Joe Rogan Experience #10042 — Teddy Atlas Transcript

Transcript

0:00 four three two one and we're live teddy atlas thanks for being here man i really appreciate it And I don't think there'll be an occasion. where he was in with those Russian guys that were like messed up guys, She was like 15 years old. the Denzel Washington, where he also had guns and stuff. I mean, they could have gotten it from you. And you'd watch it and you'd go, get the fuck out of here with this movie.

2:40 Was he freaking you out? If they're around, everything's great. You really think so? No, no. But that's what people do. That's what they do. Right, right was there. I reported on it. It's the greatest fight ever. You really think so? Their imagination was like, there's no good fights. you know, you had Hearns. I don't believe it. I mean, like, when are you not injured?

5:37 I never saw that. To see him taking a selfie with what was supposed to be an arm injury. Well, it happened about five, six years late. But, you know, you can play with things. And, you know, you can kind of lead people to things. So the Triple G Canelo fight is important with a name that they can build it and get the imagination of the people to say this is going

8:57 And, yeah, a really good fight becomes iconic. I didn't see it as, you know, the thrill in Manila. It was an amazing fight. So I— Yeah. A guy's walking forward, a guy's throwing punches. And you got to put fannies in the seats. Effective aggression. For me, to get it to that 117, 112, I saw Golovkin on the outside controlling range, controlling distance.

12:26 But if it is ring generalship, he was controlling the range. Right. Hook to the body clean is more important. better than they count the two jabs. Yeah. And I don't have It's the harder punches And it you know And I don't think they know what they're talking about in boxing either. And that's a real travesty. It's something that should be looked at.

15:43 And, you know, as long as they're not, you know, there's no czar there's no there's no nba commissioner There's no NFL commissioner. There's no MLB commissioner that overlooks and polices the whole sport. There's no separation where you can have promoters and managers that can actually go to the commission and say, we don't want these judges to judge.

17:29 Well, they're corrupt. or the WIBF or WBO or whatever the heck they are, from the champion. So they want that champion to win. And so they get the sanction fee. And I'd like to push my guy to get the mandatory, which means, of course, that he's got to fight him the office how is the police and where's the right where's the line where because you will walk in the restaurant.

21:04 And guess who the host of the dinner is? So it's a big bill. the New York Yankees, they're obviously a universally known name and brand, Problem, problem, problem, problem. But it happens all the time in boxing and They wouldn't. They were worried about where the fans were going to leave the game a little bit. which of course impacts them financially, it impacts the country because

24:25 I don't think that they care as much about the people in boxing. I'm not going to get into that because I don't want to thought of as something that represents Then it's kind of corrupt. a good part It goes back further there and it was the first sport in the Olympics. It goes back further there. to learn about those fighters, But nobody knows that Joe Louis,

26:44 and he saw that blacks weren't allowed to come in, And there were history of black families, That's the only point I'm making here. And you're growing up, and you get called a kike. But they were in the ghettos and they were trying to pull themselves out. And so at that era, So now all of a sudden Benny Leonard comes along which obviously connected to being tough by itself, but he was smart.

30:15 We're not just smart. yourself as a person. That's the worst poverty in the freaking world. And you can go anywhere. So it doesn't take care of itself the way the UFC, but nobody's building it. but guys who have a deep appreciation for the history of the sport. And you wanted to be there because that's where Sugar Ray Robinson came from. Joe Lewis was the brown bomb.

34:13 We don't care. So it's a nice thing. I see something. you sound like you go to You follow? So Schmeling saw something, as he said, that he could hit him with a right hand. A lot of guys would hesitate a little bit. I mean, it's there. The door closed. he did and he dropped Lewis a few times and Cinderella Man, great movie. Don King and Aaron might not

38:50 How much percentage? I don't know. Listen, them that taught them some of these moves that weren't so nice. I'll try to think about it. Not yet. And listen, he's the real deal. I'm not saying it's not. II, and you got all that stuff permeating in the air. And you got Lewis fighting a guy who, of course, you know, propaganda was started by the Germans, if you want.

41:53 And, of course, you had Hitler and all his psychofants, all these people that their job was to promote it, so to speak. We don't know if it's completely true. and some of them on fights on TV, on Gillette, Calvacator Sports, Joe Louis is walking into the ring and you got joe lewis and he gets in that ring and he annihilates with all this pressure with

44:33 Pull that fight up and put it in the background. There it is right there. And he was always in position. Did you see, Joe, He changed his distance this time. Look at that. Really. Go back. What a beautiful sidestep, too, right after he lands the right hand. Oh. And he did all of that with everything we just talked about for the last 20 minutes hanging over him.

