“I Knew Tyson was Gonna Knock Him Out”- Teddy Atlas Shares a Fascinating Story About Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes

Mike Tyson’s first real boxing trainer, Teddy Atlas played a huge role in molding the future heavyweight champion. Atlas recalls a story of how his close friend Cus D’Amato gave them the key to beating Larry Holmes when Tyson was 15 years old.

In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, Atlas looks back to when D’Amato broke down Larry Holmes’ fighting style and how that helped Atlas win a bet later in life.

“The great Cus D’Amato, my mentor. He says to me ‘Your guy, he could beat Larry Holmes right now, if it was only a three-round fight. But he doesn’t have the experience to maintain it beyond three, then he would break down. Because of a flaw in Larry Holmes, you will knock him out with a right hand over his jab.'”- Teddy Atlas

D’Amato goes on to break down the fight and reveals how exactly Tyson can beat Holmes while watching him on the TV.

“Because when he throws a jab, he doesn’t move his head. He stays stationary in one place. And if you’re not afraid to throw the punch and by then you won’t be. If you’re not hesitant to throw it and not worried about getting hit. You can time the right hand right over it and you knock out Larry Holmes.”- Teddy Atlas explains Cus D’Amato’s advice

Teddy Atlas Wagers on Mike Tyson Knocking Larry Holmes Out

Atlas then reveals how years later he predicted the end of a fight down to the t. Thanks to the advice of his mentor. While talking to a friend, about how the fight between Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson would go down a week from then.

Atlas backed Tyson. On the other hand, his friend, Randy Gordon, was backing Holmes. While doubling down on the fact that Tyson was going to knock Holmes out, Atlas placed a wager on it.

” ‘I’ll make you a bet for a steak dinner, in a good restaurant. Where I only win if Tyson knocks him out. If he doesn’t knock him out with a right hand I don’t win. Even better he’s gonna knock him out early.’ I knew Tyson was gonna knock him out and sure enough in the fourth round Holmes throws a jab, right hand comes over and down goes Holmes.”- Teddy Atlas

Atlas ends on a positive note reminding Randy about how he still owed Atlas a steak dinner.