Povetkin & Atlas: Change coming?

[Rantcatrat]

When Povetkin wants to fight Wlad, he'll be able to. It's not like there are a lot of challengers as good as Povetkin out there that Klitschko hasn't already beat. In fact, I can just name two: Adamek and Haye.

Teddy shouldn't have told the media his opinion, it's bad for the camp if he remains.

[El Kabong]

Having listened to the interview it seems that Teddy Atlas adds to my belief that the Sauerland group are a bunch of crooks.

It doesn't seem like Povetkin and Atlas have any personal beef just Atlas and Sauerland have beef....though Povetkin could be swayed by Sauerland's $$$ (not that they pay their fighters all that much).

Povetkin's career has really stalled out...like most everyone has said he's not fighting top competition or even trying to prepare for a title shot and it's a shame because at one time he showed great promise.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Tbh I think that Povetkin needs to retain Atlas as trainer. Not because of any exceptional abilities Mr. Atlas may or may not have, but because he Teddy may bring the consistency he so desperately needs.

Povetkin to my mind has been on a bumpy road without a GPS-
spells of inactivity, turning down title fights and chasing fights that were never likely to happen, which all contribute to his poor following.

I think he needs Teddy more for his experience on the business side and his ability to stabilise the fighter's environment more than anything else.

[TigerFan]

I'd like to see him go back to his old coach. But I believe his old coach is thinking about retiring after the Huck-Lebedev fight. Plus not sure how he'd take being replaced then brought back. Be interesting to hear his opinions on how Povetkin's looked under Atlas.

Probably be best if he got a Russian trainer. I know a lot of what Teddy has been saying was lost in translation. "why the hell is this guy talking about trains & dinner tables and shit"

[bradlee180]

No fighter ever stays with Teddy Atlas. Ever.

...and the dude can't do fight predictions to save his life.

Rule of thumb:
Whoever Atlas picks to win, then bet all your money on the other guy because Atlas just gave him his patented kiss of death...


...and why can't this guy pronounce fighters' names?
DEE la hoya.
HOLLY field.

[bradlee180]

Teddy Atlas insisting on pulling Povetkin out of the Wladimir fight was ludicrous.
A title shot is what a man works years for, and Atlas turned it down when it finally presented itself.
Povetkin ain't some developing spring-chicken, he's 31 years old!

Povetkin was scheduled to get his shot over 2 years ago, Dec 2008, but he had the Achilles injury.
He'd been Wladimir's mandatory challenger for 2½ years since the Chambers fight, for $#!t's sake!

If Povetkin still wasn't ready almost 2 years later, then when will this 31 year old man finally be ready?
He ought to have taken the money while it's there: over 2 million on the table is nothing to f*<k with for a contender in his 1st shot.
For many contenders, one shot is all they'll ever get, and what if he loses to some other contender for a lot less money now?

Nobody stays with Teddy Atlas either.

His style works if you're coaching troubled teenage boys that you can boss around as you bring them along; it don't work so well when an established fighter hires Teddy to coach him and the hired help(Teddy) starts treating the man who signs the checks like he's a damn kid.

Thumbs down to Teddy Atlas.

[Rantcatrat]

Teddy Atlas insisting on pulling Povetkin out of the Wladimir fight was ludicrous.
A title shot is what a man works years for, and Atlas turned it down when it finally presented itself.
Povetkin ain't some developing spring-chicken, he's 31 years old!

Povetkin was scheduled to get his shot over 2 years ago, Dec 2008, but he had the Achilles injury.
He'd been Wladimir's mandatory challenger for 2½ years since the Chambers fight, for $#!t's sake!

If Povetkin still wasn't ready almost 2 years later, then when will this 31 year old man finally be ready?
He ought to have taken the money while it's there: over 2 million on the table is nothing to f*<k with for a contender in his 1st shot.
For many contenders, one shot is all they'll ever get, and what if he loses to some other contender for a lot less money now?

Nobody stays with Teddy Atlas either.

His style works if you're coaching troubled teenage boys that you can boss around as you bring them along; it don't work so well when an established fighter hires Teddy to coach him and the hired help(Teddy) starts treating the man who signs the checks like he's a damn kid.

Thumbs down to Teddy Atlas.

Not sure if you read my above post, but currently there aren't many viable challengers out there for Wlad, (he's resorted to fight 13-0 Derek Chisora that should be evidence enough) so, it doesn't really matter if Povetkin didn't take take the first title shot because as long as Wlad is champion, and Povetkin doesn't lose, Povetkin will have the opportunity to fight him. This is unique to the heavyweight division right now. In fact, I can't think of another division so sorely lacking in legit challengers. The money won't change. Therefore, I don't blame Teddy Atlas for advising Povetkin not to take the title fight until Teddy Atlas believes he's ready and it's not like Povetkin is being put in with risky opponents. Teddy wants to see Povetkin active and he wants to fine-tune his skills before putting him in their with Wlad. Seeing how dominant Wlad has been recently, I don't really blame Teddy for wanting to give his charge the best possible chance at winning. As you said, once he gets the chance, he may never get it again. If this were any other division, with any other champion, I would probably agree with you that Povetkiin should take any title shot opportunity that he receives.