Tag: Teddy Atlas

Teddy Atlas reveals determining factor in Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2

Teddy Atlas breaks down Saturday’s boxing heavyweight title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

A big heavyweight championship fight goes down this Saturday as boxing stars [autotag]Oleksandr Usyk[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] collide once again in a highly anticipated rematch that could put an end to their rivalry, or perhaps even extend it.

Ahead of the colossal matchup (DAZN pay-per-view), where Usyk puts his WBA, WBO and WBC titles on the line against Fury, legendary trainer [autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] shared his thoughts and prediction. Just like their first encounter back in May – which Usyk won by decision – Atlas is sticking with the Ukranian.

“I’m taking Usyk. I think he’s going to win,” Atlas said on “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas.” “This is a guy that finds ways to win. It’s in his DNA. I don’t think it’s an accident that he wins all the time. He finds a way to win.”

Usyk (22-0) vs. Fury (34-1-1) goes down Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s a historic bout for boxing given that, back in May, the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years was crowned.

Atlas believes Usyk is the more skilled fighter, just as he did in the first outing, but now there’s an added element. Atlas is concerned about the damage that Fury took in the first fight and expects him to enter the bout a bit more compromised than he did before.

“I think they left a good part of themselves in the ring that night,” Atlas said. “It was a hell of a fight, and both guys took punishment, especially Fury. Both guys are getting older, and that goes into play too. I think it comes down not if both guys left something in the ring, I don’t think there’s a doubt that they left something in the ring, but who left more.

“For me, that’s what this fight comes down: Who left more in the ring in that first fight? And I’m going to say it was Fury, that he left more of himself. If I’m right, Usyk wins. And if I’m wrong, it’s going to be one hell of a fight. Either way, I’m taking Usyk.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420040922]

Teddy Atlas cautions Jake Paul ahead of Mike Tyson fight

Boxing analyst Teddy Atlas explains how Jake Paul needs to be careful ahead of his Mike Tyson boxing match.

[autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] warns [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] of [autotag]Mike Tyson[/autotag]’s quick start.

Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) meets Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) in a Netflix special event Friday at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The bout is scheduled for eight, two-minute rounds.

The 58-year-old boxing legend threw up blood when he suffered an ulcer medical emergency which caused his initial booking with Paul to shift from July to November. Atlas says if Tyson’s team gave the green light to compete, he’d like to think he’s healthy.

“Obviously he’s OK, and that’s good,” Atlas said in an interview with Pro Boxing Fans. “That’s his choice, his family’s choice. He knows if he can come back. Obviously, it’s something that he overcame physically. It wasn’t that serious. Obviously, he’s of good health.

“The people around him believe he’s of good health. I have to believe he’s of good health. He’s 58-years old. Not too many guys who would be getting in the ring at 58, but it’s not a normal professional fight. The circumstances are a little different.”

Despite Tyson’s age and the question marks surrounding his current state of health, Atlas still believes his power could pose problems for Paul early – even though he casts doubts on the legitimacy of this fight.

“I tell you one thing, early on, Jake better be alert the first couple of rounds,” Atlas continued. “Because one thing that a former great fighter like Tyson can do is still punch. The power is the last thing to leave you. The power is the last thing to leave you, and if Jake gets careless early on – if it’s real.

“If there’s not an agreement in place. I don’t know, I don’t know. If it’s not pre-scripted, if this isn’t pre-scripted for Netflix, and it’s real, and Tyson comes out there firing the way that he used to fire, and he can do it for a couple of rounds, it could be interesting.”

[lawrence-related id=2786291,2786237,2786137,2785886]

Teddy Atlas on Dana White’s commitment to boxing: ‘Come on in, we need you’

Teddy Atlas welcomes Dana White to boxing.

[autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] welcomes [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] to boxing.

The UFC CEO has never minced his words when it comes to his feelings about how corrupt he thinks the boxing model is. After dancing around the idea of “Zuffa Boxing” for years, White finally decided to commit to his involvement in the sport.

Atlas thinks White’s presence would only add value to what Turki Alalshikh has already built.

