than hitting and are therefore better schooled than American fighters. Emanuel Steward, as a trainer, does much to correct that and has opened his own boxing gymnasiums in Detroit and Phoenix.
Mr. Steward spent the better part of hour talking to Leo Men about committing themselves to their school work and developing a strong work ethic. Mr. Steward’s words were reflected in the victory of middleweight boxer Andy Lee (25-1-0, 19 KOs) over Troy Lowry (27-12-0, 11 Kos) by TKO when the Referee stopped the fight in the 3rdRound.
The training by Emanuel Steward will make Andy Lee the next Middleweight Champion; the words to the students of Leo High School by Emanuel Steward will help make committed and courageous scholars, athletes and citizens.
*Lee-Lowry: Photo/Report By Jacob Chavez at ringside
Photos by John Booz
Rising star Andy Lee (25-1-0, 19 KOs) of the middleweight division stayed active with an annihilation of Troy Lowry (27-12-0, 11 Kos) Saturday night at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN., just 15 days after scoring a TKO over Michael Walker. This victory secures a proposed meeting against fellow Irishmen, John Duddy at Madison Square Garden in December. In Lee’s corner was Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward and IBF Junior Middleweight champ, Cornelius “K9” Bundrage. The fights were promoted by Bobby Hitz, who also celebrated his birthday before the cheering of the entire crowd.
Lee got right down to business, using his height and a stiff jab to set up Lowry with wicked left. Lowry appeared very willing to mix-it up with Lee but had no game plan as to how to shorten the distance. After a very one sided opening round, things only got worse for Lowry, as a big right to the ear dropped him seconds into round two. Lowry got up shaken more than hurt, but he was limited to ineffective counter punching.
In round three there was another knockdown scored by Lee, courtesy of a quick three-punch combo to Lowry’s head. Midway into the stanza, there was a flash knockdown after another right-hook tagged him. The game Lowry got up but the frustration on his face was very apparent. Lee looked to end it in round four. He came out loading up on heavier punches and setting up the left uppercut with the jab. With a minute into the round, a left to the body hurt Lowry and he dropped in complete agony. Surprisingly, he got up but Lee was waiting to pounce. After enduring some more punishment, it seemed as though Lowry would survive the round, but seconds before the bell, the final right to the head dropped Lowry hard. He got up once again but was unable to continue when questioned by Referee Celestino Ruiz. The official time was 2:59 of round four.
Steward, who has been hospitilized since September, had been had been suffering from diverticulitis, though he reportedly had contracted colon cancer.Steward was known for running Kronk gym, where he bred champion fighters like Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. Over the years he also trained world champions Michael Moorer, Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. andOscar De La Hoya.
