Teddy Atlas won’t apologise for criticism of Jeff Horn’s victory over Manny Pacquiao

IF you thought Teddy Atlas would apologise for his criticism of Jeff Horn’s miracle win, think again. The brash American is insistent Manny Pacquiao was robbed.

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He is the American sports broadcaster we despise the most.

The man who disrespected and insulted our boxing champ Jeff Horn at ringside after his phenomenally courageous victory over Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium last month, declaring: “It’s a corrupt sport … the decision stunk.’’

His anger helped stoke the backlash against Horn, particularly in the US where the likes of Kobe Bryant, Aaron Rogers and Samuel L Jackson ridiculed the decision

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In this exclusive interview, ESPN fight legend and commentator Teddy Atlas tells Sports Editor-at-Large Phil Rothfield he won’t be apologising any time soon.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield talks to ESPN boxing commentator Teddy Atlas, who doesn’t hold back about his thoughts on Aussie World Champion Jeff Horn.

Buzz: You’ve caused a lot of outrage with your remarks about Jeff Horn and all of that banging your fist on the commentary table after he beat Manny Pacquiao.

Teddy: Yes, I’d heard there had been a bit of commotion. The truth has a habit of doing that. I can only say what I believe to be the truth. It doesn’t mean I’m right but I take what I do very seriously. There’s a lot of responsibility in my position. I respect the sport and I respect every boxer.

I say what my 40 years of judgment tells me to say. Even when it’s not comfortable. Even when it’s not fashionable or favourable.

Horn scored the upset win over Pacquiao last month.

Buzz: You’ve been slammed for disrespecting a great moment in Australian sport. Jeff Fenech said: “If it was me I would have knocked Teddy out right there on worldwide TV. I’d have punched him so hard he would have swallowed his microphone.”

Teddy: Guys like Jeff Fenech I have a lot of respect for. He did great in his career.

He sees me the day before the fight and gives me a big hug. He says to everyone in the group — “meet one of the few honest guys in boxing. Always tells the truth. Always honest in his opinions. He’s trustworthy. Says it how he sees it.” All that sort of stuff.

I don’t go on the internet but I’ve heard Jeff has taken a shot at me after the fight for saying what I said. I had to laugh to myself.

Twenty-four hours earlier he’s telling everyone I’m the only guy in boxing who speaks his mind. I’m the most honest man in boxing. Then he’s bagging me for being honest. I just laughed.

Buzz: Have you watched a replay of the fight Teddy?

Teddy: No I can’t tell you that I have. I’ve been very busy doing other ESPN fights and other chores for my charity foundation.

I’ve been doing lot of stuff on Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. I just haven’t had the chance to watch it again.

Horn scored a unanimous decision victory over the all-time legend.

Buzz: So do you still think Pacquiao won?

Teddy: There was no doubt Pacquiao was a diminished fighter but I thought he was the guy lander the cleaner and more effective punches.

I thought Horn was throwing a lot. He was aggressive but not effectively aggressive. I gave him some rounds. I get it.

End of the day I thought there was one winner and I gave it to Pacquiao.

He landed the clean punches. The other guy was gritty. I give him all the credit in the world, showed a lot of heart in front of his countrymen, did himself proud, made his country feel proud.

All of that’s great.

At the end of the day you have rules and a criteria. According to the rules I understand, Pacquiao won the fight.

Horn was missing a lot and you don’t get points for missing. You don’t win fights for trying hard. You win for being efficient and effective.

Atlas was insistent in his belief Pacquiao won the fight.

Buzz: Hold on Teddy. The judges were unanimous that Horn won. Another set of judges at the appeal also awarded him the fight.

Teddy: I laugh at the people who thought I might apologise because the WBO judges looked at it again and scored it for Horn again.

What are you guys doing down there? Are you drinking something? What are you drinking? Seriously. The same organisation (WBO) scored it again.

Same organisation. Do you really think they are going to embarrass themselves and say “we got it wrong?” What do you think they are going to do?

Are you seriously putting that forward that Teddy should apologise?

Go and get a separate group of people from a different organisation.

A group that is non biased and had nothing to do with the first fight.

Let them watch it and tell me what they say. Maybe I’ll listen to them.

Buzz: So you refuse to apologise. You could have ruined a very special moment for Jeff.

Teddy: If I thought I’d done something wrong I wouldn’t have said it in the first place. Okay. I laugh at Horn.

God bless him. It’s good for his country and good for boxing. I’m happy for that. But for Jeff to say “oh I lost respect for Teddy” … well grow up.

You’re a world champion now. Say something little bit more mature than that. Are you kidding me?

I expect something better to come out of the mouth of someone who showed that much grit and that much heart. I’d like to see him respect honesty.

At least you had a guy who’d just finished covering the fight, who instead of being a phony, told the truth and gave a genuine opinion.

I have a responsibility as a broadcaster, as a human being, as a man and as a father to set a proper example.

I shouldn’t act like I thought your guy on. I had wanted to be honest and straight forward.

I did it in a proper, professional and gentlemanly manner. I just said I had you losing but you fought a great fight and congratulations.

Where do you lose respect for somebody out of that. You’re kidding me.

Horn’s victory was confirmed by the WBO, who rescored the fight in his favour.

Buzz: Are you worried about coming back to Australia? You’re not the most popular dude out here.

Teddy: I was thinking about getting into a small business making ‘I hate Teddy’ shirts. I could make a bundle on that.

I could supplement my ESPN pay with some money from all my great Australian friends.

Buzz: They’d probably be popular.

Teddy: I don’t want to live my life trying to satisfy people. I want to be consistent in what I believe in, teach my children the proper things, to stand behind in what you believe in and have the guts to stand behind it even when it’s hard.

You don’t compromise yourself. I’m only worried about trying to live a life that I think is right. I’m not defined by Australian people.

I understand nationalism I understand that maybe in their hearts they thought Horn won the fight. Maybe it was more in their hearts.

Will Pacquiao fight again?

Buzz: We sure thought Jeff won.

Teddy: Look if you watched that fight with no sound within a vacuum of only looking at the video.

One guy was not Australian. The other guy was not Filipino. Just two boxers. A cold fight. Nothing emotional. I’d be very curious to see how it’s scored.

We talk about honesty and the true commitment to that word gets tested once in a while. Like did Jeff Fenech really think Horn won or as it too difficult to say anything else under the circumstances. I wonder.

Buzz: Anyway Teddy nice to talk to you. I do like a guy who speaks his mind.

Teddy: Thanks, I need any friend I can get.

Originally published as Teddy Atlas won’t apologise for criticism of Jeff Horn’s victory over Manny Pacquiao