Teddy Atlas: “Mike Tyson was NOT a great fighter”

Floyd Mayweather?

 

I watched this interview this morning and he has a point.

Everytime Mike was unable to intimidate or bulldozer through an opponent physically, and he was taken into the trenches he lost. However many will argue he is actually undefeated in his actual "prime", people will point to the buster douglas loss as a counterpoint as this definitely was in his physical prime.

I think the Holyfield losses are the two best examples of him just dying mentally in the ring, when an opponent couldnt be bullied or bulldozered through.

He still goes down as a great in my book, but only for his pre prison career.

 

I just watched the whole three hour interview. The critique is similar to the one that many people make of Floyd Mayweather's career. Physically they were both great specimens but they liked to have things their own way too much. Most of their matches were mismatches, walkovers, and they never had to struggle or go to that next level. They were never overpowered, or down on the cards, needing to figure something out, or get down in the trenches. Teddy's point, and it's a valid one, is that every time Tyson was tested he failed. Every time he struggled or met adversity, he folded. If he fought guys like Holyfield or Lewis who were on his level, he couldn't handle them.

Teddy was saying that most of the fights Tyson were in weren't equally matched, didn't have live opponents. There wasn't a chance of him losing and so they weren't real fights. By Teddy's logic, the only matches that count are the ones where you are matched with your peers.

That's sort of like how people don't give Wilder much respect. The first live body he's ever fought is Luis Ortiz. Granted, Mike Tyson beat a lot better competition than Wilder has, but that's the substance of Teddy's point.

I wonder how many fighters beat guys they weren't the favorite to win? How many 50/50 fights did they win? By that measurement Mayweather wouldn't be 50-0. He'd be 1-0 or 0-0. Orlando Salido, not a great fighter on Mayweather's level, but he overcame adversity on several occasions. He beat a lot of guys he wasn't supposed to.

 

Cain and Abel, the sons of Cus.

 

I thought Teddy was just rambling, he's not as wise as he thinks he is. Also I thought him and Tyson patched things up ringside somewhere with a few words and a hug, not good running him down now..I don't believe the Mickey Duff story either for some reason lol

 

Meh, you are being a bit too harsh there.
Holyfield and Douglas had to walk through fire to beat him.
And by the time Lewis got to him, Tyson was already 35. (i know, i know... excuses)

Tyson was clearly a beast, but he lacked opposition. The two best guys he did fight, he did so later on in his career. No shame in loosing to Holyfield and Lewis.
Most other guys he merced, and with ease.

All in all, his resume is rather underwhelming, but he himself was elite.

 

At the end of the day we watch sports to be entertained and Tyson was one hell of an entertaining fighter to watch.

He was fast, elusive and had tremendous knockout power. He was also shorter than pretty much everyone he fought and wasn't physically dominating them (like Lewis, Klitschko bros, Joshua). His knockouts were spectacular and he made quick work of fighters that other 'great' fighters took longer to dismantle.

He had a short peak at a very young age and became a massive cultural phenomenon all over the world. He along with Muhammad Ali is the most famous boxer of all time throughout the world.

His career is like Brazilian Ronaldo - massive potential, lots of achievement but could have done more if they had more discipline.

 

H2H, he's one of the greatest of all time, ATG ranking? not so much

 

Mike Tyson: "Teddy Atlas was NOT a great coach".

 

Teddy Atlas need to take a chill pill and sit his a** down! His prime may have been short and his dedication below average, but this should not take away from his insanely high level in the 80's.

There's only a handfull of fighters I would pick, to stand a chance against him in his prime. And only TWO that I can think of, who would be very slight favorites (Ali & V. Klitschko).

Is he GOAT? NO! His prime was way to short. Is he one of the ATG? Hell yes!

 

I always thought if he couldn't shift an opponent when he was prime, he could settle in to it and box, like he did with Tucker. After jail he fought for money with no love for the sport and could be broken then imo, Douglas would never have won the rematch either for me !

 

This

 

Teddy Atlas is an awful trainer

 

Wtf Does Teddy Atlas know about boxing?

 

Mike certainly was one of the greatest talents to fcuk it all up. Imagine him with the discipline and professionalism of Wlad.