Teddy Atlas argues why Mike Tyson wasn’t a great fighter

ONE-time Mike Tyson trainer Teddy Atlas says the baddest man on the planet’s real boxing record had a big fat zero in the win column.

Promoter Don King and athlete Mike Tyson attend Sugar Ray Leonard Vs. Donny LaLond Boxing Match on November 7, 1988 at Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

BOXING commentator and revered trainer Teddy Atlas has delivered a sensational dismissal of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson’s career in a passionate monologue.

Atlas said Tyson, who is widely regarded as the heaviest puncher boxing has ever seen, was “not a great fighter”, while explaining his shortcomings to MMA commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan.

Tyson lit the world on fire early in his career, claiming his first title as a 20-year-old. He still holds the record for the youngest belt holder in boxing history.

His first 19 fights came by knockout or stoppage — 12 of those inside the first round — before he ended his career with a 50-6 record following a loss to Kevin McBride in 2005.

But Atlas, who currently calls fights for ESPN and famously sprayed Aussie welterweight Jeff Horn last year, went so far as saying Tyson hadn’t won a single “fight” in his career.

Atlas claimed Tyson’s difficult upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, had left him unable to respond to challenges.

“He used to hide in between walls to not get picked on,” Atlas, who briefly helped Hall of Fame trainer Cus D’Amato train Tyson, said on The Joe Rogan Experiencethis week.

“I believe when you do that, you’re hiding for the rest of your life. That’s just my belief.

“I don’t have his record in front of me — and this is going to blow some people crazy — say it’s 50 and five. I would say he’s 0-5.

“To me, a fight is not a fight until there’s resistance and until something has to be overcome, otherwise it’s just an athletic venture, an exhibition.

“I think life is like that. A lawyer isn’t a lawyer until he has to overcome something in the courtroom. When the judge throws all this crap out and he still handles it.

“Tyson’s talent and physical ability was so great, so overwhelming, that he never got tested. Was there anything inside the warehouse? We never knew.

“And then five times — or whatever the record was — there was resistance. Five times there was a real fight and something to overcome. And he failed all five times.”

Mike Tyson was running on talent and talent alone, Teddy Atlas claims.

ATLAS: THIS ISN’T ABOUT OUR PAST

Atlas had an ugly falling out with a teenage Tyson early in his career after allegedly hearing he acted inappropriately with an 11-year-old relative. Atlas put a gun to Tyson’s ear and told him to stay away from his family.

The 62-year-old admitted his rough history with Tyson meant some would feel his opinion is biased.

“I know (people will say) sour grapes, knowing my history with him. Am I capable of that? Yeah. But I can honestly tell you, I try to be better than that,” he said. “I’ve called many fights with people I couldn’t stand. I had no respect for them, but they did a good job, I talked about them like they were Angelo Dundee.

“I’m only saying this because I would say this about somebody else. I don’t think you know crap about somebody until they’re tested.

“Tyson didn’t run over those guys like a monster truck over a Volkswagen — and he was a monster truck (in his prime) and one of the greatest punchers of all time — but he wasn’t a great fighter. Because great fighters, when the fight came to them, they found a way to do what they have to do. He found a way to disappear and not show up.”

Atlas was adamant Tyson’s freakish talent was what made him a household name and refused to believe he had enough mental strength to become truly great.

“To be a warrior, it has to be inside you and you have to believe it,” he said. “There are certain things you can’t lie about. The ring is a chamber of truth. When the moment comes and you didn’t intimidate the guy, that’s when the truth matters.”

Teddy Atlas has some big kahunas.

ATLAS: EAR BITE WAS A WAY OUT

But Atlas wasn’t done deconstructing the baddest man on the planet yet. In a stunning accusation, the 62-year-old claimed Tyson’s infamous ear-biting incident, which saw him disqualified from his 1997 rematch with Evander Holyfield, was a way to squeeze his way out of a second knockout loss.

“It was a way out, because he knew he wasn’t that guy (who overcame adversity). And he could recognise when someone was. And Evander Holyfield was,” Atlas said. “That was his way to get out. That’s why it’s not sour grapes. It doesn’t mean I’m right, but I do have a reason to believe I’m right.”

‘HE DID WEAK THINGS’

Atlas touched on Tyson’s rape conviction midway through his career, suggesting the former heavyweight champ had done more “weak” things that contributed to his losses.

“But I know enough people in the business who know there was a lot of other bad things he did that are just not things that you would want to hang with somebody if you were a halfway decent person (after knowing what they did).” Atlas said.

“They were weak things. If you do weak things and you know it, and now you’ve gotta do a strong thing, how do you become strong? How do you become strong when you know that’s really you and you’ve got a guy across from you called Evander Holyfield who doesn’t give a sh** about how hard you punch and doesn’t give a crap about how good of a finisher you are.

“He was as strong a guy you’ll ever see but was the weakest person you’re ever going to find.”

Imagine Tyson running into Atlas after this.

Originally published as Teddy Atlas argues why Mike Tyson wasn’t a great fighter