Teddy Atlas has lost his mind (Tyson)

He's got a point, but it's a damning simplification.

 

I like Teddy Atlas and agree with a lot of what he says to be honest but he is always overly harsh with Tyson, firstly be saying he isn't a great fighter. He makes solid points and listening to him talk about it is pretty stirring, but Mike did have points in his career he was tested, if only a little during the 80s, it wasn't a complete cakewalk.

The thing is he walked though everything and made it seem like nothing, when it probably wasnt a times. He was befuddled at times by boxers, he caught a few more punches than people realise as well, Tuckers uppercut, Bruno's heavy right hand etc, but he made this barely noticeable. Although he wasn't in a wars here, it still doesn't equate to Tyson facing no resistance at all, as Teddy seems to indicate. Its not a given all those opponents were all intimidated either.

He obviously has a point that when Tyson did face real adversity from another great fighter he didn't succeed. His points about Holyfield pretty spot on, that man didn't care about Tyson's reputation and Mike didn't have the mental tools to deal with it, especially post prison. A passionate speech by Teddy.

I'd say Teddy ignores the Razor Ruddock fights, where Tyson was hurt bad, but still fought through, kept his head and won the fight. Ok there are not many other examples, but the fact is this can be used as proof, on tape, Tyson could take a beating and win. Detractors really underrate or skew the Ruddock fights because they don't fit the agenda of Tyson being the bully that cant deal with being hit back. Ok Ruddock wasn't an all timer, but thats not the question it is. The question is, can Tyson be hit back HARD by a fighter that is not intimidated, get hurt and still win? in this case he did. I'm disappointed that Teddy doesn't acknowledge that as it undermines his argument a bit in my mind.

He was on the mark about a lot of things concerning Tyson and it is fascinating listening to it, but as usual, he discredits Mike a bit too much. If he is talking about character surely he should take into account that Tyson faced multiple addictions, public vilification, humiliation, prison but still managed to come though the other side and be the man he is today, a great father from what I have seen, a guy trying to put his past behind him and be a better person. That's not weak, weak is continuing along that path and destroying yourself. Teddy says boxing is a reflection of life, well then use that rule here, Tyson made it to the last rounds in life and is still going strong.

 

After trying to break his arm.

 

He was a decent fighter and Mike was shot, losing and turned it around. It's a good example. I generally agree that Mike would generally not turn it around.