Teddy Atlas Shares His Top Pound for Pound Boxers in Modern Era (1950s-Present) 

Let us know who you've got in your top 5 in the comments here. Thanks for liking, commenting, subscribing, and sharing the episode with your friends. We appreciate hearing from you and for the support! This episode is sponsored by Teddy Atlas' boxing training videos at BJJ Fanatics / Dynamic Striking. Check them out here dynamicstriking.com/collections/all and use code "Teddy20" for 20% off. Thanks for being with us guys.

The list: 16:50 Muhammad Ali 27:11 Carlos Monzon 30:27 Sugar Ray Leonard 35:31 Marvelous Marvin Hagler 42:10 Roberto Duran 52:12 Julio Cesar Chavez 56:20 Pernell Whitaker 1:01:31 Michael Spinks 1:05:51 Evander Holyfield 1:08:20 Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Cant figure out if Ken is a billionaire, millionaire, upper middle class or Teddy gave him a job to keep him off the streets

List starts at 12:50

Damn you finally got Teddy the good camera

For anyone who doesnt have the time to listen to the whole vid. 1. Muhammad Ali 2. Carlos Monzon 3. Ray Leonard 4. Marvin Hagler 5. Roberto Duran 6. Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. 7. Pernell Whitaker 8. Michael Spinks 9. Evander Holyfield 10. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Duran, Hagler, Hearns and Leonard made me love boxing like no other sport.

16:37 for teddys p4p list!

This guy is incredible such a great character respect from the UK

Marvin Hagler was my Grandads favourite boxer. My Grandad was a coal miner back then so it shows who Marvin Hagler appealed to. He's always telling me how great Marvin was.

What a great description of Hagler. “The fort’s surrounded!” “How many guys you got..?”

Pernell Whitaker beat Roger Mayweather so bad that he trained his nephew to be Pernell Whitaker 2.0.

A Great Teacher. In my humble opinion, Teddy could transform any fighter into a potential world champion.

How isn't Roy Jones Jr on the list Teddy went from super middleweight to heavyweight to win a title totally underrated

I always thought a great “fantasy”fight would have been Roberto Duran vs Julio Cesar Chavez at 135 to 140 lbs both in their prime.

In addition, an undeniable fact: Besides the late great Emmanuel Stewart, no boxing trainer was in the corner of 3 heavyweight champions in 3 different time eras, like Teddy Atlas was. Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, and Alexander Povetkin (the Russian who just annihilated Dillian Whyte, at 41 years old). I know that many will say now that when Atlas was training Tyson, Tyson was not a world heavyweight champion, yet look at the impact of Atlas to him. Also, who else "gave" a championship to two different fighters in the heavyweight division, during the fight itself? Remember what happened to Moorer vs Hollyfield. Remember what happened to Povetkin vs Chagaev. Atlas changed the tide of the fight, by pushing his pugilist to his limit not as an athlete but as a human being. I, personally, cannot recall any other trainer who has done that. To conclude: Deontay Wilder needs Teddy. But that was my 50cent worth words.

Teddy Atlas is the single Greatest Ambassador, that there has ever been, for Combat Sports. Everyone knows how knowledgeable and passionate Teddy is; But I don’t think people realize just how intelligent, profound, genuine, and altruistic he is. Teddy is like the Dalai Lama; Except he teaches people about beauty, and the Path to Enlightenment-via Combat Sports.

One of the best pound for pound fighters that is not widely known was a guy by the name of Salvador Sanchez. He was one of the featured fighters in the early days of HBO. If you want to see a little guy who kicked much a$$ go back and watch some of his footage. Tragically he was killed in a car accident in the prime of his career. He definitely deserves some respect put on his name.

Nice to see you mention Holyfield being the greatest cruiser weight of all time. So many do not know this.

Just found this channel.....Teddy is a god for boxing information, giving his honest, unfiltered opinions....cant wait to see a lot of this stuff.

