Anthony Joshua's former coach thinks the fighter had a "quick and easy" camp for his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua, 33, missed out on the chance to win back his unified heavyweight titles to Usyk when he was beaten by the Ukrainian for the second time in August. 'AJ' had lost his belts to the former undisputed cruiserweight champion when they first met in London last September and despite putting up a valiant effort in their second fight, he lost on points for the second time.
Following his first loss to Usyk, the Brit parted ways with longtime trainer Rob McCracken and linked up with Robert Garcia for the rematch. Joshua is now in search of another trainer after splitting with Garcia after just one fight and the American coach has given his take on how Joshua's training camp went for the Usyk rematch.
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"Everything was kind of easy and quick for him," Garcia told Izquierdazo. "He thought that that was the right way to do it, that he didn’t need to do it in another way. When the time comes for this kind of fight with fighters of a higher level, tougher fights, harder fights, you need a stricter camp, where he follows indications."
Joshua went on a US tour to scout for trainers before partnering with Garcia earlier this year and has recently been spotted talking to other trainers in America again. World-renowned coach Virgil Hunter and Derrick James, who trains welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr, are just two of the trainers Joshua has been seen alongside.
Garcia isn't offended to see 'AJ' working with other trainers, as the former two-time champion told him that he wants to be a "free spirit" by learning from as many coaches as possible. The trainer thinks Joshua needs to get outside of his comfort zone and predicts he will eventually find another coach in the US.
“I feel that he is taking the decision about coming to the United States," Garcia added. "If he came to talk with trainers such as Derrick James, who is very busy here in the United States, I don’t think that AJ’s plan is to take him to Europe, maybe he is planning to stay here. I will be happy to see him here, even if he is not working with me. AJ needs a change, a completely new change to what he is not used to."
