Teddy Atlas has lost his mind (Tyson)

Tyson was a 19 year old kid getting badly frustrated by a seasoned pro like Tillis and he persevered and won.
He was in a tough fight with a terrific gift Tucker where he was rocked hard and came back to dominate.
He was blasted with some nasty shots by Thomas after a one sided first round but held together and crushed him.
He was rocked by Bruno in their fight and came back to dominate.
He was in two brutal fights with a prime Razor Ruddock and won both.
He took a ton of punishment against Douglas and went out on his shield.
The same against Holyfield.
The same against Lewis.

Teddy is wrong on that one.

AS far as Teddy's character much criticism here is over the top. There are a lot of details left out in assumptions and accusations but here are facts .. every year Atlas holds a gigantic fundraiser for charity. Thousands show up in support of him and his cause. It is very personal, he is hands on all the way. He donates it all. Sounds like a real sc-mbag.

 

Not exactly.

Tucker hurt his hand in round one.
Okay Thomas gave Tyson one tough round. Just one.
Bruno had known confidence issues. Yes he did rock Tyson, but that was only one round.
The first Ruddock fight had some action the second was more tame, but at no point did Ruddock hurt Tyson
Douglas blew Tyson away, those score cards were awful.
Tyson fouled out vs. Holyfield in the 2nd fight
Tyson wanted to quit vs. Lewis in the first fight a round or two before the KO.
He quit on his stool vs McBride.

When a man like Douglas stood up to Tyson and gave him trouble for more than one round, he lost.

So Tyson's intangibles were fine for one tough round. I'll agree there 100%, but he had no come back in him after a few tough rounds, or being floored and whatever toughness he had in him certainly faded post Douglas.

 

I don’t think it’s nearly as black-and-white as all of that. It is important to keep in mind that Teddy is very quick to admit that he has his faults and that he is far from perfect. The conversation in which he relays what Mickey Duff said to him is much more nuanced than you portray. He doesn’t claim that Cus admitted he was wrong and Atlas was right. He also acknowledges that he has baggage when it comes Tyson.

Teddy in his own words on JRE discussing what Mickey Duff told him said:

“He told me that Before Cus died Cus had said some nice things about Teddy Atlas, but he said, but listen I know there is a danger some of this is going to sound like convenient, like some, you know what I mean, self serving crap, but sometimes you have to trust whatever I was told by Mickey that Cus said Teddy Atlas was right, but what where he was wrong is that he was going to get in the way of the possibility making a great fighter. Uh umm If he did his things his way as far as the disciplining and, you whatever, in other words, so I don’t know, he left it like that. So, I don’t know ,so I know what I think it meant, that Tyson wouldn’t haven’t been around you had done the discipline or if he would have left. I don’t know. I don’t know if he had those options.”

. . . . . .

“But basically if Teddy did it his way, but basically he was right but he was wrong because it would have ruined the possibility of a great fighter and I couldn’t let that happen. So I don’t think, I don’t know if that’s true, I don’t know, I was about to say, I don’t think that’s true, because of course it’s me. I want to make myself feel good. So I want to say that you could have had the best of both worlds. You could have had maybe a better person or or within the realm of a better person, right, with boundaries right, there were no boundaries , Maybe those boundaries would have made a difference, and you were still going to have that talent, the talent was not going to dissipate because of the discipline that you put on him as a human being, That wasn’t going to change, but Cus was saying that wasn’t going to happen. Maybe you’re going to lose him, maybe he is going to go to someone else during his development, I don’t know!”

Throughout the discussion Teddy acknowledges that he does not know if Tyson would have left had they tried to implement their traditional structure. I cannot fault him for having his own opinion about what was the right thing to do. He treated it like a difference of opinion and was respectful throughout.

His attitude about Manny Pacquiao is also not so one-sided. In 2010 Teddy said that he had become privy to some emails from Manny Pacquiao’s camp asking Mayweather’s people regarding penalties in the event Manny tested positive for PEDs. Teddy said:

"From sources that told me, they said that people in the Pacquiao camp sent a couple of e-mails to the Mayweather camp a few weeks ago, about 2-3 weeks ago," Atlas said.

"And the first e-mail was 'What would the penalty be if our guy tested positive?' And the second e-mail was 'If he did test positive, could we keep this a secret for the benefit of boxing? Now, if that's true, again, that doesn't prove anything definitively, but you have to wonder why those questions were being asked."

Here he seems to simply be asking reasonable questions, albeit in Teddy like fashion, shared by many who have concerns about performance-enhancing drugs in boxing at the time of the specific incident.

Since that time he, on numerous occasions, said numerous positive things about Manny Pacquiao without raising the issue of performance-enhancing drugs. He acknowledged and discussed the issue at the time and moved on. He argued passionately on Manny Pacquiao outside when he felt he was robbed against Jeff Horn and said it directly to Horn.

