Anthony Joshua sacked his trainer Robert Garcia with a phone call after he lost his first fight with the new coach; his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
The two-time world heavyweight champion replaced head coach Rob McCracken with Garcia for the Usyk rematch back in August, and brought the American to London for a curated training camp. But the Brit was unable to reverse his fortunes, and while he looked much-improved, he still lost on the scorecards to Usyk.
Garcia has trained 13 world champions during his career, and was keen to make Joshua his first heavyweight champion. However, in the aftermath of the Brit's defeat to Usyk in August, he was keen to have him come and complete a training camp in California, outside of his comfort zone in London or Sheffield.
"I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anyone expected," Garcia told ESNews. “Anthony called me and told me what he was doing. I understand the way he is seeing things and honestly, I wish him the best. Even if it was me again, I understand they are trying to fight sometime in the spring.
"Having to go to camp in England it was very difficult for me because I know that Jose [Ramirez] is fighting during that time. So, I’ve got to train his a*** off to get him ready to fight. Also, Bam [Rodriguez] will be fighting during that time."
Joshua has been spotted in America talking to other trainers, including famed coach Virgil Hunter and Errol Spence Jr's coach Derrick James. But Garcia isn't offended to see him working with other names, having been told that he wants to be a "free spirit" and learn from as many sources as possible.
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"It’s not about Virgil Hunter doing a better job, Derrick James doing a better job or me doing a better job than his previous trainer," Garcia insisted. "It’s about him getting out of his comfort zone and not being the boss and doing what he’s told to do in a place where he’s not comfortable.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, when he comes back, I know they’re going to pick him two or three easy fights so that’s going to make any trainer look good. But it’s a big difference I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anyone expected.”
Joshua is expected to return to the ring early next year at The O2 arena in London, with promoter Eddie Hearn eyeing up a number of options for his first fight back. Long-time rival Dillian Whyte is in the running, but it's likely that he will get one fight through before making that grudge rematch.