47:42 I mean, that alone is, in terms of historical impact, I agree with you. It's one of the biggest moments in all of the sport. Yeah, thank you. I mean, that alone is in terms of historical impact, I know that's a powerful word, but A lot of them, you brought up a point, to try to get their family in a better place. And what I'm saying is that But if a guy, you didn't have replay.

49:50 And his family, and he's got guaranteed contracts. But now you take a fighter. Guess where that fighter goes. And they're close to doing that. And they got to take all those punches and hope, hope they get back to that place. We did a lot of title fights. And they got their shot, and I watched them get robbed. And they were freaking robbed. because sometimes people nowadays, for me,

53:19 especially when you think about really listen are there things wrong are there messed up people still out there? Yeah, really unfair. and savvy enough no matter what part of the world, if you made yourself and took advantage of that opportunity And that's what these judges don't get. whatever powerful word you had just used, ruthlessly. But you'll die afterwards.

56:49 I think they're like DMV workers. and I see some of these scores, I want to take my fucking headset off And they're getting fucked because someone just sucks at their job and they don't care. And these people don't get those jobs. Yes. Yeah, she was involved in a couple. Yeah. A Yeah, she got 30. I think. Manny Pacquiao. Yeah, she was involved in a couple.

58:57 Why was she still there? Really? Exactly. world champion fighters and they got a weakness has one sun. You know, he's PBC. uh Spence Errol Spence yes he's a beast I mean the guy yeah I like him inside and out what do It makes it better. one of the champs, whatever that is. He does have a fucking hammer for a right hand. Ortiz gave him some problems.

1:01:43 He had that eraser, you know. but I'm not gonna go too bang that's the point I'm making Terrible. I mean, listen. hit you across the room. Well, so He's not only 6'7 or whatever the hell he is. Yeah. I wouldn't say it if I didn't have a belief in this and a proof of it in my mind at least, Yeah, he's not that. Some of them didn't have parents, And I was like, no,

1:05:11 underneath the L don't see. And you haven't been around, but it's there. And it's good to know it's there. A different But my car was good. It was three flights. and they were, you know, going to the bathroom, The meat with the potato in the middle, There was no doctor. But you want to know something? And he goes, I'm supposed to talk to the right guy,

1:08:29 and getting hit with a pipe? He's back with his family. How do you do it? the crack, the needle, the pipe on the head. Why don't you think it out a little bit more? By selling liquor, by charging $3 to get in, and selling that food, and the place would be packed. It makes them know. We don't know he can like himself and depend on himself. But I just told you the other dangers. This was

1:12:03 They learn that they can control that anger. They can put it hit. They learned that they can control that I mean, did I leave that part out to the parents I get it, contradictory. No, it's great. I was thinking, you know, this. Yeah. And so anyway, so here we are. is he lying? Sure! You know, in the place. weigh him, you know, that's one thing you see it. Okay. That's only truth. The rest

1:16:02 Took them every Friday. I'd go to Nelson. He's, you're protecting your kid it's your kid to get beat up. If it's fair, it's fair, but I'm not putting him in with a kid that's got 30, So he stood to his story. I said, this guy didn't have two fights. I said, bring him over here again. I'm not threatening you. But I want to tell you, not threatening you,

1:19:09 I know it. Nelson came back to me four minutes, three minutes, two minutes later Well, thank God that someone like you was able to understand that there is a big difference And so, but let me tell you something. And they're playing the bongos and great music. Yeah. That's not taught in a classroom. different things. A couple that went to college that nobody in their history of their family ever

1:22:31 everyone lied about their experience, but, lied about everything. But I would put down the age and everything else, all the stuff for what it was worth. You had to have something to try to believe in, right? And then figure it But 12 years old, zero fights. That's a compliment. He's 12 years old. But I knew what I had. Mentally weak, but physically, what do I mean mentally weak?

1:24:41 And I believe when you do that, I don't have his record in front of me. I think his record is truly, if you're going to be this, but he probably had some before he came in. Something goes wrong. Until everything goes wrong, the judge throws all this crap out. And he is effed, so to speak. at that level you you're not you are not in a fight i i look i i admit it I equate life to a fight. I do. You're not in a fight until there's pressure, resistance, overcoming something.