I don't know who Teddy chose, but had Roy Jones Jr retired after the Ruiz heavyweight title fight, I'm pretty sure that he would now be universally recognised as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in history.

I'm veering from this topic SLIGHTLY. My top 5 POUND-PER-POUND best boxers of ALL TIME of ANY ERA 1. Sugar Ray Robinson (best boxer of any weight class ever) 2. Muhammad Ali (not only best heavyweight ever but 2nd best pound-per-pound ever) 3. Henry Armstrong 4. Harry Greb 5. Willie Pep (a pure boxer lacking power - but boxing skills and defense were superb)

I definitely respect Teddy's list. I'd bet money on a prime Roy Jones vs anyone from middleweight to supermiddle who ever boxed. Roy's reaction time and speed were absolutely ridiculous. He also had plenty of power to go along with that speed. I wish Roy had better opponents in their primes while he was in his. Hopefully boxing fans in the future will remember him.

On the topic of Mayweather: making it look easy shouldn't be a downgrade to someone's greatness but an upgrade. It's ridiculously hard to be the best but to dominate is even harder.

I think if RJJr retired in time he would get a lot more credit. Remember he started at middleweight and went up to become a heavyweight champion of the world.. wow

1.Muhammad Ali 2. Roberto Duran 3 . Marvelous Marvin Hagler 4. Sugar Day Leonard 5. Thomas Hearns 6. Salvador Sanchez 7. Manny Pacquiao 8. Julio Cesar Chavez 9. Ricardo El Finito Lopez 10. Marco Antonio Barrera

P4p list are subjective, but I have to question why roy Jones isn't on the list, and how anyone can put Michael Spinx in front of Mayweather and Holyfield?

Really love Teddy Atlas taking boxing, could listen to him all day long great guy great knowledge.... Please keep doing them.

Hey Ken we're gonna buy you a Yankee hat and ship it to you as a token of our appreciation for putting together a great show! :-D lol

1_sugar Rey Robinson 2_manny Pacquiao 3_roy Jones 4_floyd Mayweather 5_roberto duran

Hagler!! I love that guy. My favourite boxer ever.

The speed and skill of Ali in the mid 60’s + the Power, Will, and Chin of Ali in the early 70’s, is what would be an absolute Prime Ali in 67’ 68’ & 69’ and we never saw it.

appreciated as always fellas

Monzon. Teddies got it pretty close. Monzon was just superb.

Sugar Ray Robinson was 29 in 1950 and although he had a lot of miles on him already, I feel out of respect for the best ever he should've been mentioned. Pac man as well.

Trying to get something to listen to to distract me from my run.. thanks guys, you’re the best

I'm really surprised he didn't have Pacquiao in the top 10, the world's only 8 division world champion who also holds the record for the oldest welterweight champion in history after beating Thurman at 40.

My top five Muhammad Ali, sugar ray Robinson, Pea wee whitaker, Joe Louis, Marvin Hagler.

Great listen again, look forward to this every week, would've had Lennox in there above holyfield, never gets the credit he deserves, gold medallist, unified the titles avenged both his defeats, beat everyone in his era apart from bowe who ducked him and had a sledgehammer right hand. Would also put Hopkins instead of mayweather, because of his middleweight title run of 10 years, then stepping up to light heavy winning various titles in his 40's.

Tthisisthe most sensible pound forpoundlistI I haveever heard. ThankyouTeddy Atlasfor sharingyourgreatknowledge and love ofboxing

Monzon was great fighter.