“I say come on in – come on in, we need you,” Atlas told Submission Radio. “Turki Alalshikh has helped boxing tremendously by making fights the promoters couldn’t make. They didn’t want to make (them) because they didn’t own both sides. They didn’t control both sides, so the fans suffered, didn’t get the fights they wanted. The sport suffered. This sport was getting less and less relevant. This sport is the longest sport in the history of sports. They find drawings of guys throwing punches on caves two thousand years ago. This sport shouldn’t be irrelevant, but it was becoming that because of the promoters with the networks, with their sugar daddies.

“They were just making the fights to keep their guys undefeated, to get to the next big fight – non-competitive fights, and every once in a while they threw you a bone. It wasn’t enough. The fans were starving. Then Turki Alalshikh came along from Saudi (Arabia) with the money, and in the last year he made fights that the sport needs. Dana White does that. He’s been doing that forever over at the UFC. Yeah, I know it’s one guy in charge and people call him a dictator. Listen, if a dictator ain’t chopping heads off and he’s getting things done, sometimes maybe we could learn a little something. We could use rules in this (boxing) world right now. We could use a direction in this world right now. He’d make the fights that you’d need to make.”

Atlas also defended fighter pay in the UFC, and the constant critique White has gotten from the likes of Jake Paul.

“Yeah people will say, ‘What are people going to get paid?’ UFC, he created a hell of a brand, and it wasn’t a complicated formula: Make the fights that people want to see, and the brand will grow because the fans will grow it,” Atlas said. “People say they don’t get paid. It is trickling down. The stars are being born, They’re making the bigger money. Same thing in boxing, but then it starts to trickle down. Yes, I want everyone paid, but when you build something, there is more to give then. Then it will trickle down, then it will go to all the other fighters on the totem pole.

“The bottom line is, the brand will be stronger. The brand of boxing has become stronger because of Turki Alalshikh making these fights. It will become stronger in a more spread out way if maybe the two of them join together. If Dana White brings his model into boxing, to have the infrastructure, to have enforcement of rules, to have the kind of fights that people want, that people have only been getting in the last year. If he brings that, and he would bring that, Teddy would say, ‘Hey Dana, come on in this way. Welcome. Welcome.'”

[lawrence-related id=2773280,2773089,2773095,2773071]

Teddy Atlas confident Sean O’Malley can cross over to boxing, advises him to fight Ryan Garcia, not Gervonta Davis

Teddy Atlas believes UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has what it takes to cross over to the world of boxing.

MMA fighters generally don’t fare well in high-level boxing. However, legendary boxing trainer [autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] believes there’s a UFC champion who could do the job.

Atlas is confident that UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] could transition and cross over to the boxing world and hold his own. Atlas, who analyzes both boxing and MMA, has seen enough of O’Malley to make him believe that he could do something in the “sweet science.”

“He can cross over because he has the instinct, the talent, the abilities of a boxer, a pure boxer,” Atlas said on his YouTube channel. “He’s got the legs. He’s got the eyes. He sees things real good. He’s got long arms. He’s got quick hands. He’s versatile, and he can use the ring and move around and get angles. He can set traps. He’s a great, great natural counterpuncher.

“If you wait in front of him, he gets out first, and puts punches together – smart and educated punches. Smart combinations, up and down. Tricking combinations. They’re advanced combinations, they’re not primitive combinations. They’re not just basic combinations, they’re combinations of a top fighter. If you walked into a room, and he was on TV and you would’n’t see that he’s not wearing shoes, and you saw him strike, you might think you’re watching a boxing match. He’s that smooth. He’s that natural with it, that comfortable withe it. He controls range and distance beautifully, and he can punch. He gets good power. Wiry guys usually can’t get good power.”

O’Malley, who returns on Sept. 14 to defend his UFC title against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306, has been public about his desire to box. He’s called out big names in the past, such as Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia.

Although Atlas holds O’Malley in high regard, he’d advise him not to fight Davis, who is considered one of today’s best pound-for-pound fighters.

