Teddy Atlas on Pulling a Gun on Mike Tyson, Training 18 World Boxing Champions (Full Interview)

Teddy Atlas, a renowned boxing trainer, shares his tumultuous journey from a troubled youth in Staten Island to becoming a celebrated figure in the boxing world. He recounts his upbringing, brushes with the law, and the pivotal role of his mentor, Cus D'Amato, who introduced him to training prodigy Mike Tyson. Atlas discusses the complexities of his relationship with Tyson, including a falling out over personal issues. He reflects on his career highlights, such as training heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, and emphasizes themes of redemption and character, both in and out of the ring.

• Teddy Atlas grew up in Staten Island, New York, in a relatively affluent area called Grimes Hill, with a father who was a doctor.
• Despite his privileged upbringing, Teddy was drawn to the tougher neighborhoods downhill, such as Stapleton, where he engaged in troublesome activities.

"We lived in a place in Grimes Hill where obviously as it suggests it was a hill and down the hill was a neighborhood that was a tough neighborhood... I wanted to get down the hill and I did."

• Teddy's inclination towards the rougher side of life led him into numerous troubles and dangerous situations.

• Teddy Atlas dropped out of school in his senior year and was involved in a violent altercation that resulted in him being slashed with a knife, requiring 400 stitches.

"He came down with the knife and he cut me obviously we know that and... I remember telling the cop just call Dr. Atlas everything don't worry about it."

• Teddy's attacker was a known criminal, but Teddy chose not to pursue legal action, instead contemplating revenge which was ultimately aborted due to the presence of children.

"It turned out at the last second that we realized there were kids in the apartment so we caught it off."

• He later participated in an armed robbery at a gas station, which led to his arrest and time on Rikers Island.

"I was with older guys and... we went into a freaking gas station... I shot a gun and um I was arrested for armed robbery and I went to Riker's Island."

• Despite his father's status as a respected doctor, Teddy sought his father's attention through negative actions, believing this was the way to connect with him.

"The only people that got my father's attention were the people that were sick... I went on a journey to become one of those people."

• Teddy's actions were partly driven by the need to be noticed by his father, which he later recognized as selfish and harmful.

"You think you're just harming yourself... but that is a you know that's not accurate."

• After his release from Rikers Island, Teddy was invited by his friend Kevin Rooney to join him in the Catskills to train under the legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato.

"Kevin said look I want to get you up I'm going to talk to Cus and see if I can get you up here while you're waiting your trial."

• Cus saw potential in Teddy's character and offered him an opportunity to change his life through boxing.

"Cus was a big guy on not your physical talent but your talent inside as far as character and he felt... that I had some character."

• Teddy Atlas was instrumental in the early training of Mike Tyson, who arrived at the Catskill gym as a 12-year-old, 190-pound boy with raw talent.

"He was very raw but he was 190 pounds 12 years old... he don't know nothing but he's strong."

• Tyson demonstrated innate abilities such as power and quickness, but he required discipline and training to harness these skills effectively.

"He was born with power and you could see this but you could also see that he was a kid from Brownsville... there was an urgency."

• Teddy emphasized the importance of discipline and structure in training, refusing to compromise on the standards necessary to develop Tyson's potential.

"I knew what I had to do and I had a feel what was going to happen... I'm not making deals with you the deal is for me to teach you and for you to learn."

• Through structured training, Tyson developed from a raw talent into a disciplined fighter, never experiencing a bloody nose again during sparring.

"After we took him and started making him into a fighter he never had a bloody nose again."

These notes encapsulate the key events and themes discussed in the transcript, providing a detailed overview of Teddy Atlas's life experiences and his influence on boxing, particularly in the training of Mike Tyson.

• The speaker discusses the initial training of a young fighter, emphasizing the importance of discipline and the role of a mentor in shaping a champion.
• The mentor, referred to as "C," had high expectations for the young fighter, predicting a future as a heavyweight champion.
• The process of training and mentorship involved not only physical preparation but also instilling values and rules.

"I said he was telling us what he needed to tell us to get us to think we were seeing what we wanted to see, that he was already behaving like a fighter."

• The speaker highlights the importance of perception and the fighter's ability to project the right image to gain trust and support from mentors.

"Well, get ready to start training your first heavyweight champ."

• The mentor's confidence in the young fighter's potential is evident, setting the stage for a high-stakes training journey.

