Atkinson's bout against world champion Jim Londos in November 1946 was held at Sydney Stadium in front of a record setting 14,000 spectators.

In Toronto he pulled a major victory over Watson for the NWA British Empire Championship[5][8] before losing it back to him.

Into the 1960s he became a popular and respected baby face but again turned heel as a manager mainly to the men he also trained like Giant Shoehi Baba and Tiger Jeet Singh.

Atkinson also worked as a pre-season conditioning trainer for the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club.

At Maple Leaf Gardens he refereed the February 6, 1977, NWA World Heavyweight title match in which Harley Race beat Terry Funk for the championship.