SugarHill Steward (formerly known as Javan "Sugar" Hill) is an American professional boxing trainer and former Detroit police officer, former chef,[1] best known as the trainer of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

He is the nephew of boxing trainer Emanuel Steward. SugarHill changed his name to honor his uncle in 2019, explaining that he was like a father to him.

Career

Kronk Gym

Steward worked at his uncle's Kronk Gym, where he first met Tyson Fury in 2010. After Emanuel Steward died in 2012, SugarHill worked with some of his uncle's former fighters, including Adonis Stevenson, Anthony Dirrell and Charles Martin.[2][3]

Tyson Fury

After Fury parted ways with former trainer Ben Davison in December 2019, Steward was appointed as Fury's head trainer, despite having been in conversations with Fury to join the team in a different role. At the time, Steward's existing clients were less prominent fighters such as Shohjahon Ergashev and Apti Davtaev.[4]

After Fury's victory in a rematch against Deontay Wilder in February 2020, Steward paid tribute to his uncle, saying: "Emanuel Steward is smiling down from heaven. He knew Tyson Fury would become a champion way back then."[5]

In September 2020, Steward arrived in the U.K. to prepare Fury for a planned trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder, despite hinting he would retire as a professional trainer after the second Wilder fight.[6][7]

Following on from Fury's knockout win over Wilder in the second fight, Fury retained Steward as his head coach for a trilogy fight between the two heavyweights. The trilogy fight ended in a knockout win for Tyson Fury culminating in the end of a three-year rivalry and resulting in Steward getting his first heavyweight title defense as a head coach.

Benjamin Whittaker

In 2022 SugarHill Steward became Benjamin Whittaker's trainer, as Whittaker had signed a professional deal with Boxxer.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ Kriegel, Mark (18 February 2020). "You've heard of rope-a-dope? How about blast-a-bomber?". ESPN. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "STEWARD HAILS FELLOW 'FREE SPIRIT' FURY". MTK Global. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury 2: Who is Gypsy King's new trainer SugarHill Steward? Why did he replace Ben Davison?". talksport.com/. TalkSport. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Tyson Fury's new trainer Sugarhill Steward on their link-up and the plan to beat Deontay Wilder". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Akopyan, Manouk. "SugarHill Steward: Credit For Fury Beating Wilder Should Be Even". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 2 knockout: 'Gypsy King' trainer SugarHill Steward claims he's considering retirement, but is he joking?". talksport.com. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Steward Hits The UK, Start Preparing Fury For Wilder Rematch". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ben Whittaker: Olympic silver medallist signs long-term promotional agreement with BOXXER". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  9. ↑ "GB Olympic medallist Whittaker to turn pro". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
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