Why Did Holyfield Fire Emmanuel Steward As His Trainer?

mrkoolkevin · Dec 22, 2017

lefthook31 said: ↑

Emanuel Steward might not have let Holyfield enter the Moorer fight. Don Turner has to be one of the worst trainers in the world. Right up there with Adrian Davis as far as horrible trainers that were able to train good fighters.
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Harsh!

UFC2015 · Dec 22, 2017

He not only got rid of Steward but also got rid of a cutman which was pivotal to his loss against Michael Moorer.

mcvey · Dec 22, 2017

UFC2015 said: ↑

He not only got rid of Steward but also got rid of a cutman which was pivotal to his loss against Michael Moorer.
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Why did he get rid of the cut man?

UFC2015 · Dec 22, 2017

mcvey said: ↑

Why did he get rid of the cut man?
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Wanted to save himself $25,000. Apparently Don Turner believed Cut men were scam artists and that he as the trainer could play the role of trainer and cutman together. Idiotic.

mcvey · Dec 22, 2017

UFC2015 said: ↑

Wanted to save himself $25,000. Apparently Don Turner believed Cut men were scam artists and that he as the trainer could play the role of trainer and cutman together. Idiotic.
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I know why, I just wanted some one else to repeat it.Turner couldn't close the cut, or stop the bleeding, and the blood ran into Holyfield's eyes all night and hampered him..

The Morlocks · Dec 22, 2017

Hydraulix said: ↑

I know that Evander fired Manny after the Bowe rematch and replaced him with Don Turner. Was Manny fired because Holyfield is a man of God and Steward has a potty mouth, constantly saying "****,damn,ass,****,*****," etc? To be honest, I can't see Steward in a circle, holding hands with Evander's entourage reciting a prayer. I just can't.

Holyfield: Lord Jesus, give me the strength and the courage to set an example for our children and inspire them to know that they can do whatever they set their young minds to do. The decision of this upcoming fight lies in the hands of the judges, but Father, YOU are the ultimate judge and grant victory. Amen.

The Rest of Holyfield's Camp: Amen and Alleluia

Manny Steward: What the **** is this mother****er talking about?

Is Manny's potty mouth the reason for his departure? I can't find any info to confirm this, but it seems like the most likely scenario.
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I am a deeply faithful man, but THAT WAS HYSTERICAL. THX FOR A GREAT LAUGH

Russell · Dec 22, 2017

Holyfield seems to be a man of many bad decisions...

Big Ukrainian · Dec 23, 2017

Russell said: ↑

Holyfield seems to be a man of many bad decisions...
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True.

Especially when spending his time with women Holy made many bad decisions But has lots of kids now, which isn't that bad if we think about it

Thread Stealer · Apr 10, 2018

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-04-21/sports/1994111096_1_evander-holyfield-dan-duva-bowe

What's Around Corner For Holyfield?
April 21, 1994|By Alan Goldstein | Alan Goldstein,Sun Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS -- Before Evander Holyfield lost his heavyweight crown to Riddick Bowe two years ago, the champion and his entourage were depicted as a model family with all the virtues of Bill Cosby's Huxtables.

But since regaining his title from Bowe in a memorable 12-round fight last November, Team Holyfield has become Team Turmoil. And the fighter nicknamed "The Real Deal" is now being portrayed as "The Raw Deal" by the people cut loose from his purse strings.

On the eve of his championship defense against unbeaten Michael Moorer, there is growing concern that all the changes in Holyfield's corner could lead to his downfall.

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With his guaranteed $12 million purse propelling him past the $100 million mark in career earnings, Holyfield seems intent on protecting all of his interest.

"I've managed to save some of it," he said, "and I'm trying to keep everyone from taking it. I've got to keep a lot of hands out of my pockets. I've got to secure my future. After I get through fighting, that's it."

In the past year, Holyfield has fired trainer Emanuel Steward and cut man Ace Marotta ($20,000 per fight), given a lesser role to adviser Hammer, dismissed strength coach Chaz Jordan and even given ballet instructor Marya Kennett the pink slip.

"He wants to be a one-man show," said Lou Duva, one of his original trainers. "I think he's making a big mistake. It reminds me of the saying, 'A lawyer who represents himself takes on a fool for a client.'

"Evander always joked that it was crazy in his corner the night of a fight. But he got a lot of motivation from myself, [co-trainer] George Benton and Ace all screaming at him. Now if he gets in trouble against Moorer, whose voice is he going to hear?"

Holyfield is hardly an exception in discarding those who helped him to success. Famous fighters routinely change handlers -- Sugar Ray Leonard switched trainers as often as Madonna changes love interests.

