Anthony Joshua admits he did NOT make the final decision on his new trainer Robert Garcia
Anthony Joshua has admitted he gave coach Angel Fernandez the responsibility of picking his new trainer ahead of Saturday’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua is due to face Usyk for a second time this weekend after losing his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in an unanimous points decision at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in September last year.
Joshua heads into the rematch with a new coaching team after parting ways with Rob McCracken – who helped guide him to an Olympic gold medal and become the unified heavyweight title holder of the world twice.
Anthony Joshua, 32, gave Angel Fernandez the responsibility of picking his new trainer
AJ is set to face Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch on August 20 that will take place in Saudi Arabia
Joshua lost his belts on an unanimous points decision in September last year while under the tutelage of his former long-term coach Rob McCracken.
AJ immediately exercised his rematch clause in his contract and embarked on a Stateside tour to find himself a new coaching team following his humbling defeat.
He sounded out Virgil Hunter, Ronnie Shields and Eddy Reynoso but decided to partner with Robert Garcia – who is a highly-decorated Mexican-American coach with a catalogue of world champions on his CV.
Joshua parted ways with McCracken (left) following his loss to Usyk in September last year
AJ decided to partner with Robert Garcia (right) – who is a highly-decorated Mexican-American coach with a catalogue of world champions on his CV
Speaking about his decision to partner with Garcia, Joshua told Behind The Gloves: ‘He’s [Garcia] experienced, he’s trained a lot of fighters before. He gets you throwing punches, he knows the big stage and that kind of stuff.
‘Away from what I thought of Garcia, I rate all the trainers I went to see including him. I said to Angel, my head coach in London, ‘Can you choose who you want to work with’.
‘Angel has to be comfortable working with Garcia and Garcia has to be comfortable working with Angel in order for them to give me the best.
Joshua (R) has admitted it was Angel Fernandez (L) who made the final decision on his trainer
‘I just can’t think Garcia is good but Angel doesn’t like him and I’m trying to make that relationship work. Those two get along well and it’s worked really well.’
Joshua continued: ‘They have to got to do strategic planning, sparring reviews when they are watching it.
‘They’ve got to sit down a lot together so I thought it’s important for Angel to make the decision of who he wants to work with.
‘Angel decided Garcia was good and I agreed, I said ‘yeah man, I’m down for that’ and it’s been a good relationship.’
