Who was the better trainer, Eddie Futch or Angelo Dundee?

Not Angelo Dundee.

 

If I had my pick, I’d want Eddie mapping the game plan — he was pure genius at detecting what to take away from an opponent and how, and how to approach that opponent with the tool set his fighter had — and Angelo in my corner.

Dundee is probably the greatest cornerman in boxing history. Had his finger on the pulse of his fighter. Knew when to cajole, when to light a fire, when to calm ‘em down, how to get across what they needed to do on a round-by-round basis.

 

I respect the hell out of both of them, but Futch is imo the greatest trainer of all time.

 

They were both on the same level. Both were very experienced and knowledgeable about all aspects of developing and handling a fighter from matchmaking, gymwork, promotion, cornerwork, diet, etc....

 

Does anyone know what their head-to-head record was in opposite corners?

 

Eddie Futch was in Charley Powell's corner the night of Jan 24 1963 in Pittsburgh against Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), Clay stopped Powell in the third round. But Futch designed perfect fight plans for Joe Frazier on March 8 1971 and for Ken Norton on March 31 1973, when Norton fractured Ali's jaw to score the upset. Futch was a really good tactician.

 

I think the perception is that Futch is the better trainer in the gym but Dundee the better cornerman.
There is a narrative from some that Dundee wasn’t a great trainer but just a cheer leader who came to the party later when a fighter had already been developed by others.
How true this is I wouldn’t really know can we really ever know as we’re not there and involved day to day?
Regarding his corner work I do remember him live on British television kicking Willie Pastrano’s butt between rounds as a lethargic Willie was being beat up by ex middleweight champion Terry Downes for Willie’s light heavyweight title in London.
The expletives coming out live turned the air blue but had the desired effect as a revitalised Pastrano came out for the next round and stopped Downes.

 

Eddie Futch IMO.

 

Ang was good but Futch was great.

 

I could n't put my own feelings better myself. Sums it up perfectly.

What an awesome combo Eddie and Angelo would have been together.

 

Eddie Futch is the GOAT - so him

 

I have huge respect for both, but Futch for me.

In brief and simply put, I think Futch was the better "coach" of the technical aspects of the sport, building a fighter from ground zero, whereas I feel Dundee's great strength was fine-tuning pretty much "finished article" kind of fighters - which Futch was clearly great at as well.

Dundee was a great motivator/Futch a great strategist (Futch was likely a great motivator too but was less verbose than Ang was). I find that Futch always came across as more understated than Dundee, more studious than Ang.

Just my $ 0.02...

 

Another vote for Futch. Lots of people are good motivators, but, to design successful game plans is what makes the best boxing trainer. Futch was the brains behind many brilliant game-plans. I am not even sure Ali even listened to Angelo past the mid 60s.

 

Angelo was the better chief second. He commanded a corner better than anyone.

Futch was the better trainer.