• The young fighter faced challenges both inside and outside the gym, including issues at school and behavioral problems.
• The speaker enforced strict rules in the gym, applying them equally to all trainees, including the young fighter.
• The emphasis was on teaching the fighter to conduct himself properly both in and out of the ring.

"You also got to be able to control yourself outside the ring."

• The speaker stresses the importance of discipline beyond physical training, aiming to develop a well-rounded individual.

"He broke the rules, I put him out of the gym."

• The speaker demonstrates a firm commitment to enforcing rules, regardless of the fighter's potential or status.

• A serious incident involving the young fighter and a family member of the speaker led to a confrontation.
• The speaker felt compelled to take drastic action to protect his family and uphold personal dignity.
• The use of a firearm was intended as a deterrent to prevent further incidents.

"I grabbed him outside the gym and told him that if you ever go near my family again... I'll kill you."

• The speaker describes the severity of the situation and his willingness to take extreme measures to protect his family.

"I shot a bullet off close to his ear just so he would understand."

• The speaker wanted to ensure the fighter understood the seriousness of the threat and the potential consequences of his actions.

• The aftermath of the confrontation led to a rift between the speaker and his mentor, "C."
• The speaker chose to leave the training environment, understanding the implications of his actions.
• An offer was made to the speaker to remain involved with the fighter's career, but it was rejected due to feelings of betrayal.

"I told him to shove it somewhere... all I felt was betrayal."

• The speaker's decision to leave was driven by a sense of personal integrity and a reaction to perceived betrayal.

"I understood that there are repercussions for your actions."

• The speaker reflects on the life lessons learned, acknowledging the consequences of one's choices and actions.

• The mentor's legacy and dedication to boxing are highlighted, with a focus on his desire to leave a lasting impact on the sport.
• The speaker acknowledges the mentor's achievements and the fulfillment of his goals with the young fighter's success.
• The mentor's life and career were deeply intertwined with boxing, shaping his decisions and priorities.

"He wanted to leave behind the legacy of being the greatest trainer and having the greatest heavyweight champ of all time."

• The mentor's ultimate goal was to be remembered for his contributions to boxing and his role in shaping champions.

"He never got married because it would have been unfair... my marriage was this, boxing."

• The mentor's dedication to boxing was so profound that it influenced his personal life choices, prioritizing the sport over traditional family life.

• The discussion highlights the significance of having a great heavyweight champion in boxing, focusing on Mike Tyson as a dominant figure in his era.
• Tyson was renowned for his ability to knock out opponents quickly, making him one of the most exciting champions of his time.
• The conversation touches on the unexpected loss of Tyson to Buster Douglas, marking a significant upset in sports history.

"Mike Tyson becomes heavyweight champ and he becomes the most exciting heavyweight champ of that era... he knocks people out in 30 seconds."

• This quote emphasizes Tyson's dominance and the excitement he brought to boxing during his reign as heavyweight champion.

"Mike Tyson loses to Buster Douglas, the greatest upset in sports history of any sport."

• This quote underscores the magnitude of Tyson's loss to Douglas, highlighting it as a pivotal moment in sports history.

• Buster Douglas is portrayed as a fighter who had the talent but lacked resolve and character until his fight with Tyson.
• The narrative describes Douglas' one night of greatness, driven by personal loss and the memory of his mother, which enabled him to overcome his previous shortcomings.
• The victory against Tyson is framed as a moment of redemption for Douglas, allowing him to achieve greatness and shock the world.

"On that night somebody made sure that Buster Douglas had everything... he got his second chance, he got Redemption."

• This quote illustrates the transformation of Douglas on the night of the fight, where he overcame his past and achieved redemption.

"On one night, he could be strong for his mother, and he did, and he was everything you want a fighter to be."

• This quote highlights the emotional and motivational factors that propelled Douglas to victory, underscoring the personal significance of his triumph.

• The discussion explores Tyson's weaknesses, particularly his inability to overcome challenges when his natural talent was insufficient.
• Tyson's losses are characterized as moments when he faced real adversity and was unable to prevail, revealing a gap between his talent and his mental resilience.
• The conversation questions whether Tyson's training addressed the mental and emotional aspects necessary for sustained greatness.

"Those six losses represent the only fights he had in his career... when a fight became a fight, and he came up short."

• This quote suggests that Tyson's losses reveal his inability to overcome adversity, contrasting with his earlier successes based solely on talent.

