Lex Fridman Podcast
#406 – Teddy Atlas: Mike Tyson, Cus D’Amato, Boxing, Loyalty, Fear & Greatness
Sun, 24 Dec 2023
Teddy Atlas is boxing trainer to 18 world champions, ESPN boxing commentator, and host of podcast THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Notion: https://notion.com/lex - Babbel: https://babbel.com/lexpod and use code Lexpod to get 55% off - ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod to get 3 months free - InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/teddy-atlas-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Teddy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeddyAtlasReal Teddy's Instagram: https://instagram.com/teddy_atlas Teddy's Website: https://teddyatlas.com/ Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring (book): https://amzn.to/48uIQBj Teddy's Podcast: https://youtube.com/THEFIGHTwithTeddyAtlas Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation: http://dratlasfoundation.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (09:47) - Lessons from father (19:53) - Scar story (40:31) - Cus D'Amato (50:43) - Mike Tyson (2:08:39) - Forgiveness
Full Episode
The following is a conversation with Teddy Atlas, a legendary and at times controversial boxing trainer and commentator. When I was going to this conversation with Teddy, I was ready to talk boxing.
Styles, matches, techniques, tactics, and his analysis of individual fighters like Mike Tyson, Michael Moore, Klitschko, Usyk, Povetkin, Lomachenko, Triple G, Canelo, Muhammad Ali, Shigure Leonard, Hagler, Duran, Floyd, and on and on and on. Like I said, I came ready to talk boxing. But I stayed for something even bigger. The Shakespearean human story of Teddy Atlas, Gus D'Amato, and Mike Tyson.
It's a story about loyalty, betrayal, fear, and greatness. It's a story where nobody is perfect and everybody is human. To summarize, in the early 80s, young trainer Teddy Atlas worked with his mentor, Customato, in training the young boxing protege, now a boxing legend, Mike Tyson.
Mike was a troubled youth, arrested over 40 times, and at age 15, he was sexually inappropriate with Teddy's 11-year-old niece. In response to this, Teddy put a .38 caliber handgun to Tyson's ear and told him to never touch his family again or he would kill him if he did. For this, Custom Auto kicked Teddy out. Why? Well, that's complicated.
In part, I think, to help minimize the chance of Mike Tyson, who Cuss legally adopted, would be taken away by the state. And with him, the dream of developing one of the greatest boxers of all time. Of course, that summary doesn't capture the full complexity of human nature and human drama involved here. For that, you have to listen to this conversation. The things said and the things left unsaid.
The pain in Teddy's voice. The contradictions of love and anger that permeate his stories and his philosophy on life. Like I said, I came to talk about boxing and stayed to talk about life. This conversation will stay with me for a long time. The people close to you, the people you trust, the people you love are everything. And if they betray you and break your heart, forgive them.
Forgive yourself and try again. Happy holidays, everyone. I love you all. And now a quick few second mention of each sponsor. Check them out in the description. It's the best way to support this podcast. We got Notion for team collaboration, Babbel for learning new languages, ExpressVPN for privacy and security on the internet webs, and Insight Tracker for...
health based on the data that comes from your body. So choose wisely, my friends. Also, if you want to work with our amazing team, we're always hiring. Go to lexfriedman.com slash hiring or get in touch with me at lexfriedman.com slash contact. And now onto the full ad reads. As always, no ads in the middle.
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