Emanuel Steward expects a "spectacular" Mayweather return

by Scott Christ on Sep 18, 2009 11:37 AM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Emanuel Steward expects no rust on Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday night. Mayweather recently called Steward an "Uncle Tom." (Photo via zimbio)

Hall of Fame trainer and HBO boxing analyst Emanuel Steward expects to see no ring rust from Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday night. Steward will be in Las Vegas to call the fight for HBO pay-per-view.

From Chuck Johnson's article at HBO:

"Fighters come back because they still have a lot of fights still left in them,'' says HBO boxing analyst and Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward. "They don't realize it. Many have been doing it since they were eight, nine, ten years old, and they miss it. Fighters like Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali have a tremendous love for boxing which they don't realize until they walk away."

Steward predicts the layoff won't affect Mayweather because of the fighter's dedication to and love for the sport.

"I think Floyd's going to look spectacular on September 19,'' Steward said.

Steward said this on September 16. Hours later, it came out that Mayweather had lost it talking to the press about all the biases against him in boxing, including those of the HBO commentary team, and referred to Steward as an "Uncle Tom."

To Steward's credit, he's said nothing publicly about it, but if he's particularly chippy about Floyd on Saturday night, that might be a hint.

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the bias towards Mayweather is virtually his own doing ENTIRELY.

Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/

by theworldsoldestsport on Sep 18, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, an "Uncle Tom" huh?

Anyone else think that aside from the wacky b.s. that comes out of Floyd’s mouth to promote a fight, that he might be a little batshit crazy. That may be a bit extreme, but man, he is an impetuous child for certain.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Sep 18, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

The man is nuts. That’s probably why he’s so successful.

by steak_knife on Sep 18, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

He's just copy-catting Hopkins

Who famously called Steward and Uncle Tom years ago while he still had a contract with HBO, instead of a contract out on him by HBO. Mayweather is so terrible at selling a fight, he can’t even come up with his own bad ideas.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Sep 18, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah yes, I remember that now

Strange, I’ve always liked Hopkins and never Floyd.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Sep 18, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't put much weight in Steward or his comments. Taylor dropped him as trainer,

and I think Manny’s just sayin’ s##t to remain in the limelight.

by SmittytheCutman on Sep 18, 2009 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

Hey, Manny saved Wlad Klitschko’s career. Taylor just started lifting weights. I think I probably side with Steward as the smarter guy there.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by Scott Christ on Sep 18, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Why would Steward care about Floyd’s comment? You don’t think Manny Steward knows showbiz when he hears it? Was it effective showbiz? No. Was it transparent nonsense? Yup.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Sep 18, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions