Michigan Boxing Titans
Kirschenbaum and Steward to Receive Honors
September 18, 2009
(SEPT 18) On November 2, a ceremony will
be held at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit in West
Bloomfield, Michigan, to induct former State Boxing Commissioner Dr.
Stuart E Kirschenbaum into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Also
receiving an award that night will be legendary Kronk Gym Founder and
HBO Analyst, Emanuel Steward, who will receive the Alvin Foon
Humanitarian Award for his tremendous work as an ambassador of Michigan
boxing worldwide.
Dr. Stuart Kirschenbaum was the State of Michigan's Boxing Commissioner
for 11 years (1981 to 1992), the second longest tenure in State history.
As Commissioner, he was instrumental in the establishment of federal
regulations for boxing and co-founded the Association of Boxing
Commissions, which sets standards and regulates all state boxing
commissions. He judged over a dozen world boxing championships. As an
outstanding amateur boxer, Kirschenbaum won a medal in the 1967 NY
Golden Gloves light heavyweight division.
In 1993, Sports Illustrated and the Detroit Institute of Arts honored
Kirschenbaum as the recipient of the Joe Louis Award in recognition of
his humanitarian efforts. He serves on the Michigan Jewish Sports
Foundation Board of Governors and is an MJSF past President, as well as
a past Vice President of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and is on the
boards of the International African-American Sports Hall of Fame,
Advisory Board of the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame, and
Founder and President of the Michigan Boxing Hall of Fame.
Dr. Kirschenbaum earned his medical degree in 1970 from the New York
College of Podiatric Medicine. He is a practicing podiatrist in Detroit.
Hailed as one of the most successful trainers and managers active in
boxing today, Emanuel Steward is a shrewd businessman and an expert
trainer who made the Kronk Gym in Detroit famous as a training ground
for world champion boxers. During his illustrious career, Steward has
trained 31 world champions, among them Thomas Hearns, Mark Breland, Milt
McCrory, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield.
In addition to being one of the most sought-after trainers in the world,
Steward now works as an analyst for HBO boxing, where his keen eye for
the subtle nuances of fighting adds an extra dimension to the telecasts.
He has been honored for many of his talents including BWAA "Manager of
the Year" in 1980 and 1989, BWAA "Trainer of the Year" in 1993 and 1997.
He is also an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and a World
Boxing Hall of Fame inductee.
The November 2 event will also be the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of
Fame's 25th Anniversary Gala. Other non-boxing personnel receiving
honors will be Steve Greenberg, Kathryn Krickstein-Pressel (of blessed
memory), Richard Loewenstein, and Dr. Steve Rosen.
A portion of the night's proceeds will benefitCamp KAT (Kids All
Together), The Bear Hug Foundation and the MJSF Hall of Fame. Donation
and advertising opportunities are available (see attachment). For more
information on sponsorship and ad journal opportunities, auction
donations, and/or to purchase tickets, please contact: David Blatt at
248.592.9323 (dblatt@michiganjewishsports.org.)
