America produced a plethora of great trainers in the 20th century, but three stand out for their achievements and lasting influence. It is a trio that renowned boxing analyst Teddy Atlas believes sits above the seven others who complete his top-10 list of all-time great trainers.
Atlas — famed for his life as a trainer and pundit and now the host of his successful podcast The Fight with Teddy Atlas — has revealed his personal top 10.
Emanuel Steward
His final three began with a man who not only guided some of the greatest fighters of the 1980s and 1990s but also helped forge a yellow-and-red brand now synonymous with one legendary gym.
“Who is number three? The great Emanuel Steward. How can you ever not think of Emanuel Steward when you watch boxing? He made the Kronk Gym famous worldwide, developing great champions like Tommy Hearns and later, in their corners, working and helping champions like Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.”
Ray Arcel
At number two is a man later portrayed on the big screen by Hollywood legend Robert De Niro. At first glance, though, Atlas says he looked more schoolteacher than teacher of the sweet science.
“This guy looked more like your professor than a boxing trainer if you walked into the gym — the great Ray Arcel. He was a class act and trained over 20 world champions. Started very young, including greats such as Freddy Steele, Benny Leonard and, of course, the great Roberto Duran. He was masterful as a trainer and a tactician.”
Cus D’Amato
Atlas didn’t hide his bias when it came to his number-one selection. Though known today for his podcast and distinctive teaching style, he is also remembered for being part of the team that nurtured and developed a young, ferocious Mike Tyson.
“Cus D’Amato. He was my mentor for seven years. He was so important in my life and still is. I got to see him up close, what this man was. I saw his greatness, and he was brilliant as both a technical teacher and a master psychologist. I don’t think anybody blended the two better than Cus D’Amato. That’s why he’s number one.”
Atlas has also recently named the current world champion he thinks should retire.
