Earlier this week, boxing aficionado Teddy Atlas joined former UFC welterweight champion and Hall of Famer Matt Serra, together with comic Jim Norton, on an episode of their UFC Unfiltered podcast.
Teddy is likely one of the most effectively spoken and effectively educated males in boxing. He skilled beneath the legendary Cus D’Amato and assisted Mike Tyson throughout his Olympic run within the Eighties. Atlas later turned the top coach for heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, who went on to win the IBF title by resolution towards Evander Holyfield.
Teddy additional cemented his legacy when he transitioned into broadcasting in 2008, introducing himself to a brand new technology of boxing followers who had been too younger to have seen him working within the nook. He is likely one of the few distinguished figures in boxing who welcomed MMA with open arms. Sometimes, the UFC options Teddy on the analyst desk for post-fight coverage after pay-per-view events. It is not uncommon to see former MMA champions and professionals collect round him when he speaks, as in the event that they had been youngsters listening to a storyteller round a campfire.
The largest story in boxing for the time being is Terence Crawford’s dominant resolution victory over Canelo Álvarez. Through the episode, Atlas provided his knowledgeable evaluation on the bout to Serra and Norton.
“I Haven’t Seen a Resume Throw a Punch But” — Teddy Atlas Breaks Down Crawford’s Dominance
Jim Norton opened the interview with Atlas by asking, “Was it what you thought it was going to be? Did you assume Crawford was going to beat him?”
Atlas responded, “You guys should be dwelling in a cave someplace! I used to be choosing Crawford from the time the contract was signed. After they had been proposing the battle, and when he’s an over two to at least one favourite. I do know it’s horrible.”
The standard Atlas continued, “It’s not good manners to be patting your self on the again, however once I’m fallacious I’ve no drawback saying I used to be fallacious. However once I’m proper, I be ok with it.”
Identified for his long-winded however insightful takes on fight sports activities, Atlas commanded the Zoom name with the type of presence that made even skilled professionals like Serra and Norton sit again and let the legend converse. Hardly any questions had been requested, and so they didn’t should be. The way in which Atlas describes boxing is the best way some describe poetry or artwork. It’s charming, and even a UFC Corridor of Famer sat silently as Atlas shared tales in regards to the old-school greats and the way their legacy connects to in the present day’s fighters.
Recalling a dialog together with his son in regards to the matchup, Atlas mentioned, “Everybody says, ‘What about their resumes?’ I mentioned, ‘Pay attention, buddy, I haven’t seen a resume throw a punch but. The following resume that throws a jab, I’ll say wow.’”
He continued, “Cus D’Amato instructed me once I was a younger coach, I’ve solely seen two fighters in my life with supreme confidence. One was ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson. Most individuals say he’s the best of all time. The opposite was Muhammad Ali. What’s supreme confidence? You consider you possibly can’t be beat. To your bones! Each fiber of your being believes that no one can beat you. This man (Crawford) has that.”
Diving into the technical facets of the battle, Atlas defined why he believed the bout was not almost as shut as many had anticipated. “It’s due to this,” he mentioned, pointing to his head. “You guys perceive that, in your online business,” he added, trying towards Serra. “It’s psychological, 75 p.c of it. He (Crawford) is a man that’s so calm in an uncalm setting that he sees issues different folks don’t see, and sees them a millisecond earlier than they occur.”
When requested whether or not he believed Crawford had confronted a first-rate Canelo Álvarez or one worn down by years of battles, Atlas acknowledged the importance of the query.
“I’m going to offer you a solution. It didn’t matter!” Atlas exclaimed. “I don’t care when he fought him. He was going to beat him. I don’t care if he fought him when he was popping out of a child carriage together with his mother! I don’t care, and I imply that with my 50 years of expertise.”
