Teddy Atlas Says Boxing Needs Teachers Not Just Coaches, And Calls The Jab The Most Dangerous Punch

TEDDY ATLAS. The famous trainer has a message for every gym in the country: stop being a coach and start being a teacher.

In a fired-up sit-down, Atlas said he almost gets insulted when someone calls a trainer a coach. For him, a guy who is what he's supposed to be teaches, and there simply aren't enough teachers out there.

His gripe is the basics. Atlas said too many fighters don't know the basic rudiments, and he's not even talking about the advanced stuff. He wants fighters learning to merge defence with offense, to understand range and distance, and to respect the jab.

Then came the big one. Atlas called the jab the most dangerous punch in boxing, and said he knows people will argue it's the most important. In his words it sets up defence, controls range and sets the table for everything else.

But there's a catch. Thrown at the wrong distance or the wrong place, the jab can leave a window open for counters. So it has to be in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. "That's teaching," Atlas said.

For every Aussie club trainer and every Soreheads corner crew, that's a bloody good reminder. Get the jab right first, mate, and the rest follows.

At press time, several gym owners were reportedly doing jab drills in the car park before opening.