"The engine, the engine that drives that beautiful talent... never caught up to what his talent was."

• This quote highlights the disparity between Tyson's physical talent and his mental and emotional development, implying a lack of growth in crucial areas.

• The narrative shifts to the training of Michael Moorer, who was seen as talented but mentally fractured.
• Moorer's journey to becoming a world heavyweight champion involved overcoming self-doubt and finding trust in himself and his trainers.
• The importance of mental strength in boxing is emphasized, with the trainer's role extending beyond physical preparation to addressing psychological challenges.

"He was a kid that was factured in certain areas... he needed someone beyond just to teach him how to throw a freaking jab."

• This quote underscores the need for addressing Moorer's mental barriers to unlock his full potential as a fighter.

"75% of my business is the mental side... if you're not right mentally, it don't freaking matter."

• This quote emphasizes the critical role of mental strength in boxing, highlighting the trainer's focus on psychological preparation.

• The conversation covers George Foreman's comeback and his fight against Michael Moorer, which was driven by the need for personal redemption.
• Foreman's journey is portrayed as a quest to overcome past failures and reclaim his identity as a champion.
• The narrative celebrates Foreman's resilience and his ability to face and conquer his demons, contrasting with Tyson's struggles.

"He came back 10 years and he finally came got to the title fight with Michael MOA and he did the impossible."

• This quote highlights Foreman's remarkable comeback and his determination to achieve redemption by winning the title fight against Moorer.

"George Foreman is a special man... he exercised the ghost of Zaire that night."

• This quote emphasizes Foreman's unique character and his ability to overcome past defeats, reinforcing his legacy as a resilient and inspiring figure in boxing.

• The theme of personal choice is explored through the discussion of George Foreman and his realization of self-determination.
• Foreman learned that despite external influences, his behavior and actions were ultimately his own choice.
• This self-awareness was pivotal in Foreman's career, enabling him to have a successful comeback.

"It's still your choice and do you and do you make it not your choice... it's always going to be my choice of how I act and behave when that moment comes."

• The quote emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the power of choice in shaping one's actions and behavior.

• The discussion covers the Holyfield vs. Tyson fight and its significance in boxing history.
• Holyfield's victory over Tyson was a pivotal moment that challenged the perception of Tyson's invincibility.
• The rematch, where Tyson bit Holyfield, further solidified Holyfield's status and marked the decline of Tyson's reign.

"Tyson legitimately lost to Holyfield... and that's when all hell broke loose and Tyson ended up biting off part of Holyfield's ear."

• This quote highlights the dramatic and controversial nature of the rematch, which had significant implications for both fighters' careers.

• The speaker shares a personal anecdote about predicting Tyson's disqualification before the fight.
• The prediction was based on an understanding of Tyson's character and his inability to face certain challenges.
• Tyson's actions in the ring were seen as a calculated move to avoid being exposed for lacking certain qualities.

"I said Tyson's going to get disqualified... he doesn't have that core of true belief that when the moment comes he's willing to get through that moment."

• The quote reveals insight into Tyson's mindset and the strategic reasoning behind his controversial actions during the fight.

• Tyson's use of intimidation was discussed as a means to mask his insecurities and lack of self-identity.
• His reliance on aggressive quotes and personas was a way to project strength he felt he lacked internally.
• The discussion highlights the psychological aspects of Tyson's approach to boxing and life.

"He didn't know if he could be that guy... he didn't have an identity so he grabbed other people's identities."

• This quote illustrates Tyson's struggle with self-identity and his dependence on external personas to maintain his intimidating image.

• The conversation shifts to Tyson's apology to the speaker, which was part of Tyson's personal redemption journey.
• Tyson's participation in a 12-step program was mentioned as a significant step in addressing past wrongs.
• The speaker reflects on the sincerity of Tyson's apology and the broader themes of forgiveness and redemption.

"He told me he loved me I appreciated it he said he was sorry I appreciated it."

• The quote captures the emotional moment of reconciliation and the complexity of forgiveness in the context of past conflicts.

• The speaker discusses the power of redemption and the importance of giving back to the community.
• The speaker's charity work focuses on helping families in need and providing opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
• The discussion underscores the impact of positive actions and the potential to change lives through community support.

"The word that I bring is redemption... powerful thing can change lives like magic."

• This quote emphasizes the transformative power of redemption and the speaker's commitment to making a positive difference in the world.