“Who would I take out of those two top guys? I’m not knocking him, but I wouldn’t take ‘Tank’ Davis,” Atlas explained. “I’m not saying the other guy is a walk in the park at all. Obviously, not at all. But I’d take Garcia because ‘Tank’ Davis to me is the more well-rounded fighter. There are more things to worry about. He can punch. He can counterpunch. He can get you. There are so many facets to his game, and he’s so consistent. Garcia hasn’t shown us that can be consistent.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Teddy Atlas has no issue with Jake Paul vs. 57-year-old Mike Tyson

Teddy Atlas thinks Jake Paul is taking a big risk by fighting Mike Tyson.

A lot has been said about [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag]’s upcoming bout against 57-year-old [autotag]Mike Tyson[/autotag].

While some have criticized the matchup due to the 30-year age gap, others have grown intrigued by two combat sports stars colliding. [autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag], legendary boxing trainer, is on board with the fight and has no issue with Paul fighting Tyson.

Atlas likes that Paul is fighting someone heavier than him, as it’s usually the opposite case. He also thinks that Tyson, even at 57, still has power behind his punches, which makes him a threat to Paul.

“First of all, he’s actually fighting a guy who finally – I know he’s much older than him – but he’s actually the bigger guy because Paul fights about cruiserweight,” Atlas said on his YouTube channel. “(Tyson) is naturally the bigger guy. He’s fighting a legendary iconic fighter, a guy who’s one of the greatest punchers in heavyweight history, one of the greatest punchers ever – with either hand, and he’s got combinations with speed and power.

“Yeah, he’s 58 years old. Yeah, the end of his career wasn’t too good before he got out. But one of the last things that go with a fighter, it’s his power.”

Given the threat that Atlas thinks Tyson still poses, plus his age, Atlas thinks Paul is in a lose-lose situation, and that’s why he credits him for taking the fight.

“I think this is a very dangerous fight for Paul,” Atlas said. “I think early on, I think he might be making a mistake. First of all, for me, he don’t have a lot (to win) other than money, and he’s made plenty of money. There’s not a lot of winning on his side because if he wins, they say he’s 58 years old and if he loses they say he’s 58 years old, and he lost to a 58-year-old guy. For me, he’s got a lot more to lose than Tyson – a lot more.

“… There’s nothing to lose for Tyson. If he wins, he’s even bigger. People are going to thank him. ‘Thank you for ending this charade’ – that’s what they’re going to say. ‘Thank you for teaching this guy that you’re either a fighter or you’re not a fighter. You can’t go from being a YouTuber to being a fighter.’ For the people that believe that, that feel that way, that don’t like Paul, they’re going to prop Tyson even higher.”

Paul vs. Tyson is scheduled for July 20 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium and will live stream on Netflix. The exact ruleset and details on whether this will be a fully professional bout are unclear at the moment and have yet to be released by the promoters.

Atlas questioned whether it will be a fully sanctioned professional fight, and not because of the reasons many may think.

“Unless this is a WWE agreement, which I don’t know that it is – I never said this before because I think all these fights are legitamate, and they are and have been – but this one makes me wonder,” Atlas said. “I’m not questioning the integrity of Paul. In fact, I like his integrity. I like what I’ve seen in the guy. … I’m just saying, if there was a time I would question it, this would be the time because I can’t see, unless Paul is that confident, that Tyson is too old now, and he’s that good, because Paul has been getting more confident, and he does have a good right hand and does punch well with it and Tyson leads with left hooks. Maybe Paul thinks he can hit him with a right hand, I don’t know. All I know is that this is the first time I’ve said, ‘I wonder if there’s an agreement, because if there’s no agreement, Paul might be making a mistake. … I’m surprised Paul is taking this risk. … Power doesn’t disappear even when you’re old. He’s still got speed in the combinations. He’s still got that style.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

For more on the fight, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Tyson.

Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.

Teddy Atlas says Anthony Joshua exposed ‘amateur’ Francis Ngannou: ‘He’s not ready for prime time’

Teddy Atlas reacts to Francis Ngannou’s KO loss to Anthony Joshua in second pro boxing fight.

[autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] believes [autotag]Anthony Joshua[/autotag] brought the conversation around [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] back to reality.

Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, made plenty of waves with his jump into the boxing world after he was able to go the distance in a very competitive fight against WBC champion Tyson Fury back in October. So much, that even the WBC ended up ranking Ngannou in the top 10 of their rankings with the one fight.

Well, in his second professional boxing match last Friday, Ngannou was knocked out by Joshua in the second round of their contest. It was a bad loss for Ngannou, who was dropped twice before getting viciously stopped. Atlas believes the result exposed the true nature of Ngannou.

“He exposed an amateur, because he did in reality,” Atlas said on his YouTube channel. “I know the great performance against Fury, I explained that, it was great, but that was different. Now he had to react. I even think Ngannou’s confidence hurt him because he thought he could be more aggressive, and he was ready to be more aggressive. He was right in front of him. I thought that hurt him this time because he wasn’t that guy yet.

“He was still an amateur, and we forgot that because of his brilliance performance against Fury. … (Joshua) reminded us he was an amateur, he’s not ready for prime time because he did what a top guy should do. You exposed him. You exposed the things he wasn’t yet.”

So how could an “amateur” fight and almost beat the WBC heavyweight champion? Atlas gives Ngannou credit for his showing against Fury back in October, but he does think a perfect combination of factors led to Ngannou over-performing.

“Styles makes fights,” Atlas said. “Fury’s style was completely different from Joshua’s, that’s No. 1. It does influence fights. No. 2. There was something missing that was there the first time, that helped Ngannou when he fought Fury. That something is the element of surprise. That’s a big something, not a little something. Fury was ready physically, he was, I’m making no excuses. Tremendous job by Ngannou, but Fury wasn’t ready mentally.

“You couldn’t be. It’s almost not human to have really taken him seriously, where every fiber of your body and mind would be ready for what was coming. It was his first pro fight, and you’re the champion of the world.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=103]

UFC 299 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Lead PPV team with Joe Rogan gets first call of 2024

The UFC’s lead commentary team of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier will call its first card of 2024 at UFC 299 in Miami.

The third numbered UFC event of 2024 is rapidly approaching with UFC 299 on Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the show have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

Teddy Atlas lauds ‘monster truck’ Dricus Du Plessis for his intelligence ahead of UFC 297

Legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas is very high on Dricus Du Plessis.

Legendary boxing trainer [autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] is very high on [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag].

Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 297 main event at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) .

Du Plessis emerged as No. 1 contender when he finished former champion Robert Whittaker by TKO at UFC 290 which impressed Atlas. He praised the South African for not only physically imposing his will, but for having the fight IQ to go with it.

“He is so big, he is so strong, he is so explosive, he is so devastating,” Atlas said on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas. “He is that monster truck that runs over the smaller ones. He is that big, he is that physical, and he imposes his physicality on you. I’ve met him. When he beat Whittaker to get to the spot that he’s in right now, it was a big upset. Everyone thought Whittaker was going to win that fight. … He didn’t just beat him, he obliterated Whittaker.

“It was really impressive. But here’s the reason why I think so much of Du Plessis: Yeah he’s big, yeah he’s George Foreman strong and all that stuff. But he’s smart. If he was just big and strong, I wouldn’t have been as impressed as I was that night against Whittaker. He didn’t just beat Whittaker only on physicality, he beat him because he mixed his size and his physicality with technique and smarts.”

[lawrence-related id=2709802,2709703,2709663,2709479]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.

Teddy Atlas on Mike Tyson: ‘I don’t know if he was ever great’

Teddy Atlas explains why he’s not sold on Mike Tyson’s greatness as a boxer.

Legendary boxing trainer [autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] questions [autotag]Mike Tyson[/autotag]’s greatness.

Tyson, the youngest boxer to ever win a heavyweight championship, is widely considered one of the greatest and most notable figures in the sport’s history. He was the first heavyweight boxer to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles simultaneously.

While Atlas doesn’t question Tyson’s skills, he has one criticism.

“I don’t know if he was ever great,” Atlas said on the Lex Fridman Podcast. “I know he was sensational. I know he was the greatest mix of maybe speed and power ever. I know he was one of the greatest punchers from either side of the plate, left or right. There’s been great punchers with just the right hand like Earnie Shavers and Deontay Wilder and Max Baer. I don’t know if there’s ever been anyone who could punch as good as (Tyson) did on either side with either hand other than Joe Louis and a few others.