I too lived through the Ali era. Allow me to add to Teddy’s take: 1. Ali was not just the most famous boxer in the world. He was not just the famous athlete in the world. He was the most famous PERSON in the world. 2. He was boxing. He is the only athelete of any sport who actually became “bigger than the sport”. No one before or since has accomplished this. 3. He was much bigger and stronger than people realized. (See how he throws Foreman around the ring.). 4. So he’s as big and/or as strong as any other heavyweight….he’s much faster and agile than any heavyweight…and his ring IQ is perhaps the highest in boxing history. I’m pretty sure he started the concept of “ring generalship”. Ali looked at it as the true sweet science and was so dominant in his prime he struggled to challenge himself at times. He is the one athlete I would never ever bet against when it mattered. Every “big moment” of his career…he won. 5. Finally, he accomplishes all of this…during the greatest generations of Heavyweights ever. I don’t like it when people say “Ali was the greatest because what he did outside the ring. “. Wrong. He was the greatest for what he did IN the ring….outside was just a bonus that made him what he is. He

Omg this is just ducking beautiful 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Jeep up the good work

Monsoon and Hagler over Duran is a brave pick considering Duran had a dominant run against fellow lightweights and then fought bigger guys while Monzon and Hagler had their best wins against smaller guys coming up in weight and they never moved up themselves.

OK Teddy I did what I was told and watched the Cleveland Williams v Ali and I gotta say he was so good he even threw in a few body shots 😉 and also offence wins you games but defence wins you leagues 👊

The last 50 freaking years!?!? Too hard to name, theres too many.

Lovely vid for a master but I can’t have Spinks in there over Lennox Lewis or Pac man there is no way. I love ya Teddy but I just can’t.

couple of Honorable mentions though a prime Roy Jones jr, Felix Trinidad, Winky Wright, Andre Ward & Macho..compliments for the extended really

Teddy is truly a living legend, an oracle of the sport he deserves his accolades while he's still with us..

Dam ive been under a rock.. great podcast wonderful content....Time Piece for sure...THANK YOU.. (allowing teddy to speak is where this podcast wins)🏆

Pacquiao was 8 dividion, 5 lineal. What was the meaning of "POUND FOR POUND"???????

Thank you for all of the videos. I was wondering If the show would cover some amateur boxers that were/are great. The differences in movement and psychology from different armature programs such as the Cubans and Soviets.

Ray Sugar Robinson by far..greatest boxer who ever steped in the ring..

Much love and respect Teddy.

"Bring everyone, What you mean everyone? EVERYOOOOOONE!!!!

Thank you Teddi for naming the Great Carlos “ Macho “ MonZon in your list . MonZon was a bad man !

No Pacman!? Manny is a beast and one of my favourite fighters of all time, as well as being a really nice dude.

Teddy is my guy...ever since I read his 1st book i was hooked. Leaving out Roy Jones Jr? The man was untouchable. Even won a heavy weight title.

Ken, can you please tell the guy for once to count down from 5

Great video. Thank you for sharring your're wisdom of the Sport with us.

Hagler beat Leonord 🥊 Chavez Duran Monzon Hagler Ali. 5 best since the 50's

Teddy's list: 1. Ali 2. Carlos Monzon 3. Leonard 4. Marvin Hagler 5. Duran 6. JCC 7. Pernell Whitaker 8. Michael Spinks 9. Holyfield 10. Mayweather

Hagler did not beat leonard, leonard wasnt even the same fighter like when he fought duran and yet he still looked amazing, i gave hagler some rounds he was putting it on leonard in middle rounds but leonard definitely won more rounds and box perfectly in spots!

Huge respect for Teddy Atlas, great Hagler part (and Teddy is talking about Garry Oldman in Leon: The Professional)

Teddy where is Wilfredo Gomez, Sánchez, & Wilfred Benitez?

Roy Jones in his prime beats anybody who ever fought between 160 and 175 pounds

Monzon Chavez Duran Hagler .. so many greats 🥊

The best list. Thanks Men

you said in a podcast with masvidal you thought pacquiao would beat pernell but pac don't make your top 10?

Roy was GOAT

Aside from Ali and Mayweather, this list would be more appropriately titled 'Most Underrated Boxers' of all time.

