Teddy Atlas Confirms Removal, Will No Longer Call ESPN Fights

[SmoothStyle1]

Teddy is Teddy. You either like him or hate him. I like the guy. Yes, he's over the top but he tells it like it is and has a colorful personality. ESPN boxing will not be the same without him.

Bradley is terrible. The ESPN broadcast team should be Joe, Teddy and Tarver (to replace Bradley).

[Kalan]

They needed to get rid of this wart.... They removed a cancer that's been infecting Boxing for over 30 years.

They need to throw it out into the trash so it gets hauled away.

[bmilligan]

He is a character, he and Joe Tes were the voice of ESPN boxing since jeez the 90s? He has a style that can be love or hated. Sad to see him go, I always enjoyed his style and persona even when sometimes I disagreed or he was a bit much.

But I do see the conflict he was having with other announcers. With Kriegel, he used to insult Todd Gresham some. Seemed like he really only clicked with Joe Tes who I like as well.

I would have to imagine he was warned and told to chill out, and he wouldn't. The Jeff Horn bout I feel for him, it was utter crap and he was our voice that night. But the network is there to broadcast the fight, not overtly spew opinions and ramble, I guess.

They shouldn't treat boxing like it's another sport where you need generic commentating. Nothing wrong with Timothy Bradley he is a nice guy but he just doesn't have the gusto and it seems hard to get words out of him.

Max Kriegel seems okay, maybe after getting more shows under his belt he will relax and get more into the flow.

Watching his thing with Stephen A, the other night. Jeez... It begs to ask the question, why not surround Teddy with more experienced boxing people? Atlas needs someone, as mentioned in other posts, another great fighter or trainer.

[Perseus]

During his time on espn Teddy had his good nights and his bad nights.
He was the never the best boxing commentator but he was never the worst either.
It was time to put a halt to his childish, unprofessional rants though.
The audience gets it Teddy, you don't agree with something, make your point and move on there is no reason to carry on a maniacal temper tantrum.

One thing I think Teddy should get credit for is helping out Joe Tessitore.
When Joe first came to FNF he didn't know boxing and wasn't a very good commentator for the first few years he was on FNF.
I don't recall Teddy ever being a condescending jerk to Joe in the beginning, they just worked well together and Joe became a darn good boxing commentator.
I think Teddy did a lot to help Joe learn the sport and become the boxing commentator that he is today.

[jewboypgh]

This is garbage. Love Atlas. He’s a straight shooter

[fistic mystic]

This was the right decision by ESPN, and probably not one they wanted to make.

I used to enjoy Atlas's passion, and he brings a high boxing IQ to the broadcast, but he's biased in his calls, wildly temperamental, and emotionally insecure. If you've seen him melt down on the air or if you've seen video of his off-air antics, then you know why he had to go. It all makes me wonder what he's been getting away with when there were no cameras around. I hope he gets medicated or something. He could be a very good broadcaster again.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This was the right decision by ESPN, and probably not one they wanted to make.

I used to enjoy Atlas's passion, and he brings a high boxing IQ to the broadcast, but he's biased in his calls, wildly temperamental, and emotionally insecure. If you've seen him melt down on the air or if you've seen video of his off-air antics, then you know why he had to go. It all makes me wonder what he's been getting away with when there were no cameras around. I hope he gets medicated or something. He could be a very good broadcaster again.

I think it's more to with ESPN will be broadcasting much more boxing than ever in 2018 due to Top Rank and it's mostly the mainstream boxing.

[cletomex]

Timothy Bradley, lol

[SenorPipino]

Timothy Bradley, lol

If Bradley can get a role as a television broadcaster, then any if us can.

[RScarf1]

Teddy has a face. He is wrong sometimes, but he is right most of the times. I guess ESPN wants to have a politically correct crowd instead.

A face with a scar on it

[SenorPipino]

Atlas received that scar when he was a kid. Supposedly was slashed in a knife fight and required 400 stitches to close the wound.

Atlas has always been a volatile guy---putting a gun to Tyson's head. Planning to murder Donny Lalonde.

He was also suspended on several occasions at ESPN for reportedly bullying production staff.

Probably not the kind of guy you want to pal around with. But I've always enjoyed his passionate commentary, even when he occasionally becomes unhinged.

[Grant]

Why even have Judges when you have Teddy at ringside?

