By Michael Marley
Trainer-commentator Teddy Atlas has put Alexander Povetkin's promoter Kalle Sauerland on blast, labeling Wilfried Sauerland's son as a spoiled rich kid ("a wolf in sheep's clothing") and telling Bokser.org in a video interview that he may be done training fighters completely.
First, Atlas described the elder Wilfried as "a coward" for saying Povetkin should return to his old trainer and axe Atlas.
"Kalle makes me laugh, he is such a punk," the ESPN boxing voice said. "It's because of cutthroats and backstabbers like him that I don't want to be in boxing other than commentating. If he (Povetkin) wants to leave me I'm not stopping him, I don't have chains on him."
But Swedish boxing scribe Per Ake Persson (BoxingScene.com) writes that the chemistry between the fiery Atlas and "Sasha" has not been good and that there have been disagreements about what ring style the 2004 Olympic gold medalist must adhere to.
"Teddy Atlas must know he is in a business where the results count so while he lash out against Sauerland Event, and Kalle Sauerland in particular, in an interview at bokser.org - it´s also a fact that the Atlas-trained Russian heavyweight Alexander Povetkin looks further and further away from the can't miss prospect/contender that beat Eddie Chambers back in 2008.
Povetkin then injured his foot which killed a fight against Wladimir Klitschko, Atlas came on board as his new trainer and for whatever reasons Alexander hasen't looked the same. There's no official confirmation but expect Atlas to be out," wrote Persson.
Reacting to news that Povetkin is switching trainers, Atlas said young Sauerland is ill-equipped to make decisions about any fighter's career.
"He doesn't know the risks because he's never been in the gym. He was in private schools, he was given a Maserati. It's just pitiful."
Povetkin, a 31 year old Russian has a 21-0, 15 KOs record. When a $2.08 million purse was attached to a title chance against Wladimir Klitschko, New York-based Atlas influenced Povetkin to reject it because he was not fully developed.
"Since Sauerland opens the door...I think Sauerland wanted too much of the money for a fight in which the fighter was not seasoned enough for," Atlas said. "What good was it for him to take so much of the money that I thought it was criminal."
Atlas said the power play was all about controlling Povetkin.
"I got to like the fighter. But he (Sauerland) wants someone he can control. Maybe he is saying Teddy Altas stops me, Teddy Atlas gets in the way of my maneuviring and manipulating the fighter. He sits in a high tower, where he is safe, and because his father is a billionaire. He has no idea of the risks, the dangers for a fighter."
Recently, Atlas was pushing for a Povetkin-Tomasz Adamek fight and told the website that he told Adamek'a promoter Kathy Duva he wanted the match. Atlas said that HBO was willing to buy that heavyweight scrap for April.
Atlas first went to Russia in 2009 to get a first hand look at Povetkin in the gym. Back then, Atlas waxed enthusiastic about everything except the depth of his pro experience.
As an example of Sauerland's fistic ignorance, Atlas cited Kalle's verbal blast on American Andre Dirrell who won by DQ over Sauerland star Arthur Abraham when Abraham slugged Dirrell when he was on the canvas in Detroit.
"He said Dirrell was a good actor, that he should get an Academy Award, just terrible comments. He makes fun of him (Dirrell) being hurt, he makes jokes about it."
