Full podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVx9IB_U9X4
Lex Fridman podcast channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexfridman
Guest bio: Teddy Atlas is boxing trainer to 18 world champions, ESPN boxing commentator, and host of podcast THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas.

I disagree on Atlas' bias here. Tyson is an all time great regardless of what era and who he fought. He was 19 years old dominating grown men in the heavyweight division and that was just the beginning.

From 86 to the Buster Douglas fight there was nothing in sports today that compares with a Tyson fight. It was borderline Super Bowl. Definitely not the greatest but absolutely an icon.

I've heard him say this so many times...and I disagree. Tyson was naturally terrified going into every fight, and turned up, conquering his fear. He showed heart in every fight apart from the Holyfield biting incident.

I am a big fan of Tyson but here Teddy makes great point and he is 100% correct.

Teddy is a mentally tough human being and he’s spot on Tyson was a lifetime talent as a boxer he became great in retirement as a person .

100% Teddy...it's the fights we're your talent is equalized and your mind is asked to be able to dig deep into a dark hole you've never been before and find a light too not only continue but FINNISH that job you've started!!. Only those who've had too do exactly THAT!!! will ever know what that means it cannot be explained and this is why so many people do not and wiil never understand WTF Teddy is referring to. 👊👊

He’s saying he’s a bully who had no heart when things got tough. No ticker.

I mean I can see how people ‘disagree’ with his view on Tyson’s greatness or the definition of greatness or whatever, but you can’t really disagree with his logic. It is a fair point

“To not rely on others weaknesses to be strong” hairs stood up on my arms

IMO Mike is one of the greatest students of boxing that has ever lived, and he had one of the greatest boxing masters that has ever lived training him in the noble art. Cus was so great he invented his own style of boxing. It just so happened that Mike fitted that style perfectly, the stars aligned if you like. Mike’s physical attributes, street mentality and enthusiasm to soak up what was taught made Mike unstoppable. Mike didn’t care about the money, he lived and breathed boxing. He mastered his art, and as usual, there’s always someone waiting to exploit it to make a buck. Mike Tyson is a legend IMHO

Mike Tyson was without a doubt the most exciting boxer ever

I absolutely love how much thought Teddy Atlas puts into each and everyone of his responses

This man has a very special way looking at life and great at putting things into perspective

First of all, Mike Tyson to me is my favorite fighters of all time. I watched most of his fights on Payperview/HBO/Showtime and I have never had the excitement since then about any fights other than the De La Hoya and Chavez fight, and the anticipation of those fights. However, I can't say I wasn't disappointed that my favorite fighter didn't come out victorious in the Douglas and Holyfield fights. Especially Holyfield. I was looking for Tyson to prove once and for all that he was as much as a badass as we always wanted him to be. I feel like if he did, we'd be having a totally different conversation. Yes, he had a lot of things going on in the background, and he wasn't peak Tyson, but if you want to go down as the greats, you have to take those defining moment fights , and come up on top. He didn't and so I agree with Teddy as much as it pains me to admit

When you really think about what Atlas is saying you realize Mike Tyson is the most gifted athlete in boxing history, but he lost 6 times.   He couldn’t overcome Lennox and Evander, in the same way that Ali took down Foreman and Frazier. That’s what Atlas is talking about

Teddy also talks of the greatness and genius of khabib who by this criteria was never tested. So in Teddys book what’s Khabibs record?

The thing that Teddy doesn't understand is that he's talking on such a deep and spiritual plane when the reality was Mike Tyson wasn't giving up, he got swallowed by the excesses of fame and money, on a level that very few ever get to. Tyson was a big as any athlete in his prime. He didn't beat all the best fighters but when you are world champ and you are partying all the time you aren't thinking about all the things Teddy is. And Teddy thinks that way mostly because he wasn't around for any of the craziness and he can just analyze it from a scholarly perspective.

He for sure was great more times then the Spinks fight. He was destroyed by his past, the money and fame and the loss of the people who cared for him. Even Holyfield admits that he was something else at his best, he was not at all predictable as he later turned out, one dimensional and just going for the KO.

It saddens me that Atlas seems to still hold a slight grudge against Tyson, I would love to see them reunited and talking