Teddy Atlas, like most Staten Islanders, is not one to mince words. The Hall of Fame boxing analyst and trainer is once again calling out his sport’s alleged corruption following Devin Haney’s debatable triumph over Vasiliy Lomachenko last week.
On the most recent episode of “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas”, the podcast he co-hosts with Ken Rideout, Atlas called for the establishment of a federal boxing commission and posted an online petition form in its support. Atlas also announced that his team will be presenting the petition and sharing their concerns with several elected officials to advance this issue before Congress.
The petition can be accessed by clicking here, which also includes the podcast segment dedicated to this issue.
“The status quo is not acceptable. Boxing’s survival begins with accountability and consequences of actions, or inaction,” said Atlas.
“Recent nationally-televised professional boxing events have shown a spotlight on unacceptable performances inside and around the ring by officials appointed to maintain the integrity and consumer confidence of the sport,” he continued. “While I recognize the human element is naturally fallible, I cannot, and I think many who love the sport boxing agree, that this should be acceptable. The fighters who sacrifice so much in their training and risk their wellbeing inside the ring, deserve accountability and consequences for the actions, or inaction, by those responsible for the health and safety of the fighters.”
Atlas directly pointed at questionable officiating and called for the establishment of a commission similar to those of other major American sports leagues.
“Officiating in boxing — from the commission to the referees, judges, inspectors, et.al. — need to recognize this and step up. It’s time for the entire process to be overhauled and raised to the same standard of major league sports,” he said. “There needs to be a centralized and standardized authority to supervise the sport of boxing, not unlike the way the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc. manage their affairs.”
“In most cases, a position on a commission is an act of political patronage. Where is the experience and knowledge required to do the job properly?,” asked Atlas. “Over 20 years ago, the late promoter Dan Goossen tried to establish an official’s school to train judges and referees, based on NFL protocols. That’s just one idea that I think should be seriously considered.”
Atlas, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019, has trained a roster of hall of fame fighters, including Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, Barry McGuigan, Shannon Briggs, and Timothy Bradley, Jr. He has been a boxing analyst with ESPN for 25 years and NBC Sports boxing coverage of the Olympics from 2000 to 2016. On Staten Island, he founded the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation, in memory of his father, in 1997, where it has come to the aid of people in a variety of difficult situations, people who otherwise “fall between the cracks”.
If he has his way, Atlas plans to go before Congress in the near future.