When a fighter loses a major match, as Holyfield did against Bowe in their first encounter, his damaged ego requires repair. But Holyfield did not receive sympathy from Dan Duva, who has promoted his fights since he turned professional in 1984. As soon as Holyfield lost his title, Duva turned to building England's Lennox Lewis as the next challenger for Bowe.

Duva remains Holyfield's promoter of record, and boasts of having made him a $100 million man. But their relationship is strained.

"When Evander lost to Bowe, he expected Dan to embrace him," said Holyfield's manager, Shelly Finkel, who has remained in place. "But that's not Dan's way. He'll work his butt off for you as a promoter, but he won't hug you."

Apparently feeling abandoned, Holyfield contemplated retirement. During the interim, Duva also signed a promotional deal with Moorer, and Holyfield felt even more betrayed.

"It's like raising a kid," said Kathy Duva, Dan's wife, who serves as publicist for their Main Events Inc.

"I think of Evander now as my kids becoming teen-agers. They can be very difficult to handle while fighting for their independence. But when the fighting is over, you usually grow even closer."

But Holyfield has only grown farther apart. He fired Lou Duva and Benton as his principal trainers, and hired Steward, who mapped the strategy for his victory over Bowe.

But Steward lasted only the one fight, and Donald Turner, who worked previously with Larry Holmes, became Holyfield's principal trainer.

In this case, Steward and Holyfield agree the difference was strictly money.

"I asked him for a flat figure -- $300,000," said Steward, training Julio Cesar Chavez in Mexico for his rematch with Frankie Randall. "But Evander said it was too much money. He told me, 'I can get anyone to carry my bags.' "

Said Holyfield: "Every man has a right to watch his own money. I've been fighting professionally for over 10 years. I don't think someone can come in and demand 10 percent for working one fight. I offered Emanuel a good number to work six or eight weeks, and it wasn't peanuts. He chose to move on. Fine."

Holyfield said he is comfortable h"It is predestined that I fight Tyson."

EVANDER HOLYFIELD working with Turner, a man who, unlike Steward and Lou Duva, 1/8 shuns attention.

"We're happy together," said the 31-year-old champion. "Don doesn't try to change my style. He doesn't discount what other trainers have done to help me. He doesn't try to break me down. He builds me up."

A few years ago, Holyfield seemed prepared to walk away from the ring, spend more time with his four children and work in a new field.

But he now appears rejuvenated, and talks animatedly of extending his boxing career until 1996, when the Olympic Games will be staged in his hometown of Atlanta.

If everything goes according to plan, he will have reunified his title by beating Lewis in November and survived a rubber match with Bowe, leading to a showdown with former champion Mike Tyson, who should have completed his prison sentence in Indiana for ****.

"Before and after every fight, I pray and ask God for guidance," Holyfield said. "I always question myself as to why I'm still fighting. I don't need more money, and I know I can do other things with my life.

"But God has plans for me to continue boxing. It is predestined that I fight Tyson. And when I win and finally retire, great things will be said about my career."

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Momus · Apr 10, 2018

Money seems to have been the overriding factor. Also, in interviews around that time Steward also expressed some frustration at having become a hired gun brought in for one-off fights. He wanted to play a bigger role on the management side and work on the overall development of fighters rather than just fixing problems.

It's an interesting What If scenario if Holyfield had dug a bit deeper into his notoriously long pockets. Would Steward have got on board with Lewis if he was still attached to Holyfield? Without Steward, does Lewis still rebuild and become the number 1 guy by the end of the century?

Hank1974 · May 12, 2021

I can't recall the book (was a collection of boxing stories), but it was revealed that Holyfield didn't like to do road work or spar.
Steward mentioned trying to get Holyfield to do more of that, but all he wanted to do was lift weights.
That didn't appear to be the reason for the split, as I think you folks are correct, it was a money thing.
But I always thought that was an interesting tidbit about Holyfield.
How a naturally skinny person, can pack on that much muscle and still have great conditioning without doing a lot of road work or sparring.
I'm a naturally skinny person. I'm 6'1" and was 165 lbs when I was 18. I started weight lifting and today I'm 215.
Despite running on the regular, my cardiovascular took a major hit after gaining muscle.
I boxed for a little bit, and during that time I got myself down to 185 and my cardio went thru the roof.
After taking a hiatus from the boxing gym, that muscle was put back on. When I returned to the gym, I would gas in about 30s, lol

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Why Did Holyfield Fire Emmanuel Steward As His Trainer?

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