Dundee gets a bit undersold as a trainer these days. Probably because he was so famous and became a household name that everyone knew back in the days of Muhammad Ali. It's a hipster/hardcore thing to say "he wasn't much of a teacher". But a lot of good professionals and amateurs of all levels have attested over the years and sworn to his having taught them a ton of stuff and got them in tip-top shape. He was obviously a great trainer.
Dundee was a strategist. He was a motivator. He was someone which dealt with already skilled and talented fighters, and took them to the next level. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he rarely took a guy from nothing to something. I think Futch was a better strategist, and more skilled at actually teaching. I go Futch. Second best trainer ever after Arcel IMO. Manny Steward is my favourite though.
well said. Futch, knew the sweet science, and knew that it was more than a physical sport. Crafted fight plans that maximized his fighters chances for victory. A credit to the sport.
Totally agree. I do think Futch was the better trainer but it seems like there are more and more people talking as if Dundee was just a hype man who happened to land in the corners of the biggest stars in the sport. Like you said, there were many fighters who clearly saw value in him as a trainer. Boxing has plenty of people who were merely hype men that managed to become involved with huge talent, but Angelo Dundee was much more than that.
Eddie Futch was much better as a trainer/teacher. He could scout an opponent much better. A better strategist. Dundee was better in the corner in some ways. He would inspire confidence and was able to help his fighters by cheating any way he could. He would lie and use the press to paint his own version of events. Eddie Futch cared about his boxers.
Wasn't Luis Sarria the main man behind Napoles, Luis Rodriguez, Sugar Ramos etc though ?. Futch is the greater trainer and for me it's not close.