By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Former WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) is expected to return on April 1st in London according to promoter Eddie Hearn. “He’s gonna train in America, and he’ll start that camp in the next week,” Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show Monday. “He’ll be flying out. You guys will get the news soon. Like I said, AJ’s his own man, and something like (revealing his new trainer) is for him to confirm once he’s happy to confirm it…April 1 is the targeted date in London.”
Derrick James, trainer of Errol Spence and Jermell Charlo, is rumored to be Joshua’s new trainer, replacing Robert Garcia. WBO #10, IBF #11 heavyweight Demsey McKean (22-0, 14 KOs) could be Joshua’s April 1 opponent. Stay tuned.
Trainer?.. At this pont, the Trainer won’t make any difference. It’s all him..
Training is everything. Training is the first step when delving into boxing.
ETK
Aj has been boxing since at least 2008. He has 45 amateur fights, and almost 30 pro fights. He is not a beginner.
Who gives a shit?! Y’all keep acting like he is a superstar. He is gonna fight a chump no risk fight and then keep choking every time on the real big fights. Boooorrrring…..
What about the Klitschko fight and the Ruiz rematch?
Klitschko told the world that he was training to fight differently before his fight against Joshua. The world was complaining that the Klitschkos were boring. Although they dominated with their “boring” tactics. When he got in the ring against Klitschko it was obvious that the new fan friendly style he had trained into himself was a bad choice against that Joshua at that time. Ruize looked horrible in the rematch, he did not have those power punches he trained on before the first fight.
Trainer??? He needs a psychiatrist!!
Joshua needs to take his time to recollect and reorganize his mind and camp. After being on top and crashing down, it takes a toll on one’s confidence and focus. Yet, as humans, we struggle with egos and self-absorbed expectations that get in our way of success. Joshua has made tons of money, can walk away in good health, and pursue other career endeavors. I hope he makes good choices and regains focus should he step back in the ring. He may not like what he finds if he brings old habits back in the ring.
Scooby
Agree. Aj can and should just retire. Without fighting, He he can still make a 7 or 8 figure living.
Don’t get fooled that day into paying for the broadcast.
Fooled into paying??? It’s 2023, only a fool would pay for ANY fight!!! 95% of “big” fights have garbage undercard’s and a boring, overhyped main event. What idiot would willingly spend $75 on that when you can literally stream EVERY fight for free on the internet??? I haven’t paid for a fight in almost ten years and I won’t start now.
“Joshua to return April 1?”
– Possible April Fools set-up?????
Remember when Vladimir Klitchko was left for dead after getting starched by Corie Sanders and stopped by Lamon Brewster? Yes, it’s up to the fighter but the right trainer can still make an impact on his mentality and help him make adjustments in the ring. I still think Fury beats the crap out of him, Wilder KOs him, and Usyk already showed what he can do to him. But you never know.
Wilder wont beat him ,his is still a hell of a boxer and way better than Wilder.
Great. If he trains with James then he should fight about once every 12 to 15 months, just like Spence and Charlo do. These guys would have never made it in the 80’s.
A new trainer would help immensely. Unfortunately Manny Steward passed away years ago. But he needs someone like that to force him to fight long and smart like he got Lennox and Wlad to fight. Use your reach and size to minimize risk, better set up punches.
Happy to see Derrick James getting the respect he deserves. He’s done a tremendous job with his fighters. Im sure he’s def the most sought-after trainer right now and so his establishment will grow. Especially with AJ sized checks.
Robert Garcia been losing top fighters the last few years. Including his own brother Micky.
Racially motivated statement if I ever saw one.
I don’t know what else AJ can do. Obviously he has talent but he doesn’t have the dog in him to be intimidating. Ever since Andy exposed and destroyed him so easily, AJ’s been seen as a average fighter at best. a RICH average fighter.
Joshua is missing a boxing mean streak that can help him mentally thrive in muddy, nasty waters (with a smile).
AJ should form a partnership with Joseph Parker as former belt holders training each other.
Good move. So many fighters have moved to the Garcia camp and winded up with disastrous results.
Joshua trained with Garcia for Uzyk. Joshua looked like he was sabotaged, trained to lose, reflexes and muscle memory programmed horribly.
Who was his trainer for the first Usyk fight I wonder, oh yeahhhh?
It’s AJ dude, not the trainer.
Well he did make an absolute fool of himself after the second Usyk fight, so April fools day seems appropriate. Not sure what Derrick James can do with him
Maybe he’d capture another title in the transgender division.
McKean has risen to the dizzying height of #52 fighting nobodies.
Demsey McKean has even managed to avoid the better heavyweights in Australia . He has compiled an impressive record on paper by fighting C & D grade opposition. Even his rating of 52 amongst the worlds heavyweights is flattering because he has beaten nobodies.
Avoid my arse Sceptic,other way round in Oz mate,so he had to do what most boxers do when starting pro boxing, compile a”impressive” record to get noticed.
if its against a journeyman, he can keep that
Joshua is a natural athlete, but not an elite champ. Unless he’s waiting around for the top tier guys to retire, he’s not going much further than he’s already been.
I wonder why they chose 4/1 to make an announcement
Seems very capable but I’m still better at my job than he is at his.
Maybe AJ should get Sylvester Stallone to help him rediscover “The Eye of the Tiger” !
AJ needs to be trained by a real boxing man like KSI.
AJ’s career is on the slide and no trainer can help him against the very top of the heavyweight division. He could bring McCracken back for this potential April 1st opponent and his performance would be the same as it was with Garcia. Usyk is just a better fighter, plain and simple. Fury too.