Former super-middleweight world champion, Carl Froch, has shared his disbelief at comments from Derrick James, after the American led Anthony Joshua to his second win in as many fights under his guidance.
‘AJ’ knocked out Robert Helenius in the seventh round of what was a relatively dull affair up until that point, but nevertheless recorded a first stoppage win in almost three years, four months on since he outpointed Jermaine Franklin in his first contest with James in his corner.
On his YouTube channel, Froch attempted to wrap his head around comments that Derrick James made in the press conference.
“At the press conference after, it was very strange. Anthony Joshua was asked ‘what do you think of your performance?’, to which Joshua replied ‘I do not like to give an analysis, I do not like to rate my performance, I will leave that to my coach, Derrick James.
So, when Derrick James was asked, ‘what do you think of Anthony Joshua’s performance?’, what did he say? ‘Oh well, I couldn’t quite see from behind the ring post, I could not quite see the fight.’ What do you mean you couldn’t see the fight? You get your head underneath the bottom rope and you watch the boxing, the post is not in your way, is that really what we are going to accept?
We can’t give an analysis of Anthony Joshua’s performance, from a professional coach’s point of view, because Anthony Joshua doesn’t want to answer it, because the ring post is in the way? How are you giving instructions to AJ in-between the rounds, if you can’t see the fight? That was ridiculous.
As far as Anthony Joshua fans are concerned, the jury is still out as to whether he can mix it at the top level again – but with an expected clash against Deontay Wilder next, they won’t have to wait long to find out.