Anthony Joshua’s one-time trainer, Robert Garcia, has opened up on his experience with the former heavyweight champion and given advice for the future.
Having split with longtime coach, Rob McCracken, following his first defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, the British former champion and Olympic Gold Medalist sought the help of Garcia for the rematch.
Whilst many pundits identified a better game plan, ‘AJ’ lost again.
It’s now been well reported that he is in the midst of selecting a new trainer, and has even travelled back out to the US to do so. For his part, Garcia told ES News they had spoken and he was fine with it.
“Anthony called me and told me what he was doing and I respect it.
I understand the way he’s seeing things and honestly I wish him the best.
Even if it was me again, from what I understand he’s trying to fight some time in spring … Having to go to camp in England would be very difficult for me as I know José is going to be fighting around that time … It’s a very f***ing difficult fight, I’ve got to train my ass off to get him ready for that fight.”
The Mexican fighter-turned-trainer went on to say that ‘AJ’ needs to push himself more in training camps, setting an example for young fighters in the gym and reaching his potential.
“My personal advice and I told him and all of his team right before I left, the next day … It doesn’t matter who it is, it doesn’t matter if it’s me again, he needs to change his camps around, he needs to go to the United States, he needs to train in the gym … with young guys who are looking up to you.
And you cannot say today I don’t want to spar because I’m tired or I didn’t sleep enough last night so I don’t want to train today.”
As for the next choice of trainer, Garcia reckons more weight lies within Joshua’s mindset regardless of who he chooses.
“It’s not about Derrick James doing a better job, Virgil Hunter doing a better job, me doing better than his previous trainer – no. It’s about him getting out of his comfort zone and not being the boss, and doing what he’s told to do in a place where he’s not comfortable.
He’s very talented, his power is insane, and he needs to believe in himself.”
We’re expecting an announcement soon as to Joshua’s new training set up, and one about his next opponent should follow quickly after.