The former boxer Mike Tyson had a controversial, but an undoubtedly successful career, and is certainly considered by many as one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history.However, Teddy Atlas, who helped train Tyson in the early 1980s, believes that Tyson perhaps has gotten too much praise.“Was he one of the greatest punches of all-time? Yes,” Atlas said on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast.“Could he punch from either side of the plate like Mickey Mantle, the greatest switch-hitter? Was he that in boxing? Yes!"He could punch evenly, great with either hand from either side. Was he all those things? Yes!"Was he great an intimidator as Sonny Liston? Yes! Was he a great finisher like Joe Lewis to an extent? Yes!“But he wasn’t a great fighter.”For Atlas, a “fighter” is someone that is able to overcome adverse situations.The ESPN analyst has cited his six losses on his record of 50-6 as examples where Tyson was not able to conquer intimidating situations.“I would say he’s 0-5. To me, a fight is not a fight until there’s resistance,” Atlas said.“Until there’s something to overcome. Otherwise, it’s just an athletic venture. It’s an exhibition. I think life is that. I think you don’t know if a lawyer’s a lawyer until there’s something to overcome in the courtroom. Something goes wrong.“A doctor’s not a doctor until he opens up this kid, a kid, just like he’s gotat home, and arteries are bleeding all over the place (and) it’s not in the textbook. It’s not in the freaking textbook. And he gotta do it. He gotta figure it out, then he’s a doctor. He’s a surgeon at that level.“You’re not in a fight until there’s pressure. Resistance. Overcoming something. Otherwise, it’s just an exhibition. Tyson’s talent was so great. His physical ability, his talent was so overwhelming, just like somebody’s intellect, somebody’s charisma. Whatever. Beauty.”Atlas and Tyson’s relationship has been strained in the past with the two falling out after an incident in which the former claimed the latter approached a relative of his wife in a crude manner.Atlas in his biography recalled borrowing a pistol from a friend, tracking down Tyson, telling him to smarten up and fired the pistol, intentionally missing.In August 2013, it appeared that the two had reconciled after Tyson made amends as part of his steps to recover as an alcoholic.However, it appears that Atlas still bears a grudge against the boxer, and it's something that boxing fans have picked up on.

“His talent was so superior, that the other stuff never got tested,” Atlas explained.

“He was blowing guys out, and he never got tested if there was anything in the warehouse, so to speak. If there was anything inside.

"And then five times (that he lost), whatever the real record is, five times there was resistance. Five times, it became a real fight. Five times, there was something to overcome, and he failed at all five times.

“He was only in five fights in his life, and he’s 0-5.”