1:27:50 Five times it became a real fight. Yeah, I'm human, yeah. That's all. It does represent where you came from. How do you feel about it? You don't know if they're your friend. Yeah, he was. Was he as great an intimidator as Sonny Liston? Yes! They found a way to show up. not to be just those things, to be the titan, to be the viking, but it is You say that you're the conqueror,

1:32:20 that didn't work, okay? But some people aren't. And and I don't know. A lot of people don't think, okay, but he was convicted. But I know enough How do you become strong when you know that you did those weak things Because he ain't going to cooperate. there's a way to get out and he recognized that reputation is and whether or not I've been honest about things I say. It doesn't mean

1:36:24 You're judging it. What else other champions. You're judging it. The first one. I mean, if you want to go back, if you want to go back farther, a lot of people won't who the hell's that unfortunately it's a guy that wouldn't know his name anymore. Yes. you know, saying things. It's all levels, degrees. That's him. So he's tougher than this guy. knowing that you have it and there it is there it is see what you just said yeah you have to know

1:39:40 Well, he had the right nickname. I mean, trace it back. that was supposed. He had a mother And she, different age, you know, different time, And she basically had different size switches, you know. she had No. But what he did understand, and I'm glad you said that. and somebody was always there with look, you make your own choices at a certain point in life. So let's not make too many excuses.

1:43:00 And Cuss recognized he didn't have much time left, you know, you use that word legacy, It was Rocky Marciano. He broke it. I'm going to use his words. And he ran everything in London with three partners. that Cuss had said but where he was wrong was he was going to get in the way So I know what I think it meant, He was coming out of a juvenile detention center called Tryon

1:47:08 I don't know. There were no boundaries. Maybe those boundaries realm of a better person, right? Boundaries, right? There Well, you had that with Shannon Briggs. Talented. Talented, very talented. Smart. smart kid, a particular kid. Talented. Yeah. boxing that was he said all the right things But he got so used to saying what they needed to hear I ride this train until I fall off

1:50:19 He believed that it was just going to go to a place where it was going to be better than where he was and that that he'll ride it as long but he he's not committed to staying on it when when the when right things than to believe the right thing. Does that make But the articulation of it, the blueprint, the map of it, the seeing of it, the visualization

1:52:26 although Barrera did, And, you know, they pull themselves out. so that the less of people with less could get hospital care because back in those days It lasted about 25 years until the Verrazano Bridge was built. Him and a guy named Dr. Tim Pone Sr. hero was I'm not going to make believe I knew I went in his room one time you're ready for anything.

1:56:10 apparently he saved some obese woman's life that had a heart attack in the street. it was a more serious thing. It was evasive surgery. It was different. It was. And it was I mean I could recognize Told me to get out. he stayed to 9.30 because he didn't leave So all the all the all the drug salesmen, they they all migrated to his place. In our house, you open up a closet, there was, like, things falling on you, you know?

1:59:45 I mean, he was a doctor, but he didn't make the money that other doctors were making. I didn't know what the freak that was. He did house calls to who was 80 years old, But he got there. in his own way And it stayed with me. I don't want to hear it. All right. But you talked about commitment, absoluteness. That's what he was, okay? I remember he used to jump into my arms when I come home

2:03:40 so when he was 5 years old And my father didn't have time for religion They were the opposites. for whores. Like you go group in Radio City Music Hall. And if you want to make a movie out of it, he became a doctor And anyway, he took care of her, and they got married. he died on the operating table. You know, he didn't say that, but you know, You know, and we got split up and my mother was sleeping

2:08:52 and everyone copes with things differently, You didn't have pages in those days. Get back in the room. I should say. But that was what, you know, that's what his, You know, that's tough. Character. That explains a lot about your unyielding understanding and appreciation of real commitment. it's like I know not everyone is. I get it. But when they leave you that,

2:13:18 when you're lucky enough to have a man that kind of taught you what he taught you And I've seen it. You have too, I'm sure. And he was never influenced by that. It was just what he was. and they told me, you know, And there was three sons, you know, you know you're not supposed to have a favorite but He built over 150 houses on Staten Island. Well, he did, but no.

2:16:54 I get it, but he really was. because the line was out the door because he was had all the poor people. And there were cigarette burns in all and we all heard things from different times. To inoculate himself? but was that have to, it has to make sense. Some things don't make sense. That's what he told me. He said, so It hadn't been around. with people

2:20:11 or pizza because if uh was they couldn't pay you because the nursing homes weren't really making money. So I would go with him on house calls. That's how I hung out with him. So I would go with him on house calls. That's how if I'm going to be there, I'm going to go see I was like, wow, I'm with the man. He'd get mad if you said something good about him.

2:22:19 Right. do you ever And she comes running and she's yelling, incoherent and screaming and they jump her. and so they jump on her and they're tying her up. She's fine. And she comes over to my father. and he's going to room to room and she's, the thing. she's reading stuff And he's doing, and all of a sudden, and this is the part again, just like the other thing.

