Atlas is no doubt overrated, but I dunno about worst ever. Steward, come on!! He may be overrated now, but he's done lots of good work over the years.
I think the problem with Atlas is that he lives vicariously through his fighters instead of treating them like individuals. Atlas has a well documented loose grip on reality with his own achievements in and out of the ring. He seems somewhat delusional and has a massive ego. He may have some skills as a trainer but his psychological approach towards his fighters borders on the insane. He sees himself as the end-all of boxing knowledge and he loves to play a parental role with his boxers treating them like children.
Atlas was Moorer's trainer when he beat Holyfield. He didn't bring him up though, Moorer started out as a Kronk fighter under Manny. Moorer showed way more heart and desire in fights before and after Atlas by the way, despite how Atlas allegedly "willed Moorer to the HW title". Thanks, HBO Legendary Nights for that myth. :roll:
Um, wrong. Atlas was Michael Moore's trainer. Can't make up your mind? Did you even see the fight? Altals willed Michael Moore to victory.
Yes, Legenary Nights is an entertaining documentary. The fight in full, however, shows Moorer sleep-walking after Atlas begged him to fight with more passion. Even Lampley says "Moorer's gonna get another scorching in the corner from Teddy Atlas". Naturally, Moorer fought with a lot more desire with other trainers before and after Atlas, like his fights with Stewart, Cooper, and the Holyfield rematch. And Briggs fell apart with Atlas in the corner when he fought Wilson, but showed a ton of heart with another trainer when he fought Lewis. Wow, that Teddy Atlas was really great at making his fighters fight with more passion.
If you are a little complex Teddy may lock horns with you , Teddy is a very good trainer for you if you click with him, but like Kenny Adams he is not for everyone.. Mike Grant, Lalonde and Moorer had a few issues with Teddy but it doesn't make him a bad trainer.. If you create a few world champs you aren't that bad...............
Atlas is a no nonsense trainer,he focuses on the negatives that a fighter has which is the right way to do if his pupil can handle it.Unfortunately we don't live in the 40's or 50's but in the new millenium which means most fighters of now or spoiled kids and cannot handle mentally any criticism from their trainer.
Atlas works well with certain fighters and not so well with others. I am not a fan of his commentating. I wish he would stick to training 100% of the time.
He also said he feels he's working with one of the greatest Heavyweights in history (Wladimir). atsch
I knew of Atlas as a fighter many years ago as he fought in the same area I did, and I have heard from many people who worked with him later. Funny thing I never heard a bad word about him from anybody until he started on TV with ESPN? Its been my experence over the years that very few trainers around today actually know anything about boxing. I mean even the basic stuff. About how to teach a guy how to punch, move and defend properly. Its one reason we see so many shitty fighters today. Many may not like his mouth however I still think he is a great TRAINER. He knows his ****, not many people do. Stewart does to by the way.
I have no doubt that Atlas is knoweldgable when it comes to techniques. I'm talking about him as a professional trainer, how good he is at training pro fighters and their success. He is not a very good pro trainer, as the track record shows. His lone shining moment is blown out of proportion thanks to HBO documentaries and people not watching the fight in full. He gets a reputation as being some "master motivator" when his fighters have shown way more heart and desire with other trainers than with him.
come on man. you cant say that your fighter is "decent level fighter". it's doesnt produce confidence. he has to say greatest of all time. he had to say "Picture perfect punch" for mcCall when he koed lewis and had to say the same back when he worked with manny. and it's spelt with a D not a T atsch