As former world heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis walked through the doors of Greater Grace Temple today on 7 Mile in Detroit to help celebrate the life of his late trainer Emanuel Steward, another iconic entertainer sat with friends in a back room of the church, trying to control her emotions.
It was Aretha Franklin, writes Mike Brudenell of the Free Press, who was close friend of Steward. She was along many boxers and dignitaries from around the the globe to celebrate the life of Steward, who died Oct. 25, at age 68.
"I can't put into words how I feel about the loss of Emanuel," said Franklin, who regularly attended fights and Kronk fundraisers. "He made champions of amateurs and rendered great service to the city."
Along with Lewis, many other fighters Steward mentored were arriving at Greater Grace, including Wladimir Klitschko, who defended his heavyweight titles Saturday night in Hamburg, Germany.
