With a career that lasted over a decade and saw him become a world champion, Tony Bellew has earned the right to share some deep knowledge about the sweet science. As a commendable boxing analyst, he knows what kind of information is relevant for anyone involved in boxing. In a tweet, Bellew shared a short video of one of the greatest trainers in boxing history.

With over 40 world champions emerging from his stable, Emanuel Steward was a treasure trove of boxing knowledge. The International Boxing Hall of Fame coach, widely known as the ‘Godfather of Detroit Boxing’, was also the man behind the famous ‘Kronk Gym’ sub-culture. No one else knew the ins and outs of the sport better than him. The footage that ‘Bomber’ shared pertained to the late trainer, speaking about the infamous ‘punch-drunk syndrome’, or medically ‘dementia pugilistica’ that affected even ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali. According to Tony Bellew, “If your in the game, then listen to this legend. The greatest coach/teacher boxing has ever seen imo.”

Guardians of the Ring: Tony Bellew Shares Insights from a Legendary Trainer

The eminent trainer first clarified that ‘punch-drunk syndrome’ is something about which even athletic commissions can hardly do anything. So essentially, it goes to the gym, the coaches, and the trainers. He explained different scenarios related to fights. “I think it goes back to the actual trainers and coaches, the trainers that have fighters back in the ring after they’ve had a tough fight, whether they were knocked out or not, maybe on a 90-day suspension but may be in two days they are back in the gym,” he said.

But the issue crops up when boxers receive far too many hits to their heads when they have not taken enough time to recuperate or allowed the injuries to heal properly. Then he gave a very fitting example. Emanuel Steward took up the 1984 classic fight between Roberto Duran and his most famous pupil, Thomas Hearns. ‘The Motor City Cobra’ won the clash for the WBC light middleweight title by a second-round knockout. Most fans and critics agree it was by far one of the most vicious knockdowns they had ever seen.

So Steward said that after the knockout, Duran’s trainer, Louis Espada, made a very smart move. He didn’t allow the Panamanian great to enter the ring for the next six to seven months. So what happened? ‘The Hands of Stone’ perhaps reaped the benefits of the decision for the rest of his career. He continued to fight for a much longer duration when most of his contemporaries settled for retirement.

Sticking to the basics

According to medical experts, the ‘punch-drunk syndrome’, or ‘dementia pugilistica’, reportedly occurs when a boxer might have suffered brain damage on account of repeated hits received in fights. As a result, the individual may display slow speech, experience memory loss, go through bouts of depression, and often exhibit severe mood swings.

A slew of big names in the sport tragically went through the affliction. Muhammad Ali perhaps remained the most famous. But there was former champion Aaron ‘the Hawk’ Pryor and perhaps the greatest boxer ever, ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson. It is often said that prevention is always better than a cure. So, keeping aside the medical exigencies, perhaps what the great Emanuel Steward said so many years ago makes all the more sense. “I think the biggest problem is going back in the ring too soon,” he said.

The medical field has dealt with so many diseases and disorders successfully over the years. So perhaps one day it may have some answers and treatments for ‘dementia pugilistica’ as well. But until then, basic precautions go a long way toward keeping boxers healthy and hearty and ensuring a long tenure in the sport.

Do you agree with the enduring wisdom of the late Emanuel Steward?