By Elliot Foster
Anthony Joshua will have a new coach in his corner for his next fight.
The IBF heavyweight champion announced on Thursday, just nine days ahead of his world title defence against Eric Molina at Manchester Arena, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office, that Team GB boxing coach Robert McCracken will become his full-time coach, starting in his corner next weekend and remaining there for all future fights.
Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs) previously turned to Tony Sims for advice on fight night due to AIBA rules meaning that McCracken couldn’t be in the corner of a paid fighter.
But it has now been announced that McCracken, who has been in the head trainer for former three-time world champion Carl Froch in the past, will combine training Joshua with his role as Performance Director of Great Britain’s Olympic boxing programme.
“I have remained close to Rob and the GB Boxing squad since 2012,” said Joshua after the news was confirmed. “I have consistently turned to him for advice and guidance so I am really excited to have him in my corner, starting on December 10.”
Previous trainer Tony Sims will remain in the 27-year-old’s corner, but McCracken will take on the head role from this point on.
“I would like to put on record my thanks to Tony Sims,” Joshua continued, “who will remain in my corner working with Rob as he did to such success with Carl Froch.”
Joshua has used the facilities at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield regularly since turning his back on the amateur game and winning a gold medal at the London Olympic Games in 2012, having turned pro in July 2013.
And McCracken is excited about the future alongside the Matchroom Boxing-promoted commodity, who is now switch base to the EIS from the Matchroom Elite gym in Essex on a permanent basis.
“Anthony is a special talent and I am looking forward to working with him on the next stage of his career as he looks to defend his titles and, ultimately, to unify the heavyweight division,” 48-year-old McCracken said.
“I know from working with Carl Froch that combining my work coaching a top professional boxer with the role of Performance Director has mutual benefits and that having a world champion in the gym has a very positive impact on the whole of the GB Boxing squad.
“It gives the boxers an insight into what it takes to be the best in the world and provides top-class training opportunities that will help to develop and improve the heavyweight and super-heavyweight boxers in the squad.”
The decision for McCracken to coach Joshua and allow the IBF world champion to train at the GB Boxing gym in Sheffield is supported by the board of GB Boxing.
“With Rob now coaching Anthony, the arrangement will be the same as the successful one we had previously with Carl Froch which provided world class preparation for our boxers,” a spokesman for GB Boxing said.
“We have no doubt that having a world champion and Olympic gold medallist in the gym will enhance the world class performance programme and have a positive impact on the development of our boxers.”
