Joe Joyce Comments on Anthony Joshua Training Situation, Says He Is 'Still Kind of Learning'

Joe Joyce apparently does not think that Anthony Joshua ever truly made a full pivot, stylistically speaking, from the unpaid ranks.

Joyce, a top contender for the WBO heavyweight title, has seen his stock rise after he bludgeoned former titlist Joseph Parker in 11 rounds in September. The Londoner has now set his sights on a title shot, possibly against the winner of the projected undisputed heavyweight championship between WBC titlist Tyson Fury and WBA, WBO, IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk; the two are in talks to fight in March, most likely somewhere in the Middle East.

Another fight on Joyce’s radar is a showdown with Joshua, who, with two consecutive losses at the hands of Usyk, has been experiencing a backslide in his career.

After canning his longtime coach, Robert McCracken, and enlisting Robert Garcia ahead of the rematch with Usyk in August, Joshua appears to be once more on the hunt for a new trainer. He was spotted in the United States recently working with the likes of Virgil Hunter, the trainer of Hall of Famer Andre Ward, and Derrick James, best known as the coach for unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo. It is not clear who Joshua will be working with moving forward, but he is expected to return to the ring in April, followed by a rematch with former nemesis Dillian Whyte in the summer.

Joyce thinks Joshua, for all his success, is still on a learning curve of sorts and that he has not shaken off some of his habits from his amateur days.

“I guess he didn’t really make any changes as a pro,” Joyce told iD Boxing. “He stayed with the amateur setup with his amateur trainer in Robert McCracken. I mean … he’s a good coach and good for the GB setup.

“Anyway, I think he’s still kind of learning. But I don’t know what has happened. He’s a bit gun shy now because he’s been knocked down and been out on his feet a lot of times.”

Joyce also indicated in the same interview that he has noticed that Joshua rarely mentions him by name interviews. Nevertheless, “The Juggernaut” says he would love to swap punches with Joshua at some point.

“He’s got phenomenal power and his boxing abilities are very tidy and stuff and he’s a great businessman,” Joyce said of Joshua. “So, yeah, I want to fight him one day and I hope he’s up for the challenge.”