“I don’t know if there’s ever been such a combination of speed and power to that pure level that he had, and it was a pure level. I don’t know if there was ever as good a fighter as Tyson was for maybe one night he was great. He wasn’t tested, but he might have been ready to be tested that one night against Michael Spinks when he took him apart in 90 seconds. I think I saw a great fighter that night. I don’t think you can be great unless you have all the requirements of being great.”

If Tyson doesn’t qualify as a great fighter, then what does it take to be truly great? Atlas explains.

“To not rely on someone else’s weakness to be strong, to be strong on your own,” Atlas said. “Too often, (Tyson) relied on other people’s weakness, whether it’s by being intimidated or whether it was because his talent was so much greater than theirs that it was like putting a monster truck in there with a Volkswagen.

“The Volkswagen was going to get crushed. No matter how much horsepower the Volkswagen might’ve had under the hood, it was going to get crushed. The monster truck was not going to allow it to be a contest. To be able to find a way when your talent wasn’t enough – he didn’t find a way when his talent wasn’t enough.”

Atlas pointed to Tyson’s big upset loss to Buster Douglas in 1990, when he said Douglas matched his will and didn’t get intimidated. He also referenced his two losses to Evander Holyfield, whom Atlas doesn’t think was as talented as Tyson.

“A fight is not a fight until there’s something to overcome,” Atlas said. “Until then, it’s just an athletic exhibition contest. Yeah, who’s a better athlete? Who’s got more quick twitch fibers? Who’s more developed in those physical areas?

“But a fight is not a fight until there’s something to overcome. So, if you go by my definition, not Webster’s, pretend it means something, Mike Tyson was only in five (six) fights in his life. The fights where there was something to overcome, he didn’t overcome it.”

[lawrence-related id=2696715,2693653,2691758]

Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.

Teddy Atlas had Tyson Fury clearly beating Francis Ngannou, says boxing champ was compromised mentally

Teddy Atlas attributes Tyson Fury’s poor showing vs. Francis Ngannou in part to thinking the fight would be “a fun thing, a money grab.”

Legendary boxing trainer [autotag]Teddy Atlas[/autotag] doesn’t see any controversy in [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag]’s win over [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag].

Ngannou took WBC champion Fury to a split decision in their crossover boxing match this past Saturday in Saudi Arabia, an outcome he disagrees with. The former UFC heavyweight champion knocked down Fury in Round 3 and stood toe to toe with him for all 10 rounds.

Atlas gave Fury Rounds 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. He scored Round 3 10-8 for Ngannou, and the only other round he gave him was Round 8. It was Round 7 that Atlas struggled to score, finally deciding on a 10-10 draw. Atlas’ overall tally favored Fury for being the busier fighter.

“My final score: 97-93 for Mr. Fury,” Atlas said on his show, “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas.”  “And like I said in my comments, lots of posturing, feinting, half jabs, lot of looking, could have been more even rounds possibly, but I know it’s an honest one, because I’m saying what I believe.”

Fury insisted that he did not underestimate Ngannou, but many observers believed he looked off. Atlas views the fight as an upset because Ngannou pulled off the unexpected, but he thinks Fury didn’t take him entirely seriously.

“Physically he did; he was in good shape,” Atlas said. “Good enough shape. But mentally he didn’t. He didn’t. I’m going to put my bottom dollar, and he won’t make an excuse. I give him credit for that. And I’m not making an excuse. Ngannou deserves every bit of credit, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Tyson Fury was compromised in a way that, as a human being, that he too thought it was going to be a fun thing, a money grab.

“It was going to be where he does what he wants. He wants to end it; he ends it. He wants to play, he wants to do an Ali shuffle, whatever he wants to do, he could do it. There was going to be nothing to worry about. … You can’t say it’s going to be an easy day because you’re going to get screwed.”

[lawrence-related id=2692161,2691925,2692032,2691950]

For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Fury vs. Ngannou.