Teddy Atlas has served as a ringside commentator and analyst for ESPN since 1998, and is widely considered one of the best and most respected trainers in the sport. In part 2 of my interview with Teddy Atlas, I get his views on Timothy Bradley’s position in the welterweight division and his analyst perspective on the big fight tomorrow night between Saul Alvarez and Amir Khan. Teddy shares his thoughts on Amir Khan’s chances and talks about what Khan would have to do to pull off the upset. Atlas also talks about Canelo using his size and gives his official prediction for the fight. Here is what Teddy Atlas had to say.
Robert Brown: Now that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are retired, do you think Timothy Bradley is the best welterweight out there?
Teddy Atlas: I think when you look at his body of work and the level of fighters that he’s fought — he’s fought everybody — and what he’s given the fans and what he’s given the sport and the way he’s behaved and conducted himself when he’s been in the situation to show the real metal of a champion, to show the real character of a champion, he’s shown it time and time again. Having said that, when you base it on those things, I think he’s definitely the top welterweight out there and pound-for-pound belongs in the top ten.
Tim has to be thought of as one of the top welterweights out there, if some people don’t think he’s the top. I would believe he’s the top guy because of his body of work and who he’s been in there with and how he’s always found a way for the most part, except against Pacquiao for two fights, he’s always found a way to win. That has to put you in a good place.
(Full 44 minute interview audio with Teddy Atlas, click play to listen)
Robert Brown: We got Saul Alvarez vs. Amir Khan this weekend. Do you give Khan any chance in this fight?
Teddy Atlas: Yeah I do. I would be shocked if he doesn’t win the early part of the fight, being the faster guy with faster hands, more fleet footed, more mobile. Amir not only has quicker hands and legs but he’s long and if he stays at a range, at a range that’s safe for him, it gives him a little advantage and keeps him away from the stronger, younger guy, the bigger guy.
Canelo has shown that he’s got problems with guys that can box, Lara gave him a lot of trouble, I thought Canelo lost that fight actually, and of course Mayweather gave him trouble. I feel that he’s a little slow with his feet and that Khan can exploit that early. It’s just a matter of whether Amir can keep it up, and can he do it consistently throughout the night?
Robert Brown: Will the extra weight give Amir any problems?
Teddy Atlas: I don’t think so, I think if you’re the faster guy, you’re still going to be the faster guy. It’s not like he’s putting on 100lbs. A lot of these guys that are making welterweight and then they move up to junior middleweight, I’m not saying they are all killing themselves but believe me, they were working awful hard to make welterweight.
Putting on those few extra pounds is not a big deal, it’s not going to slow Amir down. If anything, it might mentally and physically make him feel stronger that he’s not killing himself to make the weight, he’s not hurting himself to make the weight, he’s not drying out, if that’s what he was doing, which is possible. That extra weight is not going to be the reason why he’s going to lose the fight if he loses the fight.
If Amir loses the fight it will be because he cannot continue to keep Canelo off balance by staying outside all night and having enough discipline to fight that kind of fight without getting in trouble. For Canelo to win, he’s gotta keep the pressure on, he’s gotta use the jab to take away Khan’s jab so Khan doesn’t control the outside. Canelo’s got to stabilize Khan with that jab a little bit.
A lot of people think that all Canelo has to do is come forward and put pressure on and go to the body, that’s not true. He’s got to take Khan’s jab away a little bit and then he’s got to put the pressure on, go to the body and try to move his hands enough when he’s supposed to move his hands enough.
Canelo doesn’t always move his hands enough, so it’s going to be a matter of keeping the pace that Canelo needs to keep and shrinking that ring and making it the kind of fight that is uncomfortable for Khan and is the right fight for Canelo.
Robert Brown: What is you prediction for this fight?
Teddy Atlas: I’m going to say that Khan is going to win the early part of the fight but then as the night goes on, I’ve always seen Khan make mistakes. I’m not calling Khan a stupid fighter, I would not say that about any fighter, but I just think that he always makes mistakes.
When Amir fought Danny Garcia, he was supposed to stay on the outside and he gave up his length and he got close and he got caught with those punches. He gave up the distance and the range and I don’t know if it’s more a matter of intellect or discipline, maybe a combination of both, maybe more on the side of discipline.
Khan always seems to falter and does the wrong things whether it’s to give up his height or whether it’s to throw too many punches at one time instead of throwing two punches and getting out. He’ll stay in there and give the guy that’s a little slower a chance to find him. Khan always makes those kinds of mistakes, he always does and I think somewhere along the line he’ll make it again and I think as the fight goes on, Canelo will get an opportunity to get to him.
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Well, Teddy — did they stop the fight too soon?
kHan MADE A Massive mistake and was Put out cause of IT. Teddy called that one perfectly.
Khan got murked!