By Edward Chaykovsky
It was recently reported that Detroit's famous Kronk Gym was closed last Friday, a day after Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward passed away. One of Steward's most famous students, former multi-division champion Thomas Hearns, is willing to continue Steward's tradition by running the Kronk Gym full-time to groom new boxers.
The gym was closed per the direction of Steward's sister, Diane Steward-Jones. She ordered men to take down the Kronk sign and had the memorabilia inside taken away. Hearns would like to reopen the original Kronk, closed by the city in 2006 over financial reasons.
"I really don't know what's going on -- I have no idea," Hearns said. "All I know is that Emanuel wanted things to keep moving. I'm willing to work all the way, not just part-way, in helping Emanuel's dreams," Hearns told USA Today.
"The City of Detroit, the State of Michigan -- if they could clean up the building on McGraw and reopen the gym there, it would be awesome. It would make Emanuel proud and happy. We would be doing it all again."
