Frank Stea
Trainer responds to the Bundrage
split
Hall of Fame trainer and manager Emanuel
Steward has a reputation that is well respective throughout the boxing
world. Steward has worked with some of
the biggest names the sport has ever known in Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, Oscar De La
Hoya, Tommy Hearns, and Lennox Lewis are just a few names that have been under
his guidance in the past.
Currently, he is the trainer of the
undisputed world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Last week, IBF junior middleweight champion
Cornelius “K9” Bundrage made it public to the boxing world that he no longer
needed the services of Steward. He
announced his free agency.
Monday evening on ATG Radio, Steward joined
us and was asked his side of the story.
“Well it’s very clearly. We made a deal. I talked to Golden Boy to win the purse bid
to get him a situation where he can fight with his mandatory Cory Spinks. When the highest purse bid with Don King was
I think $51,000.00 for both fighters to split.
"Golden Boy went out of their way based on my word and won the bid for
$201,000. Way over what Don King bid. Cornelius Bundrage made $151,000.00. We were promised and we were definitely going
to sign with Golden Boy.
"Afterwards he
reneged and because of that, I totally said I’m a person who has honor and made
a commitment that these people stood up for us. I just severed the relationship because of that. It’s that simple. I think it was horrible to do something like
that.
“I just don’t live that way. I been around in this game a long time and my
word is my bond. He let me down and
embarrassed me. I felt personally obliged to Richard Schaefer. I would never want to be involved with a
fighter like me and K9 and another promoter after all they done for us. It’s not right.” said an upset Steward.
Follow Frank on Twitter @FrankStea and ATG Radio @ATGRadio