Top trainer Robert Garcia will reportedly train former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua for his rematch against current WBA, IBF, WBO unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on July 23 in Saudi Arabia. Garcia won out over Eddy Reynoso, Ronnie Shields and Virgil Hunter for the job according to ESPN. Joshua’s training camp will be in England.
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Garcia is a fine trainer (and was a fine fighter, himself) and I wish him all the luck in this fight. I don’t know what strategy he comes up with, but it will be interesting to see how they attempt to solve Usyk this time.
Joshua will never outbox Usyk. He needs to go right after him, be in attack mode the entire fight, and if he gets knocked out in the process so be it, since he’ll probably get stopped anyways. He’s bigger, stronger, and more powerful. Use your strengths.
I think if he attacks Usyk constantly he runs the risk of not only running into something big, obviously, but also just getting picked apart. And I also think that Usyk’s camp might be preparing for a more aggressive Joshua this time around as well. I don’t know what the hell Joshua does in this fight, but it’s the biggest decision of his career and he has to get it right.
I think he needs to attack but at a slow steady consistent pace. Needs to go to the body, lean on him and try to use his size and strength. He had some good rounds in the first fight he just needs to start that way. Yes he may get caught but I think this is his best shot. Of course he cannot attack like Maidana did against Mayweather and Broner because he will gas. Has to be a bit more like Margarito in the first Cotto fight. I know…his chin may betray him but I do not see a better way. Regardless it will be an exciting day!
Definitely will be exciting Pete. Can’t wait to see what they come up with. For the Ruiz rematch it was simple what he had to do and Ruiz helped by training for that fight at Burger King, but this one is hard.
Ironically he has to fight more like the guy who lost to Ruiz the first time! LOL! It is like using the reverse solution to try to again avenge a loss! But you are right…this adjustment…while necessary still may not work! Sometimes the right fight can have disastrous results. An example that comes to mind is Rickey Hatton trying to force the issue with Pac. That is about as bad as it gets! But looking back at it and knowing who Hatton was…what else was he going to do to win? At least he tried his best to win…which was more then Joshua Clottey did imo.
…..poor Ricky. Had absolutely no chance in that fight did he.
It’s very hard for a trainer to make a difference in this short of a time for an experienced fighter who is fighting a top tier opponent. The only time I can honestly say I saw it work was when Apollo trained Rocky for the Clubber rematch.
Recon Joshua will fight negative like he did against Parker and Ruiz II and use his height and reach, hold often and stay out of trouble and win a boring fight on points. If that does not work though he will be in trouble the later rounds.
I like R Garcia, total old school and skills.
Arturo, I agree, Garcia a great throwback to boxing with exceptional knowledge. Joshua will need Garcia if he wants to beat Usyk. Usyk is a hard fighter to face since he moves very well in the ring for a heavyweight. Usyk’s lateral movement coupled with counters wreaks havoc on the bigger Joshua in the rematch.
Dennis, I agree Joshua needs to make it a fight. Garcia can probably help him but fighter-trainer pairings can take time to produce desired results. I have Usyk by late KO.
AJ could raise Ray Arcel or Eddie Futch from the grave and it won’t make a bit of difference. His heart softened and He gives up in fights.
He should have hired Sugar Hill Steward. If Tyson Fury is truly “retired” it shouldn’t matter. I would have definitely fired him.
Agree…Manny Steward had a way of taking that style and making it a lethal combination with aggressive offense….Hill is a teaches Manny’s technique as Hill is from Manny’s gym….Look at Fury…Joshua is athletic and can box…For the rematch Joshua has to be in condition.better stamina..we know Joshua is in shape..Joshua has to be in condition to pressure Usyk..Be Foreman like …Be the relentless bully…Usyk will box circles around Joshua if Joshua waits …In condition and athletic pressure Joshua will win this fight..Usyk is a very skilled boxer ….should not trade with Joshua..just box him and test Joshua’s stamina, ..Usyk might get the same outcome…
It wont make any difference!
Certainly will know on the 23rd of July…Fights won in the ring..not on paper or a website
That kinda goes without saying..but yeah thanks for the update!
I find than odd choice
I believe the best trainer for Joshua in his rematch with Usyk would be Isaac Pitbull Cruz !! Joshua needs to copy the Cruz’s aggresive style to have any chance to win that fight.