Been waiting for this

Pound for pound means you can move up and down weight classes and still give a good fight, pacquiao should be in top 10 list.

Awesome show..Thank you

My top 10: Sugar Ray Robinson Muhammad Ali Floyd Mayweather Jr Roberto Duran Sugar Ray Leonard Jack Johnson Aaron Pryor George Foreman Larry Holmes Pacquiao

Teddy your a living legend❤️

Salvador Sanchez should be on this list. Michael Spinks? Really? Larry Holmes was better than Spinks in that era.

Leonard used the blue print from his second Duran fight to sneak a decision against Hagler. But P4P I have Duran ahead of Leonard and Hagler.

It’s fine to trivialise the glove incident in the Cooper fight, but it was clearly evident that Ali wasn’t going to make the bell. That shot rocked him and Ali said as much, post fight. Dundee, denied Cooper of a career defining victory. You can’t take anything away from Ali, his greatness is undisputed, as both a fighter in the ring and as a man outside of it. Henry Cooper is an iconic figure in the minds of the British public. I believe that they were good friends and had a huge amount of respect for each other.

I think it's sad how time and time again when the pound for pound discussion comes up, we never hear the name Thomas Hearns. The guy was the first 4 division champion AND the first 5 division champion in the toughest era of those weight divisions so why does he always get forgotten? He also got to a 40-1 record before he lost the second time. He gets criticized for losing two of his biggest fights to Leonard and Hagler but he was fighting maybe the greatest pound for pound fighter of all time and the greatest middleweight fighter of all time! What about the big fights he won against Pipino Cuevas who was the welterweight champ, against Wilfred Benitez who was 43-1 at the time, against Roberto Duran who he destroyed in the second round and against Sugar Ray Leonard in their rematch where Hearns actually won? Even Leonard admitted that. Why doesn't he get credit for those great fights? He also gets criticized for an alleged weak chin but if it was so weak, he wouldn't have been able to go all the way from the welterweight division to the light heavyweight division. He took the light heavyweight crown from an undefeated Virgil Hill and handled everything he had to offer. I wouldn't call that weak. People also forget how many punches it took Leonard and Hagler to get him out of there. I think that Thomas Hearns is sadly one of the most underrated fighters of all time. He definitely belongs in the top 5 in the pound for pound discussion.

I'm glad you put Hollyfield in there. He was so good and had more exiting fights than any heavyweight in the 90's.

BJJFanatics: Huge honor for Teddy

Do you think the peekaboo style would have suited Pacquiao if he had a trainer like Cus or you Teddy from the very beginning?

Thank you thank you thank you !!!!! for bringing up Mr Spinx.

Hagler, Chavez, Pacquiao, Floyd, Duran. Pacquiao embarrassed Barrera (twice) and Hatton, beat Morales (twice), Marquez (twice), De la Hoya, Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, Broner, Thurman. Who has fought that who's who of boxing over that many weight classes? 8 division champ. He got caught after going up many classes and he lost to Floyd. When he was prime, NOBODY WAS BETTER. Much like Duran imo.

bj. i grew up with George Chuvalo kids, went to school with them and hung out, got to see alot of the famous knockouts footage first hand, i love your guys content Ken and Ted, its great! is there any chance you will do the top 5 or 10 trainers of all time?

