SugarHill Steward (born Javan Hill, 1975) is an American professional boxing trainer, best known as the head trainer of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. He is the nephew of the late legendary boxing trainer Emanuel Steward.
Background
Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1975, Steward was originally known as Javan "Sugar" Hill. He changed his name to SugarHill Steward in 2019 to honor his uncle, Emanuel Steward, whom he described as being like a father to him. Prior to his full-time boxing career, Steward worked as a police officer in Detroit.
Career
Steward began his training career at his uncle's Kronk Gym in Detroit, where he first met Tyson Fury in 2010. Following Emanuel Steward's death in 2012, SugarHill worked with several of his uncle's former fighters, including Adonis Stevenson, Anthony Dirrell, and Charles Martin.
In December 2019, after Fury parted ways with trainer Ben Davison, Steward was appointed as Fury's head trainer. Under Steward's guidance, Fury adopted a more aggressive, pressure-fighting style. In February 2020, Fury defeated Deontay Wilder by seventh-round technical knockout to win the WBC heavyweight title. Steward credited his uncle after the victory, stating, "Emanuel Steward is smiling down from heaven."
Steward continued as Fury's head coach for the subsequent trilogy fight against Wilder in October 2021, which Fury won by eleventh-round knockout. In 2022, Steward also became the trainer for British professional boxer Benjamin Whittaker.
Notable Fighters Trained
- Tyson Fury (heavyweight world champion)
- Benjamin Whittaker
- Shohjahon Ergashev
- Apti Davtaev
- Adonis Stevenson
- Anthony Dirrell
- Charles Martin