It’s funny how fighters seek out new trainers for each fight. I guess it’s smart as boxing is a perpetual learning game and the best way to hone your craft is to seek out the best trainers out there, as each one brings something new and different to the table. There is something to be said about loyalty and the security of having a solid team you trust and is looking out for your best interests. All the trainers mentioned in the article are no doubt amongst the best in the business and have solid reputations, but I often wonder, what makes a trainer great? Is it because they happen to have a talented fighter who happens to win a world title, and are then sought out by other fighters? In the case of Emmanuel Steward, he trained many fighters as amateurs and turned them into world champions as pros. To me, that’s the mark of a great trainer.
Of course it starts with talent..but a talented fighter does not equal a great trainer…look at Roy Jones trainer…Jones was a talented fighter …have we heard from the trainer since Jones?..a great trainer)/coach in my humble opinion…gets fighter to focus and perform but most importantly WIN…and WIN at the highest level and a great trainer can do this with several fighters..Dundee, Steward, Atlas..Futch.great trainers knows how to create the atmosphere of winning, implement it and get their fighters through adversity .those moments when a fighter reaches a threshold ..a barrier . either through technique, training, outside the ring…etc…not just fights and championships…using all the mental and physical tools of that fighter.,not just a one and done thing but getting several fighters with different styles to WIN championships…same can be said about great coaches…Bellicheck, Riley Phil Jackson..Saban.. A great trainer is on a level of consistentcy that other trainers are not… remember when Lewis was fighting Tyson…Lewis was winning but too timid to finish Tyson…. between rounds Manny Steward yelled at Lewis noting this ain’t the Tyson of old….Go out and finish him….Lewis responded with a dramatic knockout…. Greatness as a trainer defined….
Sean-Roy Jones is the exact type of guy who I would think wouldn’t be a good trainer. His greatness as I fighter was largely attributed to natural talent, ultra fast reflexis and speed, and to be honest-an abusive father who pushed him into the the sport very early and was extremely demanding of him. He fought in a very unique, unorthodox way, that you would never want train anyone to duplicate. Great athletes rarely make great coaches. Their greatness was a gift that could not be taught. The best coaches tend to be guys that were not blessed with phenomenal athletisism, but rather had focus on the fundamentals of the sport to get by. To use your basketball comparison, I highly doubt Micheal Jordan or Lebron James would ever make good coaches. I think they would just yell and berate the players and not understand why they’re not awesome.
Actually never referenced Jones as a trainer …good or bad…that is yet to be seen…though great fighters can become good trainers look at. Jack Blackburn, Joe Louis trainer. .,
What I actually stated was just because a trainer is training the best fighter in the world …that does not make that trainer a good or great trainer.,I was speaking of Alton Merkerson ..Roy Jones trainer during Jones’ prime., I specially noted that great trainers have that element of consistentcy of winning with several fighters…not just the most talented at the time…supported that statement by pointing to Ray Arcel (Google fighters Arcel trained), Steward, Dundee, Futch, Atlas…totally agree with you though great players struggle at becoming great coaches..cause they expect others to have the same intensifying drive that defined their greatness,..not always the case
What is crazy Kris is that some great trainers and great fighters come from completely different backgrounds…who would expect Ali to be trained by Angelo Dundee…The great Roberto Duran to be trained by Ray Arcel…or get this Emanuel Steward an African American born in West Virginia, living in Detroit to train two great Heavyweight fighters Lennox Lewis…Brit with Jamaican roots and a Klitschko from Kazakhstan…..
Usyk has Joshua number. I wouldn’t be surprised if Usyk stops him. Garcia will not be a factor IMO.
I’m not sure he’s the right trainer for Joshua maybe he could be.. He is teaching an agressive Mexican style to his fighters then why not teach that to Joshua ? But you need to have a great chin to fight like that, i’m not sure Anthony has it..
I’m rooting for Usyk, but I think he might loose this time. Lost to much weight and understandably his mind may be in a different place because of the war. Be hope he pulls it of again. Go Oleksandr Usyk!
there is no help for Anthony Joshua he is washed up.
They won’t have enough change together before the most important fight of his career. Usyk outbox him easily
That is actually the best choice in my opinion. I think the style that Robert Garcia brings to the table as a trainer would give fits to the very disciplined Usyk. I think Joshua’s chances of victory just went up with this choice.
Joshua simply doesn’t have the natural ability to learn anything new that would be effective against someone who is naturally a superior boxer. He’s the classic case of a mediocre fighter with limited natural ability, who knows his limitations, and overcompensates by lifting weights and bulking up. He also has a suspect chin and questionable endurance. Reminds me of Frank Bruno.