Chills instantly hit my body when I learned Manny was no longer with us. It’s an absolute honor to have this opportunity to pay a public tribute to him. Emanuel Steward had a legendary history in fight sports and he will never be forgotten.

My first contact with him was when I was filming a documentary called Boxer’s Nightmare. When I informed him I was doing the film to improve the sport of boxing for young fighters, and asked if he’d help, he instantly said, ‘Yes.’ What made the interview so special was that Emanuel was actually on his way to do a media workout with British boxer ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed and was already running late.

He gave me the respect of a seasoned journalist, which I wasn’t, and answered every question I asked. Then he rushed to do pads with Naz. At that moment, Emanuel Steward made me feel like a king.

Years later I was people watching at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with my co-host of the 13th Round radio show, Nick Ward. Emanuel was dressed in a suave tuxedo on his way to broadcast for the HBO championship fight. He caught my attention as he rapidly walked through the crowd and ran his fingers over his eyebrows. “Stitch,” he said, “need to talk to you about Wladimir.” 

“Did you see what I saw?” I asked Nick, as Manny faded into the crowd. Nick nodded excitedly. The next morning my phone rang. It was Emanuel. “Would you be interested in working with Wladimir Klitschko?” What a life changing moment, a call from a legend to work with him as a cutman for Wladimir Klitschko!

My first fight with Emanuel was Wladimir against DaVarryl Williamson at Caesars Palace on October 2nd 2004. Six months earlier Wladimir had lost his world title to Lamont Brewster. Early on in the fight, Wladimir received a serious cut from a unintentional head butt. I told him and his brother, Vitali, who was working the corner with Emanuel and me, that the cut was bad and that we were winning the fight. 

I encouraged the ringside doctor to stop the fight and we would go to the score cards. Wladimir won, and Emanuel told me that I did a great job. I feel that it was that day when I became a true cutman.

Almost a year later, on September 24th 2005, I got to see Emanuel at his finest. Samuel Peter had dropped Klitschko three times during a rugged 10-round fight. Emanuel kept his composure and calmly kept Wladimir and the corner relaxed and focused. At the same time, giving him all the right instructions. Klitschko won the fight and, of course, is now the heavyweight champion of the world.

These are only a couple of the many memories I will have of my friend, Emanuel. I did not attend his funeral. I knew that the halls would be filled by many boxing legends there to pay their last respects to a man that treated everyone as if they were his best friend. But instead, I prefer to remember the last moments I spent with Emanuel. 

It was on his birthday, the same birthday of my wife, Charlotte, and Klitschko manager Tom Loffler. It was July 7th this year and we were in Bern, Switzerland, the day Wladimir was fighting Tony Thompson. 

We were out enjoying the city when we ran into Emanuel and his girlfriend, Anita. They invited me to have lunch. I remember telling Emanuel how impressed I was to see him doing hand pads with Wladimir. I know firsthand how hard Wladimir punches and he does too. We laughed and toasted his birthday.

The fight went as expected with Wladimir getting a KO over Thompson, and with no sleep we left the hotel at 4:30am for the two-hour drive to the airport. Emanuel never seemed tired and looked healthy. We talked and laughed about everything until we parted and went to our own gates. 

At that moment, how was I to know that I would never see my friend and true boxing great again?

We throw the word legend around too often sometimes, but for Emanuel it fits perfectly. He helped so many and changed so many lives. He is truly missed.

Thank you for the memories and letting me be apart of your life. Love you Manny.