He defended Manny’s choice to serve serve as Senator and continue fighting career summing it up by saying that Manny was a good person.

“I don’t know what they’re accusing him of. Don’t they understand that he is a politician and he is a boxer? So, what’s wrong with that? What’s the crime in that?
As long as he’s prepared when he gets in the ring, and he gives his all, and he gives his best efforts, and that’s his choice. Atlas:

“Back in the old days, fighters didn’t make enough money to just fight. Sometimes, they had to work, and then they had to fight; take time off from work. You know, when they got more successful they were able to just fight, but that’s somebody’s option, somebody’s choice. Manny Pacquiao was just a boxer for many years. He got himself to a place now, of success. In his country, he had an opportunity also to be a politician.

He’s not saying he’s not a politician. He’s saying, yes. I’m a Senator for my people. I decided to run for Senate. He ran for Congress first. He did it because he wanted to help the people of his country. He did it because he had an opportunity to do that. And he’s also boxing.

I think he’s a good human being that tries to help people. I think that people should look at that instead of what they look at. Why don’t they look at that? He’s taking the time to try and help people in his country. He’s trying to be what all politicians should be- Someone who looks out for the people. Not a corrupt person who only looks out for themselves, which most politicians are. Let’s be honest. Most politicians are corrupt people, but he’s not.“

Like many of us tibialis Teddy Atlas it’s a complex person and certainly his delivery is not everyone’s cup of tea but he is true to himself. For all his faults, He also appears to be very compassionate who gives back to the community.

 

Atlas' book arrived a few weeks ago but after a quick peruse i'm not sure i will be able to get into it. The bits i looked at where so full of crap and ego i'm not sure i can go back. Getting someone to hand him a roll of quarters to hide in his hand in case Foreman got aggressive at the press conference, touching up bouncers and then getting begged to do the door work for a few nights etc. Nah.

 

The Fireman speech... wow
He sounds punch drunk himself !

 

Yeah, I hear you. Did you listen to the Rogan podcast?

He always sounded a bit like that but it definitely sounds like it’s been exacerbated over the years.

 

Tyson was a sexual predator, and a ****** later... Atlas probably saw early how dangerous this guy was, especially when his hormones were off the charts around 16, so he did what he had to. Only kind of language for Tyson to understand. I bet Tyson took him serious and didn't do that shyte again.

 

My thoughts exactly. That he couldn't even see the blatant hypocrisy in drooling over Evan Fields while chastising Tyson showed a colossal lack of self awareness. And why no mention of Povetkin? An A+ talent that he let waste. Not to take anything away from his charity work. And I still enjoy the level of craziness he brings to a broadcast.

 

We can make excuses for any fight but what is , is .. that said I'd like you to point out on tape where Tyson was ready to quit against Lewis and was forced to fight on my his trainer.

 

Here is the truth...

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In competitive sports, we try to intimidate opponents with anything we can get away with. Mike picking up Botha in the end signified that he was happy to win and glad the fight was over with. It's 50% elation and 50% for the show, to make it look like he cares.

 

It is been such a long time since I had seen that flight fight. I had forgotten what it was like watching him during the period when you’re just completely lost the script. His flight was after you’ve been out of the running for about a year and a half following bite fight. It seemed like more intimidation with the arm. He was looking for a way out. I agree with what you’re saying, trying to pick Botha up was likely inspired by a sense of relief.

 

I have never heard Atlas claim anything about a rap e or broken bottle. Here’s what Atlas says it in his book:

Nobody would say anything at first, but then one of Elaine’s sisters reluctantly revealed that Tyson had done something to their eleven-year-old sister, Susie. I didn’t go crazy right away, which for someone who knew me might have been scarier than if I had. Very calmly, I pushed for details. Tyson had grabbed Susie. Put his hands on her. Told her what he wanted to do to her. I knew it wasn’t a random thing. Tyson with his street instincts knew exactly what he was doing and what would happen. It was a game and he was playing it hard and mean. He understood power and weakness . . .

I am not overly critical of his actions. Tyson was16 but this is not your typical 16. He weighed When 190 pounds when he was 12. He felt he was untouchable and not concerned about any real consequences of this point. If someone is threatening to sexually assault a young niece or loved one under these circumstances the rule book goes out the window.

 

I for one am not impressed with Atlas a narcissistic sociopath with an inflated opinion of himself.....this guy is a nut job and even if he does some charity work it doesn't change is psychotic craziness....he borrows clever sayings and motivational speeches and then puts on a show for cameras....you get the idea he credits himself for a fighter winning and not so much the fighter

 

I don't see anything wrong with Atlas pulling a gun on Tyson, even if he was only 16. Even at 16 Tyson wasn't someone you'd want to tangle with.