Buzzmaster

  (3:53 PM)

Teddy Atlas will be by at the top of the hour to take your boxing questions and those on the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight tomorrow night!

Buzzmaster

  (3:58 PM)

We've got Teddy!

Sarasota, FL

Does Manny have a good chance to win?

Teddy Atlas

  (3:59 PM)

I'm picking him to win, so obviously, yes. I would have to say he has a good chance to win. He fights with more energy, he's fast. I think this fight means more to him than Oscar. Oscar blows all his big fights. What he must not do is stand outside all of OScar's big punches. Stay outside the reach. Keep him off balance. Oscar can't use his supposed power advantage if he's off balance.

chris ( jersey )

Teddy, big fan. love your commentary on night fights. In your opinion sould Mannny come in a lil under 147 to maximize his speed or does he need the weight to gain power?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:01 PM)

No, I would'nt worry about him coming in at under 147. If the weight that comes naturally to him with a training program is 135 or 138 or 139, I wouldn't care. Whatever his weight is and is comfortable, I would go with that. You're not going to be a bigger guy, you're the faster guy. Use that advantage against De La Hoya.

Nate (Palmerton, PA)

Teddy, I respect your opinion greatly! In your opinion, if you were building "the prefect" fighter, what atribute would be a must have? For example, hand speed, punching power, a high boxing IQ, defensive skills, etc

Teddy Atlas

  (4:03 PM)

Tremendous discipline and emotional control. A guy that can be honest with himself when he's unsure of himself, afraid, scared, he can look at that in the mirror and say, yeah, I am unsure, I am worried and by honestly recognizing that he can work on that. He can make a stand and work on that. The guys that aren't honest don't work on the problem, never find the problem. Like Oscar De La Hoya.

Richard (Los Angeles,Ca

Any chance that Manny knocks out oscar tomorrow?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:03 PM)

No, I don't think so. De La Hoya has always shown himself to have a pretty good beard. I think that Manny can get his attention. I definitley think he can swell him up. Hey, Steve Forbes swelled him up, Manny can take that to another level.

Robin from Montreal Canada

To what extent do you think Manny should change his style when fighting a bigger, stronger opponent than he ever has in Oscar de la Hoya? Could any stylistic changes affect him adversely?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:05 PM)

The one thing that he has been working on is changing is not leaving himself vulnerable as he attacks. Not reaching in as he comes in. He doesn't reach as much anymore. He doesn't look for one punch as much as he used to. That's the key, not leave himself so available. You can always make adjustments as you're fighting a specific advantage. You should or you're not paying attention. Like in football, they make adjustments against particular opponents. Manny needs to make sure he doesn't stay at a certain distance from Oscar. He must be moving, working in and staying at different angles.

Steiny (NYC)

I talked to Manny Pacquiao yesterday, and I asked him if this was the biggest fight of his career, and he said yes. Do you agree with him?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:07 PM)

Yeah, definitely. He's fighting the most recognized fighter in the business right now. I think what makes it really magnified is that what it means to Manny and his country. It makes it a real mega event. It means that he can use this fight to really make the people of his country feel involved with something very special.

mrmarksmith

Teddy, If you could make any 3 fights happen in 2009 what would they be?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:08 PM)

I'll give you another twist...one that I don't want to see, if De La Hoya wins, I don't want to see him and Hatton. You know the Golden Boy is going for another one. I've seen enough of him, he's had a full plate. Let someone else get in the buffet line.

Teddy Atlas

  (4:09 PM)

You have a chance to see, if Pacman wins, Mr. Mayweather to fight Pacquiao. Don't be surprised if you see that.

Teddy Atlas

  (4:10 PM)

I guess I wouldn't mind seeing Margarito and Floyd Mayweather, although I wouldn't hold my breath.

julian nyc

what classic past fight does this remind you of? For some reason this reminds me of Duran vs Barkley. and what is your prediction?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:12 PM)

I don't see the correlation and connection to that fight. I understand Duran was on the other side of his career, but more so than De La Hoya is on the other side of his career at this point. Barkley had never really shown that he could win with that kind of fighter. Pacquiao has shown that he can win with good fighters. I understand that you're thinking about Duran that used to be a small man moving up to a big middleweight, but don't forget Duran had a big advantage in skill sets and experience and Duran had been at a higher weight for a long period of time, where Pacquiao hasn't.

mike (philly)

what do you feel will be the biggest advantage in the fight tomorrow, de la hoya's jab, or pacquaio's speed?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:13 PM)

I think it's going to wind up being Pacquiao's speed. Knowing De La Hoya the way I think I know him, he will not use that jab the way he should.

Teddy Atlas

  (4:14 PM)

For example, if he used the jab in the Floyd Mayweather fight and when he did use the jab in the Mayweather fight, he took Floyd's strength out of the equation. But vintage De La Hoya in a big fight, he did not continue to do that and he wound up fighting just the kind of fight that allowed Floyd to use his attributes.

Chief M......EYA Clw Florida

Teddy, Do you still do any work as a trainer? And if yes have we seen or heard of any of the boxers?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:15 PM)

No. I feel kind of comfortable behind a microphone where nobody can talk back.

Teddy Atlas

  (4:15 PM)

That way I don't have to remind a man to behave like a man 24 hours a day.

Jimmy (Arlington, Va)

Teddy, Freddy Roach claims that he noticed flaw in Oscar's style while training him that Pac Man can exploit to earn a knockout win. Do you think this is just hype, or do think Freddie really saw some secret button Pac Man can push to put away the Golden Boy?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:17 PM)

I think he's saying what he has to say, being in the position that he's in. I'm sure he sees flaws. I think we all see them. You'd have to be blind not to see them. De La Hoya shows straight up. You can catch him as he stands up like a flag pole. He always winds up emotionally going to the wrong fight when the moment calls for him to specifically fight a different way. He seems to never make adjustments.

Jimmy (Arlington, Va)

Who do you pick in the Mosley - Margarito fight? Even though Margarito might be a big favorite, Mosley could be a bad stylistic match up for Margarito.

Teddy Atlas

  (4:17 PM)

Then why are you asking me your opinion, sounds like you already made the pick? By the way, I agree, I give Mosely a good chance in that fight.

Tom, Palm Coast, FL

Hi Teddy, When you consider past great fighters with the required emotional control, who do you think possessed the most of this attribute? Can it be learned or is it just part of a person's natural temperament?

Teddy Atlas

  (4:19 PM)

There's nothing natural about it. It becomes natural after years of living a certain kind of life. But it wasn't there before those years. It becomes natural after experience, but wasn't there before the experience. It comes with your upbringing about how you face things or not face things in every aspect of your life. How you form yourself and are formed. The great, late Salvadore Sanchez was an example of this.

Teddy Atlas

  (4:20 PM)

Nice chatting with all of you guys. It's always good to do this once a year, since that is my only time I connect with a computer. Check out for me on SportsCenter tomorrow night breaking down the fight. And on ESPNEWS.