KRONK Champions

Here are just some of the World Champions, Olympians and other Champions that trained at the Original KRONK Gym or who were trained by Emanuel Steward.

  • Henry Akinwande

    Steward trained the WBO heavyweight champion briefly but his commitment to Lennox Lewis was a priority and they parted ways.

  • Dennis Andries

    After losing his WBC light heavyweight championship, Andries joined the
    KRONK team where he eventually became a 3x WBC light heavyweight
    champion.

  • Johnathon Banks

    Joined the KRONK team as an amateur and went on to win the IBO
    cruiserweight title and the NABO heavyweight title. Before Emanuel
    Steward passed away, he personally picked Banks to carry on training his
    World Heavyweight Champion, Wladimir Klitschko.

  • Leeonzer Barber

    Highly talented boxer who won the WBO light heavyweight
    championship.

  • Wilfred Benítez

    Often considered the “fifth king” of the 80’s, Benítez trained with Steward at the KRONK West gym in Arizona.

  • Jesse Benavides

    A highly accomplished amateur from Texas who went on to become the WBO world champion with KRONK.

  • Mark Breland

    Trained with Steward and the KRONK team before the 1984 Olympics. After
    winning 2 welterweight world titles, Breland made two successful
    comebacks training with Steward at KRONK. Mark was one of Emanuel’s most
    dear and close boxers he ever trained.

  • Shannon Briggs

    Trained briefly with Steward including a very under rated war with Frans Botha.

  • Cornelius Bundrage

    KRONK’s last world champion from the original 5555 McGraw
    location. A 2x IBF world champion.

  • Gabby Canizales

    Under Steward Gabby has a successful comeback when most thought he was past his prime and won the WBO world championship.

  • Oba Carr

    Turned pro while still a senior in high school and was the first fighter
    to sign to USA TNF series. Arguably the greatest welterweight to never
    win a world title.

  • Julio César Chávez

    After Chavez suffered his first career loss, Chavez hired Steward where they went 3-0 defeating Frankie Randall in the rematch, defeating Meldrick Taylor in their rematch and finally Tony Lopez.

  • Kermit Cintron

    Steward trained Cintron who was a natural many said for the “KRONK style” that combined his solid basic boxing fundamentals and exciting ability to deliver knockouts.

  • Miguel Cotto

    A great chemistry was immediate with Cotto and Steward. Cotto won the WBA jr. middleweight championship with Steward.

  • Chad Dawson

    Slick boxing light heavyweight who trained at the KRONK Metatal Street gym in Detroit.

  • Oscar De La Hoya

    Trained with Steward for David Kumau and Hector Camacho fights. Many in the media said that Steward and Oscar was a dangerous combination that could have been one of the best in boxing history.

  • Johnny de la Rosa

    Exciting top ranked boxer who trained with Steward at KRONK West and Detroit.

  • Jeff Fenech

    A 3 time world champion and hall of famer, he was one of Emanuel’s favorite boxers, trained Fenech during his comeback going 3-0.

  • Tyson Fury

    Came to Detroit to train at KRONK at the request of his cousin Andy Lee. Steward accurately predicted Fury would go on to dominate the heavyweight division after Wladimir Klitschko. He is trained by Steward’s nephew, Sugar Hill Steward.

  • Yuriorkis Gamboa

    Exciting world champion who worked with Steward.

  • Mickey Goodwin

    Hard hitting slugger who was KRONK’s first local Detroit start before Tommy Hearns. Once a top ranked middleweight contender.

  • Miguel Ángel González

    Hired Steward to be an expert trainer for the fight against Oscar De La Hoya.

  • Naseem Hamed

    A fun and fantastic trainer/fighter relationship. Naz performed in
    spectacular fashion under Steward.

  • Thomas Hearns

    ‘The Hitman’ won 6 world championships including welterweight, junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. He also captured minor titles in the cruiserweight division.

  • John David Jackson

    WBO junior middleweight champion who fought out of KRONK West.

  • Anthony Baby Jones

    A Detroit fan favorite who challenged for the lightweight world championship two times with Steward.

  • Hilmer Kenty

    KRONK’s first world champion who won the WBA lightweight championship.

  • Evander Holyfield

    Holyfield was 2-0 with Steward in the corner including his memorable rematch vs Riddick Bowe where he regained the heavyweight championship.

  • Kady King

    Hard punching light heavyweight and North American champion who
    eventually challenged for the WBO light heavyweight championship.

  • Ole Klemetsen

    A superstar in his native Norway. Ole won titles in the light heavyweight division.

  • Wladimir Klitschko

    With Steward Wlad had one of the longest reigns in heavyweight
    history second to Joe Louis.

  • Vitali Klitschko

    Under Steward he won a minor heavyweight title.

  • Andy Lee

    One of Emanuel’s favorite fighters, Lee traveled to Detroit from Ireland
    and went on to become the WBO middleweight champion of the world.

  • William "Caveman" Lee

    Hard hitting middleweight unfortunately is best known for a title losing effort vs Marvin Hagler.

  • Lennox Lewis

    Arguably the greatest fighter trainer relationship in boxing history
    along side Steward and Hearns. Together history was made as Lennox
    defeated every boxer he ever faced in the ring including avenging his
    only 2 career losses vs McCall and Rahman with Steward.

  • Frankie Liles

    Went on to become the super middleweight champion after leaving KRONK.

  • Oliver McCall

    Steward guided McCall to a shocking upset over champion Lennox Lewis before joining Team Lewis.

  • Mike McCallum

    Trained at KRONK but left due to the fact his hall of fame talent were being over shadowed by Hearns and McCrory.

  • Gerald McClellan

    Perhaps one of the most talented fighters Emanuel ever trained.
    With KRONK he won the WBO and WBC middleweight championships.

  • Milton McCrory

    KRONK’s first Detroit born world champion, WBC welterweight world champion.

  • Michael Moorer

    With Steward in his corner Moorer was one of the most feared punchers in light heavyweight history winning the WBO championship at both light heavyweight and heavyweight.

  • Eddie Mustapha Muhammad

    Light heavyweight world champion who trained with Steward before eventually retiring becoming a very successful trainer himself.

  • Andrew Murray

    A talented world champion trained under Steward and helped to give a solid boost to his impressive career.

  • Welcome Ncita

    Known as "The Hawk," a former South African professional boxer
    celebrated for his swift and tactical prowess in the ring. He held the IBF Junior Featherweight title from 1990 to 1992.

  • Danell Doc Nicholson

    1992 Us Olympian who went on to become a top ranked heavyweight contender with Steward.

  • Jimmy Paul

    One of KRONK’s first world champions who Steward from amateur champion to IBF lightweight world champion.

  • Aaron Pryor

    Pryor hired Steward to train him for his rematch victory over Alexis Arguello.

  • Graciano Rocchigiani

    Rocky hired Steward to train him for 2 fights going 1-1 with the loss being a HIGHLY controversial loss to Darius Michaelschzki.

  • Tarick Salmaci

    Guided Salmaci to the 1992 Olympic Trials and eventually a top 10 world ranking as a pro and the North American championship.

  • Adonis Stevenson

    Hard punching and super exciting, Superman was the WBC light heavyweight world champion.

  • Jermain Taylor

    Steward trained the undisputed middleweight champion Taylor during his reign as champion.

  • Duane Thomas

    One of KRONK’s first world champions who began with Steward was an
    amateur. He went on to win the WBC junior middleweight championship.

  • Tony Tucker

    Qualified for the 1980 Olympics with Steward and eventually went on to win the IBF heavyweight championship.