Thanks for bringing up Whitaker. One of my favorites

How can you have Michael Spinks ahead of Floyd Mayweather lol

As far as Williams being beat by Ali at his peak, Cosel started this myth and it was told so often it is almost considered a fact. I think Teddy may not have remebered all the Physical background but probably didn't know the financial back story to this fight. Cleveland Williams was shot literally and physically after being shot by a gun wrestlin battle in a police officers car over a dui. Williams underwent four operations over the subsequent seven months to address injuries to his colon and right kidney. Then Lost his right kidney,had a bullet lodged in his right hip which partial paralysis of some of the hip's muscles, lost over 10 feet of his small intestine, nerve damage to the left leg above the knee and atrophy. Doctors who operated on him claimed they never saw a man lose much blood and live and he flatlined and back 4 times. Then to make matters worse for the Big Cat when he was going to fight Ali right before he when was getting ready to go to the ring Bud Adams his ex contract owner had Williams purse garnished and Williams was told by a process sever that most of big cat purse would be taken to pay Adams. It was a two or 3 thousand Dollars for Cleveland. So Williams Knew he was getting almost nothing fro his efforts before this fight in his home grounds of Houston Texas. So besides all his physical issues he wasn't getting paid either. Clevelands ex said he was devastated after being served because it would be his biggest payday and instead it was one of his lowest. Ali and Williams talked about canceling but Williams decided to fight anyway. So this to me is akin to ALI punching a heavy bag with legs. Once I found this out it explained alot of why Williams looked so overwhelmed and zombie like.

Floyd "pretty boy" Mayweather was a sight to behold in the ring. After he bought out his contract from Arum, and became "Money Mayweather" his career was choreographed. In part2 he moved up divisions to avoid many great fighters, and talked a lot of crap along the way. That 2015 fight with Pacquiao hurt our sport immensely. I appreciated Floyd on his rise, then he fell into a worship of self & would loudly show a vulgar tone toward the things in life that corrupted a generation of fighters. All these young impressionable boxers wanted the Mayweather plan, not realizing Floyd is an anomaly, an outlier. I tip my hat that he was able to make a vast amount of money. That alone dosen't make a number 1 great fighter. This must be mentioned, worship of the false idolatry of 0 losses is blatant B.S. I have always seen boxing as the greatest metaphor for life. We all have adversity and yes sometimes life can & will knock us out. From any loss or set back it gives us the opportunity to take an internal inventory. Resulting personal growth, we reconfigure and rebuild, sharpen our wits, get stronger and wiser.

Love to have seen Chaves vs. Duran at 135-140 both in their primes. Wow!!!!

JCC was well known from the prime era of boxing 85-92.. bestP4P. Sugar ray and JCC would of been the fight but sugar was a little too big. JCC in 87 vs Rosario was one of the most masterful performances in the history of boxing

Well, PFP are always subjective espessialy from Teddy, 1 Pacman should be there 100 %, but Teddy personaly dont like him, and another reason why Teddy will not put him in the list because Pacman is not american, he chooses Floyd instead. But the truth is that Pacquiao was a fenomenal fighter, he still is and his achievements in the sport was above Floyds. Be fair Teddy, I love you, but be fair. Roy should be there to. Sorry that I critisize you guys sometimes, I love your show, always watch it, but thats my opinion. Chears from Estonia

Joe Calzaghe should be on there. The longest reigning super-middleweight world champion in boxing history. 46-0 and beat Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr

TEDDY STILL SNORTING THAT NOSE CANDY I SEE.

I think Duran was at his peak before he fought sugar ray in Montreal ….over a yr before that he fought ex welter king Carlos Palomino who was fighting for redemption after being beaten by Wilfred Benitez….Duran had everything at welterweight at 28 yrs of age …power , speed , savvy , experience and he totally dominated and even floored Palomino ….absolutely Brilliant fighter ….and the very fact that at 32 yrs of age weighing 160 lbs he pushed Marvin Hagler ( in my opinion the greatest middleweight ever) actually adds to his greatest of all time tag …..

Ali did jab to the body a little when he was champ in the 60s. Amazing boxer. The Greatest!

75k Views, I feel all the true boxing fans are here. We could fit in one stadium somewhere, and we'd just pop an old fight on, eat some snacks.

where the hell is Pacquiao ffs he had obtained titles in 8 weight classes and obtained 4 titles in the original 8 weight classes in boxing etc, and look at his resume ffs

Enjoy it folks. I could listen to teddy all day