Is Teddy Atlas one of boxing's worst trainers?

[The Hammer]

I've been watching several of Michael Grant's old fights this week. While watching a video of the HBO telecast of Lewis-Grant, I noticed on the undercard Teddy Atlas was in the corner of a talented boxer from Brooklyn by the name of Junior Jones, who was fighting an obviously less gifted boxer from the UK called Paul Ingle. This seemed like a mismatch, as the fight went on Ingle seemed no match for the slick Jones.

But Teddy kept yelling at Jones, and this seemed to affect his fighter's focus and confidence and he began to get hit more and eventually was TKOed in the 11th round by Ingle! It was the only big win by the British boxer Ingle, and his last win as well.

Somer months later on HBO, Teddy was in Michael Grant's corner against Jameel McCline. On the very first punch of the fight, Grant went down, and he could not continue for long afterward because he injured his ankle in the fall. HBO commentator George Foreman said "Grant's trainer didn't warm him up, there's not a drop of sweat on him, he came in cold" Jim Lampley said "isn't Teddy Atlas supposed to be a good trainer?" and Foreman replied something like "I don't care who he is, you don't send a fighter into the ring without warming him up, or your taking a risk of him being injured".

George was absolutely right.

Speaking of Foreman, on a video of the Foreman-Moorer fight, you can hear Teddy yelling at Moorer and distracting him just before the fateful Foreman punch landed which made George the oldest heavyweight titleholder ever!

Then there's the stories of what happened with Teddy and others like Shannon Briggs and Donny LaLonde, but I won't go into those at this time.

[BOLLOCKS]

Maybe he was yelling at him because he knew he'd end up getting TKO'd.

[Thread Stealer]

I don't really blame him much for the Moorer thing. From the clips I've seen, he just told Moorer during the Foreman fight "don't stand in front of him" (and told him to circle the other way). Moorer got KO'd anyway.

At the same time, I don't give him that much credit for allegedly willing and inspiring Moorer to victory in the first Holyfield fight. If you actually watch the whole fight, you'll see how Moorer basically slept-walked in the rounds after Atlas pleaded with him. Moorer was more cautious after suffering that 2nd round KD.

Atlas may know a lot of technical details, but his track record at the highest level of the sport as a trainer isn't very good.

[Junito-Rulez]

Maybe he was yelling at him because he knew he'd end up getting TKO'd.

[The Hammer]

Maybe he was yelling at him because he knew he'd end up getting TKO'd.

Or maybe Moorer got KOed because he had a nutcase in his corner yelling at him?

Tommy Morrison was not a better boxer than Moorer, and had just as poor of a chin. Yet he had no problem surviving the 12 rounds with the old Foreman. Neither did Briggs, Shultz, Savarese, etc.

[BOLLOCKS]

I was talking about the Jones part.

[Junito-Rulez]

I was talking about the Jones part.

**** you, ****! U're frankie lopez, i'm tony Montana.

BTW, Teddy Atlas is supposed to be a good trainer coz his master was the great d' amato but i must admit he never made great champs like Roach with Pac or Roger with Floyd.

[Scott9945]

Grant was a better fighter before Atlas trained him. He might be better after him as well. Teddy is an egomaniacal control freak. If I managed a fighter, he would be the last guy I ever hired.

[McFearless]

Maybe his fighters get confused with all the bad food metaphors he's throwing around?

[$Bullsfam$]

Not a great trainer but a decent one. I'm sure he's not crying that his guy didn't fight Wlad & Peter will get the rematch instead, but I'm sure he knew he wasnt ready. But I think with Teddy in his corner Povek. got a better shot then he would without him which still isnt much but I like Teddy, he's a cool cat with great knowledge and knows wtf he's talkin bout.