It appears that Anthony Joshua is on the hunt once again for a new trainer.
After losing to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021, Joshua split from longtime coach Rob McCracken and had training sessions with the likes of Eddy Reynoso, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Ronnie Shields, and Virgil Hunter, among others, before settling with Robert Garcia.
Garcia coached Joshua in the rematch versus Usyk, but the former two-time heavyweight champion and British star fell short once again to the Ukrainian.
Joshua has crossed the ocean once again in search of a new voice in his corner.
In recent weeks, Joshua has again worked with Hunter – who is most known for guiding Hall of Fame fighter Andre Ward – as well as Derrick James, trainer to the likes of Errol Spence Jr. as well Jermell and Jermall Charlo.
The Southern California-based Garcia recently stood firm that Joshua needs to train in the United States instead of the United Kingdom in order to resurrect his career.
Now the touted coach is suggesting that the 33-year-old Joshua should have a no-nonsense approach during camp.
“Because everything was kind of easy and quick for him, he thought that that was the right way to do it, that he didn’t need to do it in another way,” Garcia told Izquierdazo. “But when the time comes for this kind of fight [such as Usyk], with fighters of a higher level, tougher fights, harder fights, you need a stricter camp, where he follows indications.
“[Joshua] is a dedicated fighter, he does and listens to what he is told to, but maybe he thinks that he was a champion without doing that much or without commitment. But when you are fighting against opponents like Usyk, that is something different.”
Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) recently admitted that distractions outside of the ring are making his boxing career complicated.
“So when I'm ready, I'll get back in the ring. You know what it is? I ain't champion and it's just hurting a lot. I'm in the gym rebuilding and restructuring everything I got to do inside and outside of the ring. There's a lot that goes on outside of the ring in my life which makes my ring life complicated. So I just need to simplify a lot of stuff outside of the ring and then just put my full attention in the ring, really," said Joshua. “My life is complicated. Boxing has become a bit complicated for me. Everyone is just trying to make the most of this time while I'm boxing and they are doing a good job. But it does affect my ring activity as well. So I just always trying to push all of that stuff away. It's a challenge. I'm just trying to get it out of the way this year so that next year I feel more focused.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
