Anthony Joshua's new trainer Robert Garcia feared that the former heavyweight champion has lost his love for boxing after his losses to Oleksandr Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr.
Joshua has lost two of his last four fights, first being stopped by Ruiz in New York before reclaiming his titles in Saudi Arabia and defending them against Kubrat Pulev. But he was then comprehensively outpointed by Usyk in front of his home fans at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London.
And watching that lacklustre showing against the Ukrainian, who hadn't looked great since his move up to heavyweight, led Garcia to fear for Joshua's mindset. He and the Brit then met in America, before eventually teaming up to work together for the rematch.
"I think towards the last few fights it was about him not believing in his team any more," Garcia told iFL TV. "Or maybe he had lost, a little bit, his love for the sport. I wasn't there at the time, I'm here new but that's what came through my mind.
"I've had so many different experiences with different fighters where sometimes they just lose the love for the sport. My own brother [four-weight world champion Mikey] lost the love for the sport and doesn't want to do it again.
"So that was my question, what happened with Anthony Joshua? Then when they brought me in, I didn't know anybody in the team but now I'm getting along really good with everyone and I think we just need to bring back the will to become a superstar again in Anthony."
Joshua dropped long-time coach Rob McCracken to bring in Garcia earlier this year after meeting with a host of big name trainers in America after his latest loss. But he will maintain the services of the likes of Angel Fernandez and other coaches that were part of his set-up.
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He was a relatively heavy favourite heading into his first bout with Usyk last September, but with their rematch around the corner, odds have flipped. Very few boxers have become three-time heavyweight champion, and with the touted August 13 date fast approaching, Joshua may not have time for his new team to gel.
"He needs the will to go out and hurt people," Garcia added. "The need to come back and go in there with no, I don't want to call it fear because he's already an Olympic gold medalist, fought the best in the world, become a two-time world champion, so it can't be fear.
"It's more belief in himself, maybe he lost a bit of belief in himself but that's what we're here for, Angel has passion for the sport and I wouldn't have accepted this if it wasn't for him on my side. I think together we are going to do great things with Anthony Joshua."
