Atlas, Teddy 1956-

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Atlas, Teddy 1956-

PERSONAL:

Born 1956. Son of Theodore Atlas (a physician); married; wife's name Elaine; children: two. Education: Attended high school in Staten Island, NY.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Staten Island, NY.

CAREER:

Professional boxer and boxing coach. Television commentator, including work for ESPN television program Friday Night Fights and NBC Sports' Olympic coverage in 2000, 2004, and 2008. Fight choreographer and trainer for films; actor in films Gloria and Play It to the Bone. Founder of Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation. Public speaker at high schools, universities, and prisons.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Golden Gloves boxing championship; Sam Taub Award, Boxing Writers Association of America, for broadcast excellence; Helping Hands Award, National Football League, 2000, for charity work.

WRITINGS:

(With Peter Alson) Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man (autobiography), Ecco (New York, NY), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Teddy Atlas served as boxing coach to some famous names in the sport, including Mike Tyson and Michael Moorer, who won the world heavyweight championship twice under Atlas's guidance. He first became involved with boxing as a teen, when he fought in organized amateur competitions and worked out at the Police Athletic League. There were troubled aspects to his life, however, and Atlas eventually ended up in jail for taking part in an armed robbery. A childhood friend was training with boxing legend Cus D'Amato at the time, and he arranged for Atlas to come and train with D'Amato while waiting for his case to come to court. When Atlas did finally appear in court, D'Amato spoke in his favor. Atlas was released into D'Amato's custody and began training with him again. He went so far as to win the Golden Gloves award, but soon after that achievement, he suffered an injury that ended his professional boxing career. For a time, he drifted and became involved in crime again; one street fight left him with an injury that required 400 stitches in his face. Yet Atlas eventually turned his life around and became a highly successful boxing trainer and, eventually, a commentator for ESPN and the NBC television network. He also established the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation in memory of his father; this organization provides scholarships, medical grants, and other assistance to those in need.

Atlas also works as an inspirational speaker, telling groups how he turned his life around, and the methods and philosophies he used in coaching. He relates his life story in a book written with Peter Alson, titled Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man. A Kirkus Reviews writer recommended the book, stating: "In a voice shorn of pretense, both edgy and polished, Atlas describes trying to instill his brand of integrity in his fighters, a bunch of young men who had their share of emotional problems. He had to teach them to honor themselves."