“Knowledge means nothing if you don’t convey it,” Mike Tyson’s former trainer recalls the life changing advise he received from LEGENDARY Cus D’Amato

Renowned trainer Teddy Atlas reveals life-changing advice he received from his mentor, Cus D'Amato.

“Knowledge means nothing if you don’t convey it,” Mike Tyson’s former trainer recalls the life changing advise he received from LEGENDARY Cus D’Amato

Mike Tyson, Cus D'Amato, and Teddy Atlas (image credit- Quora, Marca)

When it comes to the world of boxing, few names carry the weight and admiration that Mike Tyson does. Known for his ferocious power and intimidating presence in the ring, Tyson became a legend in the sport. But behind every great boxer, there is usually an exceptional trainer who guides and molds them into greatness. For Tyson, that trainer was none other than Teddy Atlas, who recently shared a life-changing piece of advice he received from the legendary Cus D’Amato.

D’Amato is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxing trainers of all time. Known for his ability to spot raw talent and nurture it into greatness, D’Amato played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of several boxing legends, including Floyd Patterson and Mike Tyson. D’Amato’s training methods focused not only on physical skills but also on mental fortitude and discipline.

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Furthermore, in an interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Atlas spoke about the life-changing advice he received from D’Amato. Subsequently, Atlas stated:

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He said you have an ability to teach. He said knowledge means nothing, if you don’t have somebody to convey it to.
Teddy Atlas via Lex Fridman

During his youth, Atlas had aspirations to become a fighter, but D’Amato urged him to become a boxing trainer. Subsequently, D’Amato explained the importance and significance of teaching knowledge to others. Furthermore, D’Amato gave an example of how the Britannica encyclopedia holds a lot of knowledge.

However, if it isn’t conveyed and spread to people, it will remain on a shelf and just look good. In addition, D’Amato told Atlas that he was born to be a teacher, and Atlas is still a trainer even at the age of 67.

Teddy Atlas’ early life before meeting Cus D’Amato

Atlas was born and raised in a wealthy Staten Island neighborhood. As such, his father was a devoted doctor, and his mother was a model and a Miss Staten Island winner. However, at a young age, he dropped out of school and became involved in several criminal activities. Subsequently, this also resulted in several arrests, and violent altercations which led to Atlas getting a face scar by a knife.

Teddy Atlas (image crdit- Marca)

Furthermore, Atlas’ dream of becoming a professional boxer began when he was just 18 years old. This was after he won his first tournament as a Golden Gloves contender at 135 pounds. Subsequently, his career was on the rise, but then he suffered a back injury that stopped him in his tracks. It was at this time that D’Amato encouraged him to take up being a trainer as a career.

During their meeting, D’Amato shared a piece of advice with Atlas that would forever change his perspective on training fighters. Hence, Atlas pursued a lifelong career as a boxing trainer, which led him to become a renowned trainer.

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