[KiwiRider]

If I can say one positive thing about Teddy, he did have the guts to say- this opponent is way below the level of the other boxer, or these judges got it wrong.
None of the other arse licking commentators can seem.to speak an opinion if it goes against their paymasters.
Despite everything else about him, at least he had a spine and I will miss that.

[punchoutsb]

If I can say one positive thing about Teddy, he did have the guts to say- this opponent is way below the level of the other boxer, or these judges got it wrong.
None of the other arse licking commentators can seem.to speak an opinion if it goes against their paymasters.
Despite everything else about him, at least he had a spine and I will miss that.

It's not a spine, it's called shatting all over the product. I really can't recall a fight that didn't suck according to Teddy. Undefeated kid fighting. Cool, I'll check it out. But wait, he sucks because he's never fought outside of Rhode Island. Did you forget he sucks because he never fought outside of Rhode Island? That's OK because Teddy just brought it up again. Oh, there's a great shot landed, but it's really not that important because fighters from the past (specifically those Teddy worked with) landed better shots. His stamina is probably bad, but it doesn't matter because his opponent quit four fights ago so this fight is worthless and tells us nothing. Oh, did I forget to mention this undefeated sucks because he never fought outside of Rhode Island?

No other sport employs as many commentators who seem to hate everything about what they do and who they're watching do it. A blog or a podcast is a fine place to discuss how terrible everyone is, during the fight when you're trying to gain or maintain interest is not.

[SenorPipino]

If I can say one positive thing about Teddy, he did have the guts to say- this opponent is way below the level of the other boxer, or these judges got it wrong.
None of the other arse licking commentators can seem.to speak an opinion if it goes against their paymasters.
Despite everything else about him, at least he had a spine and I will miss that.

It's not a spine, it's called shatting all over the product. I really can't recall a fight that didn't suck according to Teddy. Undefeated kid fighting. Cool, I'll check it out. But wait, he sucks because he's never fought outside of Rhode Island. Did you forget he sucks because he never fought outside of Rhode Island? That's OK because Teddy just brought it up again. Oh, there's a great shot landed, but it's really not that important because fighters from the past (specifically those Teddy worked with) landed better shots. His stamina is probably bad, but it doesn't matter because his opponent quit four fights ago so this fight is worthless and tells us nothing. Oh, did I forget to mention this undefeated sucks because he never fought outside of Rhode Island?

No other sport employs as many commentators who seem to hate everything about what they do and who they're watching do it. A blog or a podcast is a fine place to discuss how terrible everyone is, during the fight when you're trying to gain or maintain interest is not.

So you're not interested in honesty in broadcasting?

You prefer a homer cheerleader like some newbie calling high school football?

If the product deserves to be "shatt" on, then what's the purpose of trying to make it look good?

Putting lipstick on the pig.

That's strictly amateur stuff.

It was refreshing to hear a broadcaster actually tell you what he thinks instead of what the network suits wanted him to regurgitate.

Boxing can survive Atlas' criticisms. Broadcast journalism was far better off for it.

[lazboy]

It was refreshing to hear a broadcaster actually tell you what he thinks instead of what the network suits wanted him to regurgitate.

It's refreshing to an extent. But his domination of the commentary, seeming inability to adjust his views in real time coupled with lack of calling the action as it unfolded was hard to take. His commentary and post commentary for the Jeff Horn Pacman fight was a disgrace and an example of this. The fighters themselves should be showcased, it's not the Teddy Atlas show.

[punchoutsb]

It was refreshing to hear a broadcaster actually tell you what he thinks instead of what the network suits wanted him to regurgitate.

It's refreshing to an extent. But his domination of the commentary, seeming inability to adjust his views in real time coupled with lack of calling the action as it unfolded was hard to take. His commentary and post commentary for the Jeff Horn Pacman fight was a disgrace and an example of this. The fighters themselves should be showcased, it's not the Teddy Atlas show.

I don't see senorpipino's posts since he's one of the few I've blocked here but I'm not surprised to see he feels that way. Teddy's views would be much more appropriate for his personal blog or podcast. People tune in to see the fights, not listen to Teddy argue over the top of everyone for six rounds about a statement he disagreed with during the anthem.

He was a dreadful commentator. Perhaps senor should go listen to drunks argue in a bar if he is so refreshed by unrelated babbling and bashing during a fight.