2:25:49 He's in front of her. And my mother was buying him leather shoes. The woman goes, he's not a doctor. I look down, his foot goes up. He's got holes in his shoes. And not in a demeaning way like you might think. You know what I mean? Really, he touched her on the head just like this and not in a demeaning way like you might think you know You know, this lady, he said, you know, he's got holes.

2:28:45 Just makes so much sense. it doesn't make me a better person or anything. You know, And, you know, because I got myself in a little trouble. Right. Nobody gets salaries, just that one person. We give it directly. Bang, you got it. them lose more than they lost already. Their integrity. Never, never, never. He never made She came in, she had six kids.

2:32:37 She didn't have money. all this motion, all this nervousness made her understand it and there was no charge today and as soon as he said that everything Of course he wasn't thinking. I felt so proud I could and sure enough there she is I said, look, we're going to do what he did. I said, we're going to take care of them. They need a wheelchair. You know what they need? A handicapped ramp. You know what they need?

2:36:12 That's what we do. website stuff I'm like a caveman. But it's the DrAtlasFoundation.org. There it is right there. 718-980-7037. Thank you. Well, I'm saying a few minutes, but until a week ago, maybe less, maybe five days ago, And then my kids said, Dad, at least give it a chance. He's fighting the second hardest puncher in boxing, The old times would say, he hit you on top of the head and fractured your ankles.

2:39:28 till you know. Right. I want to be, if I'm going to spend two months, it's not easy in camp. First thing I did, I wound up meeting his family. I think that's the best way to say it. That's where it starts for me, besides being a decent person. And you would know that better than most. Yeah, I am in my own way. I said, listen, I'm not into that. I'm just using it as an example,

2:42:19 The venial sins don't mean crap. You have to know what it is. Well, I worked with Bradley for the could time you with right hand everyone heard jab is the beginning of things jab is the you know Get on his side. It's a habit. Because you're telling a guy who's already made it to a certain level without you. Degrees. wherever I think it gives the fighter the best chance to win. The weather,

2:45:31 He kept calling the manager up. But at the same time, here's where the good part comes in, or the selfless part. Who was training him before? Doesn't mean that the guy is not good. And the one thing that he has to correct for this fight You know, I joke around. Because nothing good can happen. He speaks English well? First is the fight. Yeah. To see if they're over-trained when they wake up in the morning.

2:48:54 Right. off the next day. And like a lot of people So we don't get there. Less is more. and this kid has been again i'm not here to say what was but the kid has been in that place right get myself settled. many years ago, 30, whatever it was, maybe more, 35. other than it was passed down to them. And no, it'll give you cramps. You might have a problem.

2:52:21 Right in front of people. I went a little different. Like if my fighter was It might change you. And let him soak whatever cuts healing in the ocean. And he told me, he just, that's how my father would say things. It's the exact amount cubic inch as it is in the ocean. So matter of fact, he wouldn't say it otherwise, but he said, Yeah, his legs would get straight.

2:56:01 but it would straighten his legs. No. The salt water heals the cut. I think that's a little bit of that old stuff, you know, where we don't know. So Holyfield and Mackie Shillstone. And they just packed some meat on him. worked with Holyfield after that. Right. And do it at the right time in between the training where you're not killing yourself, probably sounds a little,

2:58:31 you're going to wind up in all quarters. So I believe that. So I would And you Now listen, here's the catch-22. Muhammad Ali. I'm not going to let him so I was around it and And, you know, I don't know if he was related or not, but, you know, he did isometrics. Sometimes push against my shoulder. Yeah. He was so scary, but it seemed like the weight cut was too brutal.

3:01:32 I don't think he went the distance with anybody. Wow. I have a friend, a very close friend. His mother knew it. A public servant, maybe. He finds the money and, you know, he knows. You know, I get other help. DeCampo Matambo, I mean, we're blessed. And they don't get a cent because nobody gets a cent. He goes, what'd you say? I said, So anyway, I said,

3:05:22 and the proceeds, some of the proceeds will go to the foundation. People bad, you know, redemption good, people bad, let's be better, you know, But I got kids. I Am I a social genius? No. Am I a saint? No. But I get kids. I'm not apologizing about saying that. Teddy, that's because I know what you stand for. Let's call them on the crap. Look at the world.

3:08:10 It was for Chinese immigrants that they go to this place when they're young mothers where Teddy, that's psychotic. That just remind people that, you know what? to remind you that, you know what, you could be anything you want to be. You Oh, I'm sorry. Flew by. Thank you.